At a time when the tech industry is rapidly evolving and competition for top talent is fierce, Karsun Solutions is making significant strides in creating a workplace that not only attracts top professionals but also nurtures their growth and innovation. Its growing accolades for its workplace, growth, and innovation reflect the company’s unwavering commitment to fostering a people-first culture that prioritizes employee satisfaction and development.
Celebrating A Regional, National and Industry-Wide Culture Leader
Karsun picked up new Top Workplaces awards for culture over the course of this year. Rankings on these regional, national, and Culture Excellence lists are determined based on anonymous surveys filled out by employees, conducted by third-party research firm Energage. In total, Karsun received 12 Top Workplace awards in 2024. These include awards for teams in the Washington, D.C., and Oklahoma City regions, for its remote teams, and for cultures that promote Innovation, Purpose and Values, Work-Life Flexibility, Employee Appreciation, and more.
As Karsun now appears on some lists for the third year in a row, these Top Workplaces awards are indicative of genuine sentiments within the organization. Energage, which administers these surveys, focuses on key aspects like alignment, execution, and connection. Karsun’s inclusion in this esteemed list underscores the company’s success in these areas, demonstrating a strong alignment between company goals and employee roles, efficient execution of tasks, and a deep sense of connection among team members.
Technology Industry Leadership
Among its awards for employer culture, Karsun received repeated recognition as a Technology Industry Top Workplace. It was also recognized locally for its leadership within the public sector information technology industry. The Washington Business Journal included Karsun in its Largest Government Technology Contractors and Largest Companies Owned by People of Color lists. Furthermore, Karsun ranked among the top 50 mid-sized companies on the Journal’s annual Diversity Index.
Ongoing investment in innovation drives this growth. Here too, Karsun received recognition. This year, it was named a finalist for the 2024 Moxie Award, which honors boldness in business across various sectors, including government contracting and technology. Karsun was specifically recognized in the GovCon 300+ Employees category, reflecting its growing impact and scale.
Another significant accolade came from the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), which named Karsun to its 2024 Tech 100 list. This recognition celebrates visionary companies and leaders in the technology industry. Karsun’s inclusion speaks to its ongoing leadership in enterprise modernization and digital transformation.
The Karsun Innovation Center (KIC) plays a pivotal role in maintaining this leadership position. The center spearheads research and development initiatives, such as the ReDuX AI toolkit, which leverages generative AI to streamline the migration and modernization of legacy mainframe systems. By integrating emerging technologies, Karsun ensures that its solutions remain relevant and effective, helping government agencies meet their missions.
A Call for Experts and Innovators
As Karsun Solutions embarks on its fifteenth year of transforming government IT solutions, it continues to seek passionate individuals ready to accelerate their careers. The company’s mission to modernize enterprise solutions for federal agencies opens numerous avenues for professionals in software development, cloud computing, AI, and data analytics.
Are you ready to explore endless possibilities and turn bold ideas into reality? With Karsun’s commitment to innovation, excellence, integrity, and collaboration, there has never been a better time to join this forward-thinking organization. Join a company that empowers you to expand your potential and make a lasting impact. Visit KarsunCareers.com/jobs and take the first step as you Find Your Next, transforming your career with Karsun Solutions.
At Karsun, we believe that our core values are the foundation of our success. Each quarter, we take the time to celebrate a special group of individuals who embody these values. Nominated by their peers and leaders, these exceptional team members represent the qualities that drive us to deliver superior solutions to our government customers. Let’s take a closer look at how we honor excellence, innovation, teamwork, commitment, integrity, and fun through our employee recognition program.
Celebrating Karsun’s Core Values
Our core values unite us as a team and guide us in our mission. They inspire us to achieve greatness and celebrate those who go above and beyond. Recognizing the employees who live these values every day is a key part of Karsun culture.
Recognizing Excellence
Excellence is at the heart of everything we do at Karsun. We acknowledge team members who go the extra mile to achieve outstanding results. Recently, we celebrated a team member who worked diligently to add an enhancement for a customer. He demonstrated leadership as he ensured the feature was delivered on time with high quality. By honoring such dedication, we recognize both the effort and the achievement.
