What it’s like to be an intern at 1Password

Roughly 15-20 Canadian university students join us each semester to spend four months as a member of our engineering and technical teams. Each student is given an opportunity to work on important projects, as well as develop relationships with senior members of their teams.

We’re big on learning and development, and we believe that co-op programs not only benefit students but our full-time team members as well. Students have fresh perspectives that help us see things differently, and we all benefit from their enthusiasm and excitement for learning new skills.

We asked three of our internship students what their experience at 1Password has been like, and what they’ll take with them when they go.

Andrew Semchism

Developer Intern, Full Stack
University of Waterloo

What made you choose 1Password for your internship?

I chose 1Password because of its excellent ratings from past students and my own interest in cybersecurity. I also thought it would be really interesting to work on a product that thousands of people rely on daily.

What have you learned so far in your internship at 1Password?

I’ve really improved all aspects of my front-end web development skills. By working on the developer documentation site, I’ve gained lots of experience working with React and a documentation framework called Docusaurus.

I’ve also learned a lot about working on large projects as a team by doing code reviews and taking part in meetings with project managers, designers, content writers, and other developers.

How will your experience at 1Password help you in the future?

I’ve gained a lot of front-end web development skills, which will serve me well in future internship opportunities. Web development is a very in-demand skill at the moment, so I’m happy I got the chance to learn something that will make me more employable after I graduate. Also, working alongside other developers on a long-term project is a valuable learning experience that you rarely get in school.

What has been your favourite part of your internship at 1Password?

My favourite part has been seeing my work used by customers. It’s really satisfying to see something you worked on being used by thousands of people.

What advice would you give to anyone applying for an internship at 1Password? If you’re selected for an interview, be ready to talk more than code!

Esther Xin

Developer Intern, Full Stack
University of Waterloo

What made you choose 1Password for your internship?

I’ve actually done two internships at 1Password! I first chose 1Password because it was a well-known and reputable tech company that previous interns recommended for its professional skill development and culture.

I returned here because I had an incredible first term. This time, I was able to work on my own four-month project that directly influenced clients and internal staff. I also learned so much about development, the software lifecycle, and the technology industry as a whole. I also received constant support and constructive feedback from other developers.

“I learned so much about development, the software lifecycle, and the technology industry as a whole."

Finally, 1Password has an amazing work culture that promotes work-life balance and genuinely cares for the learning and development of their students.

What have you learned so far in your internship at 1Password?

Before coming to 1Password, I didn’t have any experience with backend development or working at a well-established company. I’m now proficient in Go, React and SQL, and have learnt all about pipeline configurations and writing scripts.

This term, I worked with a team that launched a feature in beta, which meant I could learn about the process and what needs to be done in order to get a feature out to the public. I also learned a lot of interpersonal skills such as communication, taking initiative, having empathy as a developer, and learning when to admit you don’t know something.

How will your experience at 1Password help you in the future?

I’ll definitely take a lot of software development skills. I grew tremendously in terms of my software and programming knowledge, which will help me greatly in other internships as well as any computer science classes I take in the future. Also, now that I have experience working on larger projects and features, I know what it takes to get something from idea to release.

“I know what it takes to get something from idea to release."

I’ll also take a lot of career advice from my time here. I met a lot of seasoned developers at 1Password, and through them I was able to ask a lot of questions and gain new insight.

What advice would you give to anyone applying for an internship at 1Password?

There are a few pieces of advice I’d give. First, have someone edit your resume! A second set of eyes can make a big difference.

Secondly, during the interview, get ready to talk about:

• Everything you put on your resume, including your past work experience, personal projects, and club participation. You should also be ready to highlight what you learned and any obstacles you faced.
• Why you want to join 1Password!
• Your goals for the internship.

Finally, be someone who is always willing to learn, grow, and keep an open mind!

Adam Hou

Developer Intern, Product Engineering
University of Waterloo

What made you choose 1Password for your internship?

Prior to joining, I had already been using 1Password as a customer. I chose 1Password for my co-op term because I wanted to work with the team that was developing the software myself and many others use everyday!

What have you learned so far in your internship at 1Password?

I’m constantly improving the technical skills I use as part of the team. I also love to nab neat tips and tricks from my fellow developers that improve my productivity.

How will your experience at 1Password help you in the future?

The skills that I’ve developed here will be immensely useful as I head back to school and complete my degree. I’ll also be taking the cool swag I’ve received with me!

Outside of work, what’s your favorite way to spend your time?

I enjoy hanging out with my friends and playing badminton, table tennis, and video games.

Editor’s note: These interviews have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.

Kate Ryan

Manager, Employer Brand