Andrej Pavelić, Mario Filjak, and Karlo Kožul are 3rd-year undergraduate students specialising in Software Engineering within the Applied Computing programme. During their studies, they initially found employment through the student service and secured permanent positions immediately after graduation. Today, they work for Ericsson Nikola Tesla. How did they achieve this, and how does the knowledge of technologies and technological concepts acquired during their studies assist them in their daily work?

Internships and Employment During Studies

“At Algebra, I received a strong foundational knowledge that allowed me to develop further in a direction that interested me. Additionally, I can easily build on my knowledge in any other area of software engineering thanks to the excellent basic understanding I acquired,” says Andrej Pavelić, who now predominantly works with web applications at Ericsson Nikola Tesla. “In every segment, it is essential to apply and fully understand the concepts of object-oriented programming and databases. When you understand that ‘core’ knowledge, navigating through code and completing tasks becomes easier,” he adds.

Mario Filjak shares similar experiences. “The projects I work on align closely with the technologies included in the regular curriculum at Algebra, so I didn’t need to spend time learning the basics but could start working on project tasks immediately,” says Mario. “However, it’s important not to focus too narrowly on specific technologies, as they change rapidly. It’s crucial to be adaptable and understand concepts and the philosophy of system operation. Although I mostly work with web technologies and some desktop applications, such as Azure, ASP.NET, JavaScript, and WPF, it’s possible that I might need to work with other technologies, which could include, for instance, mobile applications or Raspberry Pi,” emphasises Mario. He notes that a programmer’s task is to learn to work with all technologies required by the job.

Karlo Kožul agrees with Mario that students should seek internships in areas they are interested in and where they envision their professional growth after the third semester, to start working independently as soon as possible. “At that time, for example, I was involved in video game development in Unity. This experience was invaluable in finding an internship and later in my career, which is something employers value,” says Karlo, who now uses Unity in developing applications for HoloLens. Given his existing knowledge, it wasn’t difficult for Karlo to find a company for his internship. “I got a job through the Job Fair and chose Ericsson Nikola Tesla because I work with technologies I am independently interested in and want to continue my professional development with. Ericsson is a great learning opportunity,” he concludes.

Programmers, Open GitHub Accounts and Start Coding!

Few companies still have systematic student internship programmes or accept students for practical work in any form (Ericsson Nikola Tesla is a positive exception), although the situation in the ICT sector and among technology companies here is significantly better than average and experiences from some other economic sectors. We, therefore, asked our students what they could recommend to their peers who are looking for internships that could easily turn into permanent jobs.

“I’ve noticed that most students, during job or internship interviews, talk about what they can do, what they learned in university, or what they studied, but rarely do they concretely show what they have done and demonstrate through a project what they know and have learned. Employers often don’t care about what students write in their CVs. They look for ambition and passion for the job, which can be seen through projects that students work on alongside their studies,” says Andrej Pavelić.

Andrej’s advice in short? “Open GitHub accounts and start coding! This is an inevitable question from employers in every job interview. Additionally, start attending industry-related events, such as lectures, conferences, and workshops – you can make connections and gain valuable knowledge that will help you later,” advises Andrej.

Mario Filjak also mentions GitHub as a place where you should be particularly active before even applying for a job or internship. “Employers are more interested in your GitHub profile than what you learn in university – and that’s how it is. So, become part of the community as soon as possible and work on your projects during your studies, participate in competitions, and thus become competitive in the job market,” he emphasises. “Professors and assistants at Algebra are very approachable, so use this opportunity to ask them for guidance when you work on projects. Use your studies to the fullest. And don’t talk about university during job interviews, no one cares about that; talk about your projects and what you study independently,” Filjak advises.

Is It Possible to Work While Studying?

Our students’ experiences working at Ericsson Nikola Tesla during their studies have been excellent – they all report that the company was a great support in completing their studies, with no organisational difficulties in balancing work and study.

Andrej Pavelić told us that Ericsson Nikola Tesla accommodates all students and adjusts working hours to fit university requirements. “This is the primary reason I chose Ericsson Nikola Tesla. The atmosphere is relaxed, and the employees are approachable and always ready to help,” Andrej conveys his impressions.

Moreover, it’s important to note that internships, specifically at Ericsson Nikola Tesla, often lead to permanent employment, as Mario Filjak has also observed. “The work environment is relaxed, we work on interesting projects, and the organisation of work tasks adapts to university obligations. It’s no secret that most students continue working at Ericsson after graduation, so we often hear questions about how much longer we have until we finish our studies,” says Mario.

Next, check out our interview with Darko Huljenić from Ericsson Nikola Tesla, where we discuss this company’s experiences in hiring our students and providing student internships.