Innovation in Action
Innovation is a defining attribute of Karsun. We hold monthly Innovation Town Halls and feature our innovators in our quarterly awards. Two award winners we celebrated contributed to the development of ReDuX, Karsun’s toolkit for AI-accelerated mainframe modernization. Innovators recognized by Karsun through our employee awards highlight the importance of collaboration, vision, and the drive to research and develop extraordinary solutions for our team members serving our customers.
The Power of Teamwork
At Karsun, we are one team working toward a common goal. We celebrate those who foster collaboration and improve processes. We recognized one of our team members this year for his work identifying, assessing, and resolving infrastructure challenges as a member of one of our challenge teams. Challenge teams, like those used by our Karsun SEALS, are hackathon-type multiday sessions used to address emerging needs faced by our customers. By contributing to enhancements during these intense exercises, this team member helped his challenge team and improved processes for teams to come.
We recognized other members for their process enhancements and the myriad ways they lift up their teams. These include an award to one team member for his automation for database management, another for a stand-out business analyst whose skills allowed them to be a point person for their team’s needs, and others who were honored for their ongoing support across multiple areas and teams.
Commitment to the Customer
Our commitment to excellence empowers our team as they extend that commitment to the customer’s mission. Several of our 2024 “Do Extraordinary” awardees were recognized for valuing the needs of our customer, their mission, and goals. They never miss a beat in fast-paced environments as they tirelessly provide updates, engage customers, and address emerging challenges.
Upholding Integrity
Integrity is the bedrock of our culture. We value honesty and fairness in all of our dealings. That includes quality backed by our testing experts. Recent awards recognized the work of our team members’ invaluable dedication to software quality, testing, and the overall integrity of the platform delivered to their customers.
Another member of our corporate team was recognized for her pivotal role in producing data as requested. This timely response ensured accurate information was delivered to the corporate teams she supports. Whether it’s integrity through quality or integrity through accuracy, our integrity MVPs ensure Karsun delivers extraordinary results with excellent quality.
Fun at Work
At Karsun, we understand the importance of enjoying our work. We host events like family picnics and team celebrations to build camaraderie. Many of our award winners are recognized for their ability to foster a positive and fun work environment, improving team morale and making Karsun a great place to work. In addition to our quarterly award winners, we also celebrated the ongoing contributions of our team members at our 15th Anniversary celebrations this year. Held in person and virtually, we shared memories, trivia, food, and camaraderie, as we upheld our “fun” core value while honoring the dedication of our team members to our work.
Reflecting on Our Values
Our core values are more than just principles; they are the driving force behind our success. By celebrating the employees who exemplify these values, we not only honor their contributions but also reinforce the importance of these qualities in our daily work. If you are inspired by these stories and want to be part of a team that values excellence, innovation, teamwork, commitment, integrity, and fun, we welcome you to explore opportunities at KarsunCareers.com/jobs.
Thank you for celebrating with us the incredible contributions of our team members who demonstrate Karsun’s core values. They are the reason we continue to deliver extraordinary solutions to our government customers.
This summer, our Karsun Innovation Center was filled with excitement as our intern cohort tackled AI research and development projects. These talented students addressed real-world challenges and contributed to our cutting-edge AI toolkits and resources. As we conclude 2024, we highlight below the exceptional work done by our interns, with a focus on their projects and the skills they honed while with our modernization experts.
Embracing Real-World Challenges
From their first day in our Herndon, Virginia offices, our interns were exposed to complex problems that demanded innovative solutions. Namrata Hari, a Computational Modeling and Data Analytics student, applied her knowledge to develop a task management application using Java Spring Boot and React. Her project prepared her team for upcoming tasks and equipped them to handle the intricacies of modern software development. Namrata’s primary focus during her AI internship was on testing ReDuX, a toolkit for AI-accelerated modernization. She and her team assessed memory, user interface, and overall user experiences, identifying and addressing defects to improve the AI bot’s functionality.
