Introduction

An internship is an important stepping stone in any developer’s career. It gives university students the chance to gain real, hands-on experience, making the transition into junior developer roles much smoother, while learning how to function effectively as part of a team. By participating in an internship program, students not only become familiar with the different projects and tasks the developers work on, but they also learn about the different development tools, workflows, and task management systems. In addition, they also experience collaborative practices, like pair programming, and have the chance to ask questions and learn by doing.

The “Exploring PaaS for Dynamic Online Ventures” university course—launched through a collaboration between platformOS, the University of Szeged, and organized by origin/develop LLC—lays the groundwork for this transition. With its combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, the course prepares students for the real world of product development.

Our internship builds on this foundation by allowing students to join real project teams, observe the full software development lifecycle, and contribute alongside experienced developers. At origin/develop, several former interns have since become junior developers, now working on platformOS-related projects—including the development of the new platformOS website—while collaborating directly with the CTO and dev team.

The University Course – A First Step

Our current intern, Zsombor, began his journey through the “Exploring PaaS for Dynamic Online Ventures” course. His experience with the course was great and still finds it an excellent basis that provided a strong foundation for internship.

The curriculum introduced core topics, such as UX research and design, application development using platformOS, modular architecture, Docs as Code for documentation, and key topics like accessibility and sustainability, QA, and even marketing and SEO strategies. During the development lessons, students also worked with modern tools like Git, GraphQL and pos-cli, helping them gain practical experience with technologies used in real projects.

Zsombor also shared how the course laid the foundation for their development journey.

“The first few lessons in development gave us hands-on knowledge using platformOS to build a website from scratch. It was a bit complex at first, but with help from Maciej  (CTO of platformOS) and the origin/develop team, we always had guidance when we got stuck.”

As the course progressed, the focus shifted from coding to broader development practices, including planning, testing, and deployment. This gave students a more complete picture of how digital products are built from idea to execution. As Zsombor shared:

“One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned from the course is the importance of having a team with individuals who each specialize in their own areas. When team members bring their unique skills and knowledge to the table, it makes problem-solving much more efficient.”

With its international lineup of lecturers and industry-driven approach, the course not only introduces students to the technical side of platform development—it also shows them how real teams work together to bring digital products to life. For many, it’s the first step into the tech industry, and for some, the beginning of their journey with platformOS.

The Internship Experience

For many students, an internship is the first real chance to apply what they’ve learned in a professional environment—and that’s exactly what our intern, Zsombor, experienced. After discovering the course and realizing it offered internship opportunities, he saw the perfect match for his interests and goals. 

The transition from university to the internship was smoother than Zsombor expected. While juggling classes and the new role as an intern seemed quite challenging for him in the beginning, after the first few weeks of internship he realized that flexibility and support made it manageable.

“I dedicated this semester to the internship, however I did take some courses that could be completed remotely. It was a bit challenging at first, but I realized soon that managing both wasn’t as difficult as I’d anticipated, especially with the flexibility the internship offered.”

From day one, the projects have been diverse. Starting with SEO and testing tasks, Zsombor quickly moved into frontend development—addressing client requests, creating responsive pages from Figma designs, and even building a website based on modern design trends. According to him, these projects have greatly enhanced his web development skills. However, what lay in the heart of his growth was support and mentorship from his supervisor and team mates.

In the beginning, my supervisor, Gary, helped me get oriented and familiarize myself with the role. As I gained more confidence, I’ve been working more closely with my teammates on various projects. They’ve been incredibly supportive—always there to guide me through challenges, answer questions, and offer feedback. It’s been incredibly helpful.”

At the same time, according to Zsombor, much of the foundation came from the university course itself.

“The basics of web development—especially HTML and CSS—have been the most useful. They’re essential for creating clean, accessible websites.”

