Mark B. (he/him/his)
Backend Engineering Intern - UCLA, 2024
Q: What are three words you would use to describe your Tindership experience so far?
A: It’s challenging, very educational, and exciting. Those three words sum it up really well.
Q: What is something that has surprised you about working at Tinder?
A: It’s really surprising to see all the little pieces that have to fit together to actually make Tinder work and the levels of complexity that we’ve gone through to optimize it for users. It’s surprising to see the backend of an app, especially an app on such a large scale like Tinder. During my first week, we were presented with diagrams of how Tinder actually works and what drives the whole app from a technical point of view. Just seeing how it all comes together was really cool and surprising; I think from a user point of view you totally take that for granted.
Q: What sort of projects have you been working on?
A: I’ve been working on some services where I have to refactor code and make it work in a new way. A lot of the core functionality stays the same, but there’s been a lot of different things that I get to change in terms of the framework that it runs on. I’ve learned a lot because I get to dive into code that already exists and was written by more senior engineers. It’s been really interesting to see how they do it and then improve on top of existing code. I feel like realistically, in software engineering you’re usually not writing completely new lines of code from scratch; a lot of it is taking existing things and adding features. It has been good to experience that because it has tested my ability to get familiar with an existing code base rather than just doing my own thing.
Q: What was the last book you read?
A: The last book I read was Atomic Habits by James Clear. It’s sort of like a self-help book — it talks about the habits we form, how we can form good habits, and makes you analyze your life from a third-person perspective. I would definitely recommend it.
Q: What’s one thing on your summer bucket list?
A: I’m Armenian and [my family] typically goes back to Armenia for a week or two every year to visit family. I’d really like to try to go back there this summer.
Max T. (they/them)
Product Design; UX Research Intern - The New School, Master’s degree, 2022
Q: What are three words you would use to describe your Tinder experience so far?
A: Thought-provoking, exciting, and gratifying. I get to think about research that serves my community as an LGBTQ person. I can learn and absorb so much information, and I feel like I have something to bring to the table. I say exciting because, who wouldn’t want to work for Tinder? It’s just such an exciting company and it feels like I am really participating in creating culture. I say thought-provoking because I work with data and research and there’s always more to the story.
Q: What sort of things have you been working on?
A: I started with benchmarking work to get acclimated with the app — different pain points from members, things people like, things people don’t like. That was a really great way to get started because it really set up a foundation for me. I also just finished a research project that we were doing about paywalls and how people interact with them.
Q: How have you been enjoying your internship so far?
A: It’s been a blast! It definitely keeps me on my toes. I’ve met a lot of really awesome people and everyone has been so kind. I feel like I instantly clicked in, and I’m totally enjoying it.
Q: What has been your favorite part so far?
A: I live in New York, but I got to go to LA and go into the office. It was such a treat to be able to meet so many people. As far as the work and research side of things, getting asked to participate in a project to help make the app more inclusive is really flattering and humbling. Integrating issues of diversity and inclusion with research is something that I am so passionate about, and I’m so lucky to get to do that here.
Q: What’s one thing on your summer bucket list?
A: I feel like I already had a high point when I went to LA. But, as far as what I haven’t accomplished yet, I’d really like to swim in a river. Oh, and I would really love to eat a soft shell crab as well.
DeAngelo R. (he/him/his or they/them)
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Intern - California State University, LA, 2022
Q: What are three words you would use to describe your Tindership experience so far?
A: Fun, creative, and impactful. I say creative because I am developing this field of creativity that I have never been able to explore. My team has been very encouraging and supportive of all the ideas that I have had, and that helps boost my creative morale. I say impactful because this creativity is revolving around social justice issues. One of the things that I care about is making sure that people of all ages, different diversity groups, and genders are given the representation, knowledge, and love that they deserve. It’s been joyful being here and working on different projects that revolve around the things that I care about; I never thought that I would be able to do that in tech.
Q: What are some of the projects that you have been working on?
A: One project that I am working on is a DEI newsletter called Above and Beyond Tech. It is essentially a chance to highlight some of the workers and interns at Tinder, the events that Tinder has for specific groups, and what the company is doing beyond that to show support. It has helped me see things in a different way because I can say, “these are the people that have made an impact on Tinder, and I really want them to be represented because they deserve it.” Another project that I have been working on is our Reproductive Rights Guide. It’s an internal guide for facilitating difficult conversations about Roe v. Wade in the workplace, with tips for inclusive language. I’m excited to show it off and showcase the issues that matter.
Q: What has been your favorite part about your internship so far?
A: Being local to LA, my favorite part about my internship has been coming into the office and seeing different people. It has been super fun to meet new people and be in a professional environment. But I also love that I have the flexibility to work from home when I want to.
Q: What’s one thing on your summer bucket list?
