Hello, Paul. Who are you, and what do you do at Arineo?
Paul: I’m Paul Hempfing, 27 years old, from Rosdorf, and am currently in my second year of training as an IT specialist for application development at Arineo. Together with another trainee, I supervise the work placement for pupils at our company.
Arineo offers year-round work placements and internships for IT students specializing in application development at its Göttingen office. Who is the offer aimed at?
Paul: The offer is aimed at students interested in technology who want to gain insight into the day-to-day work of an IT service company. At the same time, it offers the opportunity to deepen existing knowledge, acquire entirely new skills, or see how well your skills and interests align with IT professions.
What does a typical internship for students at Arineo look like?
Paul: At the beginning of the internship, we introduce Arineo as a company and explain special features and unique selling points, such as our cooperative organization. We then look together at the level of knowledge each intern brings. On this basis, we select tasks that match the individual’s performance level.
The tasks are divided into different levels of difficulty and can be flexibly adapted. If someone realizes that a task is too easy or too challenging, we react accordingly. In this way, we avoid overchallenging or underchallenging interns and create a positive learning environment.
What specific tasks do the interns work on, and how close are these to real projects from everyday working life?
Paul: The tasks are strongly based on our training content and, therefore, also on typical activities from everyday working life.
Of course, with a two-week internship, we have to consider the time frame. This is why many tasks are simplified or thematically focused. Nevertheless, they give a realistic impression of the day-to-day work of IT specialists. This includes, for example, small programming exercises, working with different tools or programming languages, simple logic tasks, and insights into software projects.
What tasks do you take on as a trainee when supervising student interns?
Paul: I supervise the placement together with my third-year colleague Emil. In addition to the content mentioned earlier, we organize information sessions on topics such as artificial intelligence or our cooperative organization. These sessions are usually conducted by experienced colleagues and provide further insights into how we work.
How do you prepare content, and how do you support students who may have little or no prior IT knowledge?
Paul: We have also prepared suitable tasks for pupils with no previous experience. We aim to convey the basics of programming clearly and provide initial access to the world of IT. Emil and I are also available to answer any questions.
A company internship should allow pupils to form their own impressions and determine whether a career in IT is an option for them.
What do you personally learn from supervising interns in addition to your own training?
Paul: You learn to explain technical content in different ways because each person learns or understands differently. This helps me to deepen my own knowledge and become more confident professionally. I also personally really enjoy passing on knowledge. Basically, both sides learn from each other.
Does this role also help you in terms of communication, responsibility, or future tasks in your professional life?
Paul: Definitely! Dealing with different people and characters is very valuable. In professional life, you work with many different personalities and gain very different experiences, not always positive. The more you interact with people, the better you learn to respond to them and communicate content clearly.
In your experience, what do pupils take away from their internship at Arineo – professionally, but also personally?
Paul: In addition to the professional insights, the internship is the first contact with the world of work for many students. I have observed that many appear much more self-confident at the end of an internship than at the beginning. The initial hesitation quickly disappears once they feel more self-confident. And it’s all the nicer for us when we can leave our interns with a positive impression of our work and the IT world.
Who is the internship particularly suitable for, and what should interested pupils bring?
Paul: In principle, the internship is suitable for anyone interested in technology, regardless of prior knowledge.
An internship should provide an honest insight into the profession and the world of work. It is particularly rewarding for us when interns later decide to train as IT specialists based on their experience and apply to us. But even if someone realizes at the end that this is not the right path, the internship was still successful in my view.
IT internship at Arineo - at a glance
Target group
Pupils with an interest in IT and computer science, regardless of prior knowledge
Field
Computer science with a focus on application development
Period
Possible all year round, ideal for school and voluntary internships
Duration
Usually two weeks (by arrangement)
Content
- Basics of programming
- Insights into the day-to-day work of an IT company
- Tasks based on real activities from the training program
- Topics such as artificial intelligence and modern working methods
Support
Personal support provided by two trainees, supported by experienced colleagues
Aim of the internship
To provide orientation, spark interest, and give a realistic impression of the IT specialist profession.
Contact
For further information and questions: Bianca Altergott
Registration
Via e-mail to bewerbung@arineo.com, including a letter of motivation.
