3 key lessons Jungle's internship taught me

Embarking on an internship can be a transformative experience: from the development of technical skills to cultivating a sense of responsibility and embracing continuous learning. Last year, Jerónimo Mendes joined Jungle for a summer internship as part of our Engineering team. Fast forward to the present and he’s officially one of Jungle’s software developers thanks to a journey that perfectly encapsulates the essence of a successful internship.

Join us as we delve into the three key lessons that shaped his experience as a (back then!) soon-to-be Software Engineer:

(Heads up! This is now Jerónimo’s POV)

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Developing technical skills

One of the most significant advantages of my internship was the exposure to technologies that go beyond the scope of my computer science and engineering program at school. Right from the beginning, the team made me comfortable with using a wide range of tools. I started with Vue on the frontend and then ventured into the backend with projects involving FastAPI, Docker, and Redis. Additionally, I had the opportunity to contribute to open-source projects.

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The hands-on experience and mentorship I received have provided me with a strong foundation to tackle real-world engineering challenges.

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Cultivating a sense of responsibility

Throughout my internship, I was fortunate to be in an environment where my opinions were valued and taken into consideration. I was entrusted with meaningful tasks and given the autonomy to make decisions regarding the code I wrote right from the start. This sense of responsibility was instrumental in my growth as a software engineer. Having the opportunity to see the direct impact of my work on internal tools was both empowering and motivating. It made me realise the importance of writing clean, efficient, and maintainable code.

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The feedback I received from my mentor and colleagues played a crucial role in shaping my understanding of best practices and encouraged me to continuously strive for excellence. Taking ownership of my projects and being accountable for their success instilled in me a strong work ethic and attention to detail.

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Furthermore, being part of a collaborative environment allowed me to gain insights into the challenges and complexities of working in a team. I learned the importance of effective communication, active listening, and being receptive to feedback.

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Embrace continuous learning

As mentioned earlier, the opportunity to work with a diverse range of technologies during my internship fostered a continuous learning mindset. I immersed myself in documentation, explored existing codebases, and understood the nuances of different tools and methodologies. This expanded my skill set and cultivated resourcefulness.Embracing continuous learning empowers me to keep up with technological advancements and approach new opportunities with excitement. It ensures I remain adaptable and contribute effectively to the evolving landscape of software development.

(Jerónimo out!)

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In conclusion and based on the words of our ‘forever intern in our hearts’, Jerónimo, summers in the Jungle are the perfect learning site for (almost) graduates. Junglers are happy and proud to share their best practices and knowledge to ensure the continued success and growth of future engineers. Hopefully, this will also inspire young minds to go for ‘that one’ internship opportunity 🚀

Thank you for your hard work, Jerónimo!

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