Pioneering AI Solutions with ReDuX AI
Another inspiring story comes from Samhita Kumar, a rising sophomore at Yale University. Samhita leveraged the ReDuX toolkit for her projects, particularly the AI code generation capabilities included in AppPilot. She combined various tools—Java Spring Boot, PostgreSQL, Podman, and React, among others—to build full-stack projects and refine her understanding of AI applications. Her work involved proposing enhancements to ReDuX and resolving defects within the AppPilot’s frontend design. Samhita’s contributions are an excellent example of AI internships at the Karsun Innovation Center pushing the boundaries of modern software development.
Enhancing User Experience through Full-Stack Development
Manojdeep Dakavaram‘s internship was a blend of full-stack development and problem-solving. A master’s student in computer science, he worked on multiple projects, including a centralized task management system and automating user access to Karsun’s O’Reilly virtual training library. His efforts improved user experiences by addressing critical bug fixes and developing new features in the React front end of AppPilot. Manojdeep’s work showcased the powerful impact of meticulous development and technology integration.
Data Management and Visualization Innovations
Pravalika Gollapudi, a Master’s student at Arizona State University, concentrated on data management and dashboards. She developed a CRUD application and a React dashboard, which streamlined data interactions and improved presentation reliability through rigorous testing. Pravalika’s role also involved conducting data quality analysis, ensuring data integrity and reliability. Her projects underscored the pivotal role data plays in modern AI and software systems.
Automation and Streamlined Workflows
The importance of automation and workflow optimization was highlighted by Visvajit Murali’s contributions. A student from the University of Virginia, Visvajit utilized technologies like PostgreSQL, Spring Boot, and Docker to automate tedious tasks, enhancing user experiences and system efficiency. His work illustrated how automating repetitive tasks can drive productivity and innovation.
Advancing with Generative AI
Generative AI continues to be a game-changer in the tech industry, as evidenced by the work of our interns and our ReDuX mainframe modernization team. The Karsun Innovation Center challenged these students to explore and propose enhancements to our AI toolkits. This focus on generative AI was epitomized by their efforts in developing and refining AI-driven code generation tools, which promise to accelerate and streamline modernization processes effectively.
Lessons and Growth from Internship Experiences
The professional growth of our interns was significantly influenced by their experiences at the Karsun Innovation Center. Daily interactions with seasoned experts, regular “Show Don’t Tell” meetings, and hands-on projects provided them with invaluable industry insights. Interns like Namrata and Manojdeep highlighted the benefits of a collaborative and supportive environment, while others, such as Pravalika and Visvajit, emphasized the importance of continuous learning and adaptability.
This summer, our interns at the Karsun Innovation Center not only contributed to the development of AI solutions but also grew as professionals poised to lead the next wave of innovation. Their stories serve as testaments to the power of immersive learning and the impact of forward-thinking, supportive mentorship. As we look ahead, we are excited to see how these budding experts will shape the world of AI and technology. Check out our Innovation Center Projects to learn more about ReDuX and other emerging technology projects from our research and development team.
The news is out, Karsun Solutions is an Employee Well-Being Top Workplace! We also announced earlier this month we are Monster Remote Work Top Workplace. We believe remote work and well-being go hand in hand.
Remote work can significantly support employee wellness and well-being in a variety of ways, by offering greater flexibility, reducing stress, and fostering a healthier work-life balance. Here are some of the key ways remote work contributes to employee wellness.
Flexible Schedules and Work Locations
Remote work often allows employees to manage their schedules, enabling them to work during the hours they feel most productive and take breaks when needed. This flexibility can reduce the pressure of rigid work hours and allow employees to balance personal and professional responsibilities more effectively, improving their overall mental health. Our teams establish core hours around the times that best serve their customers and allow for the best collaboration among their teams. Many of our teams are located in the Eastern or Central time zones, and our core hours typically match business hours in those regions.
We know greater autonomy leads to greater job satisfaction. We encourage teams to find the remote flexible arrangements that work best for them. For some of our teams, that’s a hybrid schedule utilizing the resources available at our Herndon, Virginia headquarters. This space also gives teams the ability to host optional social and team building activities while remaining primarily remote. Even then, most of our teams are remote, and most events, like our Quarterly All Hands are hosted hybrid to allow participation regardless of location.