For one of our junior developers, Marcell, who attended university when the “Exploring PaaS for Dynamic Online Ventures” course was still not available. He sees the value of a university education in that it provided him a foundation to understand the first principles of coding which then helped him find what programming language (and type of development) he was most interested in. However, most of the things he knows now he learned mostly on his own, and later during his internship.

For others, like another of our junior developers, Tibor, the path into the tech world took a more unconventional route. He worked in IT support, security compliance, sales support, and public project management before he made the transition into software development through self-study and persistence. Balancing work, family, and study, he eventually joined origin/develop as an intern, where mentoring and support helped bridge the gap into full-time development.

“The few months as an intern helped me become familiar with industry-standard practices—like version control, opening PRs, and pair programming. I also got to know my future teammates and felt part of the team from the beginning.”

Regardless of background, the internship phase undoubtedly helps participants build foundational skills in a low-pressure environment—offering a chance to learn tools, gain feedback, and start contributing to real projects alongside professionals.

The Transition from Intern to Junior Developer

The transition from intern to junior developer marks a major milestone. It comes with a new sense of ownership, greater responsibility, and an expectation to grow continuously—it is a shift not just in skill, but in mindset as well. As interns, there’s more room to explore, ask questions, and learn at a steady pace. But stepping into a junior developer role brings a new level of responsibility, independence, and expectation.

Several of our current team members made this leap within origin/develop and platformOS. According to Tibor and Marcell, what helped them most was having a solid foundation in the company’s workflows, tools, and team dynamics, thanks to their internships. By the time they became junior developers, they were already familiar with the platforms, communication channels, and expectations. 

As Marcell shared:

“Internship gave me a chance to settle in and understand how everything works—from Git workflows and pull requests to working with real clients. So once I became a junior dev, I could focus more on ownership and contribution.”

He also noted that although the internship gave them time to get oriented, the shift to junior developer came with entirely new expectations:

“During internship you have more time and space to learn. But as a developer, you need to keep moving and take initiative. There’s a broad skill set you have to master and apply every day.”

Learning to work independently and adapting to each project’s needs became essential. The transition into the junior developer role was smooth, but the stakes were clearly higher. According to Marcell, there is more ownership, more complexity and more pressure to deliver. Independence and responsibility intertwines as “no one tells you to move forward—you just have to if you really want to learn and evolve.” As Marcell remarked, the transition itself came eventually with a shift in mindset:

“The moment I became a junior developer, I felt: ‘Okay, now it matters.’”

As junior developers, they faced new challenges. The biggest ones, according to them, were understanding and adapting to the technologies and solutions used in the company. These also led to the most valuable learning moments—from grasping concepts through documentation, to seeing them unfold in real-world scenarios. Tibor shared the following:

“The possibilities and challenges expanded exponentially. I remember starting with simple frontend tasks and pages, which later led to more complex assignments, like working on the Catalyst Constellations or Styleseekr web applications. There’s more responsibility and self-sufficiency required, but the good thing is that mentoring and guidance from more experienced peers and seniors never stops.”

Despite the increased responsibility, mentorship remains constant—this is something both Marcell and Tibor agree. As junior developers they continue to receive guidance and feedback, with a strong culture of learning in place.

“There’s more expected from you, but you’re never alone. The team is always there.” - Marcell explained.

Adapting to new tech stacks like Liquid, GraphQL, and Gatsby was one of the most significant learning curves—particularly during the WineSofi project, which became a defining moment in both of their growth.

All things considered, whether entering the tech world straight from university or shifting from another career path, the internship experience at platformOS partner origin/develop LLC provides not just practical knowledge, but strong foundations, real-world exposure, and continued mentorship that supports long-term growth. Therefore, it definitely plays a vital role in shaping confident, capable junior developers.

Reflections and Advice

As interns transition into junior developers, they not only develop technical skills, but also grow personally and professionally. Their reflections reveal, on the one hand, that curiosity, communication and taking ownership of one’s development journey are equally important. On the other hand these takeaways offer useful guidance for future students, who consider joining the course and taking an internship, as well as inspiration for anyone starting a career in tech.