A: Camping. I went camping in New Hampshire every summer as a kid. We stopped going when I was 13, but this summer I’d like to hit up some friends and ask them to go camping!
Madhu VP
Security Engineering Intern
Q: What are three words you would use to describe your Tindership experience so far?
A: Fun, challenging, and heartwarming. I have a lot of fun working and it doesn’t even feel like work — I just do what I love. I learned security concepts from school, but this is the first time I’m implementing it on an enterprise level. I say the word heartwarming because of my team. My team is just amazing. Not once have I felt like an “intern” — I’ve always felt like a true part of the team. I feel really welcome and like I’ve known these people for a really long time.
Q: What made you want to work at Tinder?
A: I think it’s the people who made me choose Tinder. I feel like I’m so blessed to be working among such excellent people. Apart from that, I felt like I would make a difference at Tinder instead of interning at a huge company where you’re one person among a million people. Here, you get all the perks of working at a big company, but you also get to make a difference.
Q: What has been your favorite part about interning at Tinder?
A: The camaraderie. I mentioned it before, but it’s the truth. For example, at our engineering all-hands meetings, when a team talks about their project, everybody celebrates and congratulates them. It’s really nice to be a part of a team like that. Coming from a different country, I was scared of fitting in — but I do, I fit right in! I also really like that you can just talk to anybody. You can go to anyone and they will help you; they will take time away and schedule a time to talk with you and help you with your project.
Q: What’s your favorite podcast?
A: Morbid. It’s a podcast narrated by two amazing people called Lena and Ash and they present a murder case from beginning to end, including lawsuits and everything. I listen to it whenever I’m doing household chores or traveling to and from school.
Q: If there was a TV show about your life, what would it be called?
A: I think it would be called Madluck. I seem to always have bad luck and at this point I just laugh about it. On the TV show, everyone can laugh about it too.
Vincent N. (he/him/his)
IOS Engineering Intern - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2024
Q: What are three words you would use to describe your Tindership experience so far?
A: I would say fun, inclusive, and educational. Everyone at Tinder really makes the interns feel included; everyone has value. I think that’s hard to find at other companies. My perception of an internship was managers giving you random jobs that don’t mean anything like making coffee runs. We mean something here — I like how Tinder wants to listen to everyone.
Q: What is something that you’re excited about?
A: I’m really excited about the Hackathon. I think it’s the best thing about Tindership — it’s a chance for us to work on a project that could be in the app, and we get to work with mentors and other interns. All of that combined just really highlights how Tinder really values everyone.
Q: What have you been working on?
A: I kind of hit the ground running a few weeks into my internship and I don’t think other companies let interns do that. I’ve been working with my mentor on a project, and I get to ask him a lot of questions, which I think is the best thing you can do to learn.
Q: How has your remote experience been?
A: It has been completely different from my school experience. Most of the time, online school is just sitting on your computer listening to someone lecture all day, and you don’t really feel included. At Tinder, I’ve been in a lot of meetings. I know a lot of people might think meetings are boring, but they are a great time to just talk to people and I like seeing everyone’s faces everyday. What I really like is that our team specifically has a show-and-tell every Friday, just to show off whatever we built or learned that week.
Q: What’s the last thing you watched on TV?
A: I’ve been watching The Boys. It’s basically a show about if superheroes were bad. I like the twist on that.
Q: If you were to go viral for something, what would it be?
A: I would want to go viral on TikTok by just taking videos of my lawn. I know it sounds like a very dad thing to do — or maybe it’s a Midwest thing? I would be The Lawn Guy or something.
Deena S. (she/her/hers)
Events Intern - California State University, Northridge, 2025
Q: What are three words you would use to describe your Tindership experience so far?
A: Motivational, exciting and eye-opening. Event planning is what I want to do in the future. It’s a fun job and this internship has opened my eyes to a lot of things that I haven’t realized or noticed before about the events industry.
Q: What sort of projects have you been working on?
A: I’ve been helping my team a lot with the Intern Hackathon, helping to plan the event and come up with new ideas. I’m excited about it because when I came to Tinder I didn’t even know a Hackathon was a thing, so like I said — this experience has been very eye opening to new things.
Q: What is something that has surprised you about working at Tinder?
A: Honestly, just how welcoming and nice the people you work with are. In the past I’ve worked with people who weren’t as supportive, but everyone here wants to see you succeed and wants to see you go far. Having an environment where people are so nice helps a lot with your job.
Q: What’s something on your summer bucket list?
A: I would say skydiving, but I’ve done that already! I went skydiving last summer, but I’d go again. I’m a daredevil, so I love that stuff.
Q: What was the last movie you watched?
A: I watch a lot of movies, but I think the last one I watched was We’re the Millers.
Interested in interning at Tinder? Learn more about the Tindership program and how to apply here.