Reduced Stress
Remote-flexible work arrangements reduce stress in several ways. To start, commuting can be a significant source of stress, taking up time and energy that could otherwise be spent on productive or relaxing activities. Remote work eliminates the daily commute, which can lead to more rest, lower stress levels, and better use of time. Employees may also experience financial savings from reduced commuting costs.
Traditional office environments can sometimes contribute to stress due to distractions, interpersonal conflicts, or office politics. Remote work reduces these stressors, allowing employees to focus on their tasks in a more peaceful environment. Moreover, working from home enables employees to create a comfortable and personalized workspace that suits their needs. Whether it’s adjusting the lighting, setting up ergonomic furniture, or incorporating personal touches, having control over the work environment can improve comfort and reduce physical strain, contributing to overall well-being.
Better Physical Health
Remote work can encourage better physical health by giving employees more control over their schedules, enabling them to incorporate physical activity and healthier eating habits into their daily routines. As part of our commitment to remote work, we provide virtual wellness resources. These include virtual fitness classes, weekly wellness newsletters, and asynchronous healthy living competitions. Our employee perks program provides further resources.
Additionally, by working from home, employees reduce their exposure to contagious illnesses such as colds, flu, or other viruses, which are more easily spread in office environments. This helps maintain physical health, lowers absenteeism, and minimizes the stress of potentially falling ill.
Remote work also allows employees to take breaks when they need them, rather than adhering to a strict office schedule. This flexibility makes it easier to incorporate mindfulness practices, short walks, or relaxation exercises into the workday, all of which contribute to mental well-being.
In addition to all of the benefits above, remote work is also good for the environment, contributing to our team members’ long-term health. By working remotely, employees contribute to reducing the environmental impact of commuting. For this reason, remote work benefits our teams in the short term and well into the future.
We have found by enabling flexibility, autonomy, and a more balanced lifestyle, remote work can greatly enhance both physical and mental well-being, leading to healthier, more engaged employees. We continue to hire remote teams to support our growing enterprise modernization teams. Apply for one of our remote jobs and find your next at KarsunCareers.com/jobs.
Remote work can enhance collaboration in several ways, thanks to modern technology and tools that enable seamless communication and teamwork. Our remote work policy at Karsun is a key component of our ability to collaborate, work together, and bring innovative technology solutions to the government agencies we serve. In fact we recently announced we were a recipient of the Monster Remote Work Top Workplace award. Here is how remote work contributes to better collaboration at Karsun.
Connecting with Diverse Talent
Remote work allows companies to hire employees from different geographic locations, bringing together diverse perspectives, skill sets, and expertise. Many companies serving the government have teams located in the Washington, D.C., area. Indeed, many of our Karsun employees are located near our Herndon, Virginia headquarters in that region. Remote work opened up the opportunity to bring in new experts and insights from our remote team members across the country. As a result, this diversity can foster more creative problem-solving and innovation. It empowers us to create teams with a mix of experiences working in the public sector. From grants experience to aviation systems experts, including these diverse perspectives better enables us to meet our customers’ mission.
Asynchronous Collaboration
Remote work often involves working across different time zones, which promotes asynchronous collaboration. Teams can work on projects at different times and continue moving them forward without needing to be in the same place or online simultaneously. Tools like project management software, shared documents, and communication platforms enable real-time updates and ensure everyone stays on track.
The asynchronous approach is also applied to our professional development resources. Karsun maintains a vast virtual training library to support our team members in continuing their technical education, building their project management and people leader skills, working toward professional certifications, and looking to grow in other topics. This mindset helps our team members learn and grow at their own pace at the time that works best for them.
Increased Autonomy and Trust Lead to Focus and Productivity
Innovation is our DNA, and that includes promoting agile approaches to our work. At Karsun we have always emphasized the importance of giving teams the power to use the collaborative approaches that work for them while providing the tools to continuously improve their process. This is the philosophy behind our GoLean platform and our CMMI Level 5 appraised software development methodology.