One of the most common themes among the interviewees is how the internship shaped their career goals. For our current intern, Zsombor, the experience sparked a deeper interest in web development. Getting experience with real-world projects, experimenting with technologies, and seeing ideas come to life definitely confirmed that he would like to continue working in this field. Internships provide a rare opportunity to try real tasks in a supportive setting—helping students understand what excites them most.

“I now see web development as a potential long-term career path and I’m excited to explore more advanced topics within it. This internship has helped solidify my interest in this field and has motivated me to continue building my skills in web development.”

Tibor, who entered development from a completely different field, emphasized perseverance, and also highlighted the importance of community and support:

“Looking back, I’d say the biggest takeaway is that perseverance pays off. Transitioning from a completely different field into software development wasn’t easy. But I’ve also realized that there’s always room for growth—in everything from problem-solving and communication to teamwork and mentoring. Being part of a community that encourages knowledge sharing and supporting others has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this journey.”

Marcell reflected on how the environment continues to support learning, even after the internship:

“Having a senior developer I can turn to is a bonus—it makes ongoing development easier, and you know help is always there.”

Looking back, both junior developers agree that the internship isn’t just about acquiring skills. It’s just as much about understanding how to navigate challenges, ask questions, and seek help when needed. Success does not dwell in knowing everything, but in staying open-minded and proactive.

Their advice to future interns is clear: make the most of the experience. Ask questions, be present, and engage with the work.

"Three months isn’t short or long—it’s the perfect amount of time to get involved and make progress," Marcell advised.

Tibor added:

“There’s a lot to learn from an internship. Be open-minded and proactive. Learning new technologies is not always easy—it can be intimidating at times—but beyond writing code, there are many other aspects to focus on. Communication with peers, seniors, or even colleagues from other departments is crucial. You can gain exciting perspectives from them, and those insights can prove beneficial later in your career.”

Our intern, Zsombor agreed, encouraging future students to embrace both the challenges and the support system:

“Stay proactive and take full advantage of the opportunities available to you. The course is well put together and provides a solid foundation, but the real value comes when you apply what you’ve learned to real-world situations during the internship. Don’t hesitate to dive into projects, ask questions, and seek help when needed. Mentors and teammates are there to support you. It’s also important to remember that it’s okay to get stuck on something. Don’t worry, it’s all part of the learning process. Take the time you need to process challenges and find solutions. Most importantly, be patient and persistent. The challenges you face will help you grow, both professionally and personally.”

All three gentlemen reflected positively on working at origin/develop and platformOS. Flexible schedules, approachable senior developers, a friendly and growth-minded team, that is the whole environment supports continued learning even after the internship ends. The internship represents the first chapter in a longer story of growth in the application development and PaaS world.

While the course and internship lays the foundation, long-term growth in the industry comes from ongoing curiosity and collaboration. The flexibility of the work environment, combined with an openness to share knowledge and support one another, continues to help these developers thrive.

Conclusion

The transition from intern to junior developer is just the beginning of a long, exciting journey in the world of tech. It equips students not only with technical skills but with real-world insights, collaborative habits, and a mindset for growth. It’s a time of immense learning and personal development, where technical skills are refined, but so are the softer skills like communication, collaboration, and adaptability. As junior developers continue to grow, they’ll find that their career is defined not just by their technical expertise, but by their ability to engage with challenges, work as part of a team, and pursue ongoing learning.

At platformOS and origin/develop, the university course "Exploring PaaS for Dynamic Online Ventures" lays the foundation with hands-on experience in web development, UX, QA, and documentation. The internship then builds on this knowledge, allowing students to apply what they've learned in professional settings, contribute to real projects, and learn from experienced mentors.

The stories of our junior developers, Tibor, Marcell, and our current intern, Zsombor show that with the right support and motivation, students can successfully transition into confident junior developers. Whether you're starting fresh from university or changing careers, this path offers an accessible and rewarding route into tech.