What’s in My Wallet? Time to Find Out
At Capital One, our interns are part of a culture that’s fun, interactive, and, above all, hands-on. The knowledge they gain goes beyond the walls of our offices and into their day-to-day. To learn more about the great culture we and our interns are a part of, hear from Alvin Chan, a current Design Intern at our McLean, Virginia, campus.

A solid goal for every student in college is to get an internship. Experience, money, and not wanting to look dumb among your friends are all legitimate reasons and concerns.
But these days, with the number of college students every year, any internship will suffice for students. Desperate times indeed call for desperate measures.
But how many of us actually stop and think about the sort of work environment we want to be in? How many of us place ourselves into a company and imagine working there 40 hours a week? When I started applying for internships, I made a rookie mistake: not reading about the company. It was when I was not receiving responses that I started to realize I was applying to these places not because I respect their goals and missions, but because I wanted a job. The things that actually matter to me are the people, the work, and what the companies’ values are.
When I applied for more internships, I came across Capital One, and one of the values that stuck out to me is bringing out the best in people. Long story short, I did my research and found that this company was where I wanted to work. With the background I had, I applied for the Design Development Program and a few weeks later got an offer.
Indeed, Capital One is not just a banking company, but also a technology company. As a design intern, I have found an appreciation in seeing not only the banking industry, but the world around me differently. Everything around me was designed at some point, and in the company, there is a reason for every design decision that is made. My interests are focused on research, and I have gotten immersed in a few hands-on projects.
I have been interning here for only a little more than a month, but I feel like I have been a part of Capital One for a long time. Not because the days are slow, but because every day is different. Every day is a unique conversation, challenge, and opportunity to try something new.
This is a lot different from college, where you can skip classes on days where you “don’t feel like going.” When you’re working with a great group of people, you can’t help but bring your own best in order to show others that, “Hey, I have an opinion too.”
I’m typing this at work (don’t tell my manager), and as I’m thinking of content to write about how much I love it here, I realize that I don’t need to – it’s more like a feeling, and that’s maybe why I can’t put it in words. I look around my workspace and see that I’m surrounded by so many great people who have passions outside of work, goals for their future, and different personalities that make them unique.
From setting up my interview in California, interviewing, and currently working in Virginia, it has been a pleasant and smooth experience. Everyone here is friendly, and I have created many friendships with other interns in the program. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the next few weeks.
Later Fam,
Alvin Chan