Remote work is an extension of the autonomy we give to our teams. We know this can lead to more empowered employees who take ownership of their work. And we celebrate these accomplishments at our monthly, virtual Innovation Town Halls.
We also know this is more productive for our teams because, in many cases, remote workers find fewer distractions compared to an office setting. Additionally, remote work can offer our team members more flexibility, leading to improved work-life balance and job satisfaction. When employees are less stressed and feel more in control of their schedules, they are more likely to collaborate effectively and contribute positively to team efforts.
Teamwork is a Karsun Core Value. We built a collaborative environment where our teams excel because we give them flexibility. Our teams are thriving and growing and we’re looking to add more members to our team! For our latest remote job openings, visit KarsunCareers.com/jobs and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest from our Talent Team!
For many organizations, an Amazon Web Services (AWS) Competency is table stakes. In fact, Canalys released a report revealing that organizations with AWS Specializations, including competencies, unlock $315 billion in customer spending. Moreover, 87% of customers surveyed ranked specializations among the top three selection criteria. For the Amazon Partner Network (APN) partners that achieve these designations, it signifies their expertise, commitment to industry best practices, and ability to deliver solutions seamlessly on AWS. For competency partners, it also presents new opportunities to leverage AWS resources to empower their customers as they migrate to the cloud and accelerate technology adoption.
Migration Incentives
An AWS Competency more than differentiates partners based on their expertise and experience. It also opens up new opportunities to support customer modernization efforts. A 2022 Canalys Partner Ecosystem Multiplier study found that for every dollar of AWS infrastructure sold, there is up to $6.40 available to partners to deliver services to customers.
For example, Karsun achieved its AWS Migration Competency in 2021. As a result of this designation, Karsun teams could use AWS Migration Acceleration Program (MAP) resources. This comprehensive program packages best practices, tools, expertise, and financial incentives to make cloud adoption easier. When applicable, Karsun implements these financial incentives as part of its Cloud Runways toolkit, which accelerates cloud migration through fit-to-purpose transformation playbooks. These enable incremental migrations that adapt to unique customer requirements and constraints.
Technology Acceleration
A government information technology contractor with more than a decade of experience serving U.S. government agencies, Karsun achieved its Government Competency status in 2019. The competency differentiates AWS Partner Network (APN) members serving government agencies with deep domain expertise in security and compliance, in addition to innovative cloud solutions that leverage AWS services.
In a recent video, Karsun Innovation Center Senior Vice President Badri Sriraman shares his experience integrating emerging technology with the resources available to AWS government competency partners. Filmed at the AWS Washington, D.C. Summit Government Competency Leadership Circle, Sriraman discusses how his team used tools from AWS to accelerate Karsun’s AI toolkit, ReDuX AI. Powered by AWS Bedrock, ReDuX AI uses analysis generative AI to perform code analysis, provide recommendations, and generate code for teams working on mainframe modernization projects. To learn more about ReDuX AI, visit GoReDuX.AI.
AWS Government Competency Accelerates AI Research and Development
Karsun Innovation Center Badri Sriraman shares his experience at the AWS Government Competency Leadership Circle at the 2024 AWS Summit Washington, D.C.
In addition to migration and technology benefits, competency partners have access to specialized training, industry events, and support from AWS experts. Partners with AWS Specializations have a wealth of opportunities to support their customers’ modernization ambitions. Overall, the partners that have obtained AWS Competencies significantly enhanced their ability to deliver high-quality AWS solutions.
Karsun is among those partners using the full range of resources available to it as it serves its agency customers. It elevates agency capabilities through modern software development, cloud, data, and AI solutions. Its cloud portfolio offers a full suite of solutions, including hybrid architecture, platform buildout, and application migration. It has AWS Government, Migration, and DevOps Competencies and is a Well-Architected Partner. To dive into Karsun’s complete cloud solutions portfolio, visit https://karsun-llc.com/solutions/cloud-solutions/.
