Society interviews
Manuel Iniesta is the president of Queen Mary's Machine Learning Society.
Can you tell us a bit about the Machine Learning Society and what makes it different from studying it in the classroom?
The Machine Learning Society at Queen Mary University of London is one of the largest and most active academic societies on campus, and what really sets it apart is how focused it is on real outcomes. In lectures, you learn the theory. In the society, you learn how to actually use it.
Every week, we run sessions across three key areas. We teach the foundations of machine learning so people build real understanding. We run Kaggle sessions where students work on real-world data science problems. And we host competitive programming sessions that sharpen problem solving for technical interviews.
What makes this powerful is that everything is shaped by real experience. Our sessions are built around what actually comes up in interviews for machine learning, data science, and quant finance roles. We are constantly adapting to the current job market so that what you learn is always relevant. It is not just about learning more. It is about learning what actually matters.
How does being an active member of the society help students stand out when applying for jobs or internships?
Standing out in this space is difficult, and that is exactly where the society makes a difference. When you are an active member, you are not just attending sessions. You are consistently building skills, solving real problems, and putting in the kind of effort that most people do not sustain. That alone gives you a huge advantage in interviews, because you have real experiences to talk about, not just coursework.
On top of that, we create opportunities. We run hackathons, collaborate with industry, and have worked with companies like AWS and Amazon. Some of our members have gone on to secure internships through these connections and referrals.
But beyond specific opportunities, what really stands out is the signal you send. Consistency, initiative, and genuine interest in the field are things employers immediately recognise. The society helps you build that naturally.
The society works with industry partners and runs events like hackathons. What kind of real-world skills and opportunities do these give students?
Hackathons are where everything becomes real. You are placed in a team, given a problem, and a tight deadline. There is no step-by-step guidance. You have to figure things out, make decisions quickly, and build something that works. It is intense, but that is exactly why it is so valuable.
You learn how to collaborate under pressure, how to communicate ideas clearly, and how to turn theory into something tangible. You also meet people, form teams, and build connections that often last beyond the event.
It is a completely different experience from lectures. It is messy, fast-paced, and very real. And that is what makes it one of the best ways to prepare for industry.
Beyond technical skills, what softer skills can students develop through getting involved?
One of the biggest transformations we see is not just in technical ability, but in how people grow overall.
Students become more confident working with others. They learn how to communicate clearly, explain ideas, and contribute in a team setting. They get better at coordinating, managing time, and balancing multiple commitments. There is also a shift in mindset. You start taking more ownership of your learning. You become more disciplined, more proactive, and more comfortable stepping into challenges.
These are the kinds of qualities that make a real difference, not just in interviews, but in any career.
What’s your one piece of advice for a student who wants to make the most of their time in the society to boost their employability?
Show up, and be patient. It sounds simple, but it is what separates people who improve from those who stay stuck. If you keep showing up, week after week, and you take the time to really understand things at a foundational level, you will get better. Not overnight, but steadily and consistently. And that is what compounds.
In a world where tools and AI can do a lot for you, the real edge comes from understanding why things work, not just using them. If you build that depth, and you stay consistent, you put yourself in a position where success is no longer unlikely. It becomes expected.
At that point, when you get an interview, you are not hoping to do well. You are ready.
Explore all of Queen Mary's societies.
Can you tell us a bit about the Electronics Society and what makes it different from studying it in the classroom?
We run weekly sessions during the semesters where we prepare for competitions as teams. Last year we held 2 competitions: Sumobots and Unibots. Sumobots is an internal robotics competition where remote-controlled robots have to push each other off a platform; it is a non-destructive battle bots. We also took part in Unibots, which is a more complicated competition which universities from all around the UK compete in, like Cambridge and Imperial. Next year will be our 4th year taking part! Members also have great freedom in designing and making their robots, freeing their creativity but also making them responsible for their robot.
How does being an active member of the society help students stand out when applying for jobs or internships?
We take part in multiple competitions each year. These provide an opportunity to build something real that they can show to employers to stand out, and prove the effectiveness off in practice. Since we're student led, students have more independence and can develop their time-management and organisation skills, since there's no authority figure pushing them to a deadline. They have to meet deadlines themselves, set up team meetings themselves, plan their projects themselves, while also balancing their coursework, studying and any part-time jobs. This is invaluable for students to have, especially in tech and start-up workplaces.
Working on these competitions has our members use the technical skills they learn in practice! For example, the use of cad software to design a functional robot, the use of programming to control signals through an ESP32 or to process camera images into instructions for motion using computer vision, soldering their real parts together and using theoretical understanding of electricity to power their robot!
Beyond technical skills, what softer skills can students develop through getting involved?
Definitely time-management and better organisation through the independence I mentioned earlier. Since our competitions are team-based, students can also develop their collaboration skills and communication skills, especially since we have a very mixed-ability group. Some people are new to electronics and some people have been building things for years. Students learn how to teach each other and learn from each other. Since we're a student-led group, we also give our members the opportunity to take part in actually organising sessions and managing the society. This means students can also take on leadership roles and learn skills like budget and inventory management and effective communication with sponsors and staff.
What’s your one piece of advice for a student who wants to make the most of their time in the society to boost their employability?
Working on and completing projects is extremely beneficial for engineers. It gives you a chance to blend your theoretical knowledge with practical experience. Additionally, it gives you a great conversation starter to use with other engineers, making it easier to expand your network.