Each summer, we welcome a new intern class to our Karsun Innovation Center. These Intern Innovators experimented with automation, discovered how to leverage artificial intelligence for software development, and worked with experts from our emerging technology research and development team. In this interview, Visvajit Murali, a computer science student, shares his experience innovating with the enterprise modernization experts while finding his next.
Finding His Next: From College to Contributing in Innovative Environments
First, please tell us about yourself. Where are you going to school? What are you studying? What do you like to do in your free time?
Visvajit: My name is Visvajit Murali, and I am currently a student at the University of Virginia, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. In my free time, I enjoy coding personal projects, exploring new technologies, and staying active through track and field. I also love spending time with friends and family, and volunteering in my community.
What do you want to do after this internship? What are your career goals?
Visvajit: After this internship, I plan to continue my studies while seeking opportunities to apply my skills in real-world settings. My career goals include becoming a proficient software developer, specializing in full-stack development and machine learning. I aim to work in innovative environments where I can contribute to impactful projects and continuously grow as a professional.
Automation, Containerization, and Web Application Development
Could you share a little bit about the project you worked on as part of this internship? What challenge does it solve? What technologies and tools are you using?
Visvajit: During my internship at Karsun Solutions, I worked on enhancing application features and user experience by automating tedious tasks. I utilized technologies such as PostgreSQL for database management, Spring Boot for back-end services, and Docker and Podman for containerization and deployment. Furthermore, I worked with AppSheet and AppScript to optimize workflows and user experiences. This experience allowed me to work on both front-end and back-end technologies, contributing to the development and maintenance of web applications.
Cultivating Continuous Learning and Curiosity
What is your favorite part about working with the Karsun Innovation Center? Is there a weekly meeting or ritual you enjoy? The opportunity to learn more or get a new certification?
Visvajit: My favorite part about working with the Karsun Innovation Center is the collaborative and supportive environment. I particularly enjoy the “Show Don’t Tell” meetings where we discuss the work we have completed over the last two weeks. These sessions are inspiring and provide valuable insights into the work KIC conducts. Additionally, the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and potentially earn new certifications has been incredibly rewarding.
What is your biggest takeaway from your experience as an intern at Karsun?
Visvajit: The biggest takeaway from my experience as an intern at Karsun is the importance of continuous learning and adaptation. The fast-paced environment and exposure to cutting-edge technologies have taught me to stay curious and proactive in expanding my skill set. Additionally, the teamwork and mentorship I’ve experienced have underscored the value of collaboration in achieving successful outcomes.
Visvajit worked alongside Karsun Innovation Center experts throughout his internship program. Discover how Karsun experts are modernizing for every next in our Innovation Center, and as they use our ReDuX AI toolkit.
Our Karsun Innovation Center (KIC) Interns explore complex modernization problems, experiment with emerging technology such as artificial intelligence (AI), and engage with experts on our research and development team. Every summer, we feature our interns’ work on the Karsun website. In this interview, Computer Science student Samhita Kumar shares her experience with the AI code pairing tools included in Karsun’s ReDuX AI, front-end design using component libraries, and task management automation.
Finding Her Next: Software Development, Cryptography and AI Innovation
First, please tell us about yourself. Where are you going to school? What are you studying? What do you like to do in your free time?
Samhita: I’m Samhita, a rising sophomore at Yale University studying computer science. In my free time, I enjoy reading, visiting museums, and baking. I’m also part of my school’s moot court team and love learning about Constitutional law.
What do you want to do after this internship? What are your career goals?
Samhita: I hope to build on the skills I’ve acquired while here, and to apply my knowledge to real-world problems. I aim to pursue opportunities in software development and cryptography, and to continue working with new innovations like ReDuX.
Full Stack Development and Generative AI
Karsun’s ReDuX AI uses generative AI to make code, data, and access control recommendations. In addition to their work exploring the use of AI for modern software development, we also challenged our interns to identify and propose enhancements to our AI toolkits. Samhita applied her full stack development skills to this challenge.
Could you share a little bit about the project you worked on as part of this internship? What challenge does it solve? What technologies and tools are you using?
Samhita: I have primarily been working with KIC’s ReDuX AI code pair tool, AppPilot. I used Java SpringBoot, PostgreSQL, Podman, Testcontainers, Nx, React, and Jest to build a full-stack project while testing AppPilot. My front-end design pulled in several component libraries such as Metrostar Comet. I also created a Task Manager project with CRUD functionality and user accounts to strengthen my understanding of the technology stack. Finally, I helped find and resolve defects within AppPilot.
Flexibility, Adaptability, and Innovation
What is your favorite part about working with the Karsun Innovation Center? Is there a weekly meeting or ritual you enjoy? The opportunity to learn more or get a new certification?
During our biweekly “Show, Don’t Tell” meetings, I’ve been able to learn about the projects that the Karsun Innovation Center is working on. It has been amazing to explore so many different technologies and to see the different approaches that can be taken to address blockers.
What is your biggest takeaway from your experience as an intern at Karsun?
It is definitely the importance of flexibility. I’ve gained so much practical experience and observed how unexpected issues can arise at any moment. To tackle these challenges, I learned to remain adaptable and prepared for anything. This approach has proven incredibly helpful, and it’s one I will definitely carry forward in my career.
Samhita worked alongside Karsun Innovation Center experts throughout her internship program. Discover how Karsun experts are modernizing for every next in our Innovation Center by accelerating transformation with the ReDuX AI toolkit.
Each summer, a new class of interns joins our Karsun Innovation Center to explore the application of emerging technologies to modernizing complex legacy systems. Pravalika Gollapudi, a Master’s student, joined this year’s cohort. She experimented, tackled new challenges, developed dashboards, and worked with center experts. From full stack development to future technology expert, Pravalika shares how she hopes to find her next solving real-world problems.
Finding Her Next: Creative Ideas into Impactful Solutions
First please tell us about yourself. Where are you going to school? What are you studying? What do you like to do in your free time?
Pravalika: My name is Pravalika Gollapudi, and I’m pursuing my Master’s in Computer Engineering (Computer Systems) at Arizona State University. In my free time, I love playing badminton to stay active. I’m also passionate about coding, as it allows me to turn creative ideas into impactful solutions.
What do you want to after this internship? What are your career goals?
Pravalika: After this internship, I aim to dive deeper into software development, becoming a skilled full stack developer with a strong focus on AI and ML. I’m excited about roles that allow me to create innovative projects, blending backend, frontend, and intelligent systems to solve real-world problems.
Dashboards and Data
Could you share a little bit about the project you worked on as part of this internship? What challenge does it solve? What technologies and tools are you using?
Pravalika: During my internship, I tackled several projects that addressed key challenges. I developed a CRUD application with Java (backend) and React (frontend) to streamline data management and improve user interaction. Additionally, I built a React dashboard to display applicants and ensured its reliability using Jest tests, addressing challenges in data presentation and application stability. I also conducted data quality analysis, identifying and resolving inconsistencies to maintain accurate and consistent data, thus overcoming problems related to data integrity and reliability.
Professional Certification and Collaboration
What is your favorite part about working with the Karsun Innovation Center? Is there a weekly meeting or ritual you enjoy? The opportunity to learn more or get a new certification?
Pravalika: My favorite aspect of working with the Karsun Innovation Center is the opportunity to collaborate with experienced professionals and gain insights into the corporate world. This experience is invaluable as it helps me refine my teamwork and communication skills. I particularly enjoy the bi-weekly “Show Don’t Tell” meetings, where team members present their progress over the past two weeks. These sessions are not only engaging but also provide a platform for shared learning and inspiration. Additionally, preparing for the AWS Developer certification has been a rewarding challenge. It’s fantastic to be able to apply my knowledge in practical scenarios, enhancing both my skills and my understanding of the field.
What is your biggest takeaway from your experience as an intern at Karsun?
Pravalika: My biggest takeaway from my internship at Karsun is the value of hands-on experience in a collaborative environment. Working alongside seasoned professionals has taught me how to navigate complex projects, communicate effectively, and contribute meaningfully to a team. The practical application of my skills, coupled with the opportunity to tackle real-world challenges, has significantly deepened my understanding of the industry. Additionally, the emphasis on continuous learning and professional growth at Karsun has reinforced the importance of staying curious and proactive in my career development.
Pravalika worked alongside Karsun Innovation Center experts throughout her internship program. Discover how Karsun experts are modernizing for every next in our Innovation Center, among our data solutions teams, and as they use our ReDuX AI toolkit.
Interviewing virtually has become increasingly common. It is a standard practice in remote-flexible workplaces like Karsun. Given the competitive remote work environment, it is more important than ever to be well-prepared before starting your interview.
Our Karsun Talent Team hopes every candidate has the opportunity to present their best self on the path to finding their next. Today, as part of our series on remote jobs, we are sharing our best virtual interview preparation tips. If you are preparing for a virtual or remote interview, consider these tips.
How Can I Prepare for a Remote Job Interview?
There are several strategies to help you succeed in the virtual format. Set up your technology and space well in advance, practice and prepare your responses and send a follow-up note are all common recommendations. We have expanded on these tips for remote job seekers. By preparing well and paying attention to these details, you’ll present yourself as a confident and competent candidate in virtual interviews.
Setting Up Your Technology and Equipment
The first step in preparing for any virtual interview is using reliable equipment. Test your camera, microphone, and headphones to make sure everything works smoothly. Next, test Your technology. That includes checking your internet connection. Finally, you should familiarize yourself with the platform or website used by the company performing the interview. Do not wait until your appointment to install new software. Whether it’s Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or in the case of an interview with a Karsun hiring team, Google Meet, make sure you know how to use it before the interview.
Setting Up Your Space
Plan ahead and set up your space in advance of your remote interview. Create a professional environment by having a quiet space and all materials nearby. In addition to locating a room with minimal background noise and distractions, make sure you inform household members. Let others in your home know you will be interviewing to avoid interruptions. And while many of us like to keep our phones on our desks, please, silence your phone and disable notifications on your computer to avoid distractions.
As part of preparing your environment, you may also want to consider the room you will use. Check your lighting and position yourself so that your face is well-lit. A lamp behind your camera can help. A clean, uncluttered background looks more professional and reduces distractions.
Finally, have your materials ready. Prepare notes on your experience or other common interview questions. It can also be useful to prepare questions for the interviewer. Place these nearby, but avoid reading directly from them during the interview.
Dress and Act the Part
In addition to preparing your technology and interview space, you should plan to dress professionally. Wear appropriate attire as you would for an in-person interview. Avoid overly bright or busy patterns. And remember you should dress for your full body, not just the top half, in case you need to stand up during the interview.
Acting the part is critical too. If you are not used to video interviewing, it is a good idea to practice eye contact and body language. Practice looking at the camera, not the screen. This creates the illusion of eye contact and makes you appear more engaged. When it comes to your body language, good posture conveys confidence. Consider using hand gestures sparingly. While these can aid communication, too many gestures can be distracting on screen. You may also want to practice to see what gestures are visible to your camera and on screen.
Practice, Practice, Practice
The final interview preparation steps are to plan your answers and practice with mock interviews. When you prepare your answers, practice common interview questions. Be ready to discuss your experience, skills, and why you’re a good fit for the role. Many companies, like Karsun, use common formats for your examples. Prepare your examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to create structured answers that match these formats.
Once you have planned your responses, practice mock interviews with a partner. Work with a friend or use online tools to simulate the virtual interview experience. Get feedback, then improve your answers.
Following Up
Sending a follow up note to thank the interviewer for their time is still a best practice. When interviewing virtually for a remote job, consider sending a thank you email. Remember, your interviewer may also be remote and they may not be able to receive mail at the address published on a company’s website. Instead, send a personalized thank-you email to express your appreciation and reiterate your interest in the role.
Karsun Solutions is the place where enterprise modernization experts from every background can find their next. To help candidates looking for their next remote job, throughout this month we are sharing our top remote job tips. Previously we shared our tips for avoiding remote job scams. We hope you join us as we share more tips and if you are looking for your next, check out our remote jobs at https://www.karsuncareers.com/jobs.