Introduction
Hello, my name is Hiroaki Sekine, and I have been working as an intern at Colorkrew since July. I am currently a first-year master's student at the Chiba Institute of Technology Graduate School, where I primarily research network security and image analysis.
Why I Chose Colorkrew for My Internship
While searching for a long-term internship, I happened to come across a job posting from Colorkrew. I noticed keywords such as "network" and "security" in the description, which immediately caught my attention. I thought it would be a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience that combines my academic interests with real-world business applications, so I decided to apply.
The interview process was also very welcoming and relaxed. Rather than feeling like I was being evaluated, I felt that the interviewers genuinely wanted to understand who I was. This allowed me to talk about myself openly and honestly without feeling nervous.
What I Do as an Intern
My primary responsibility is improving internal business operations. Using cloud services such as Azure and AWS, I work on developing and testing solutions that help streamline various processes within the company.
So far, I have worked on projects such as:
Building a system that sends notifications based on registered schedules Automating certificate renewal processes
My role goes beyond implementation. I often have opportunities to design solutions, propose ideas, and create documentation for both end users and those responsible for future maintenance and operations.
What I Learned Through the Internship
The most important lesson I've learned through this internship is that being a good engineer requires much more than technical skills alone.
Before joining Colorkrew, I already believed that communication and other non-technical skills were important. However, after experiencing real-world work, I realized that they are even more critical than I had imagined.
For example, when creating documentation, the goal is not to produce materials that I can understand. Instead, the goal is to create documentation that allows someone seeing it for the first time to follow the instructions successfully. This requires considering the reader's knowledge, experience, and background while organizing the content.
I also gained a deeper understanding of the importance of communication. While I knew communication mattered in theory, working in a professional environment helped me understand what that actually means in practice. Clearly explaining information, confirming mutual understanding, and ensuring there are no misunderstandings are all essential for successful collaboration.
Another valuable realization was how enjoyable it is to learn new things.
In personal projects and academic research, I often choose technologies simply because I find them interesting. In a professional environment, however, there are many practical constraints, such as customer requirements, existing systems, budgets, and operational considerations. This often requires asking, "What is the best solution under these circumstances?"
Rather than choosing technologies solely based on personal interest, I learned to compare different options and identify the most effective approach within given constraints. This process was both refreshing and incredibly valuable.
What Makes Colorkrew Special
Working as an intern at Colorkrew has allowed me to experience many aspects of the company culture that I find particularly attractive.
- Easy and Open Communication
One of the things I appreciate most is how approachable everyone is.
Whenever I encounter a problem or have a question, there is always someone willing to help. Beyond work, employees often have lunch together and gather at the office, creating opportunities to interact with people from different departments and positions.
As a result, I quickly became comfortable speaking with colleagues. Whether I have questions about work, job hunting, or university life, I always feel comfortable asking for advice.
- Interns Are Treated as Valuable Team Members
I have participated in several long-term internships before. In some cases, interns were mainly assigned internship-specific tasks, and the feedback provided tended to be somewhat limited.
At Colorkrew, however, employees genuinely invest time and effort in mentoring interns. They provide thoughtful feedback on tasks I have never done before and offer guidance on areas where I may not even realize I need improvement.
Because of this, I feel that I am not just completing assignments but continuously learning and growing throughout the experience.
- Opportunities to Work with Technologies That Are Difficult to Access Individually
Public cloud platforms such as Azure and AWS are widely used across the industry. However, for students, continuously using these services on a personal basis can be expensive, making it difficult to gain substantial hands-on experience.
Through this internship, I have had the opportunity to work directly with cloud-based solutions in real business environments. Beyond learning the technologies themselves, I also gain insight into why specific technologies are chosen and what problems they are intended to solve.
This perspective has been extremely valuable and has helped me understand technology from a business standpoint as well as a technical one.
Overall, what makes Colorkrew especially attractive to me is that it offers not only technical growth but also opportunities to learn from and collaborate with talented people across the company.
Final Thoughts
Through my long-term internship at Colorkrew, I have learned many important lessons about what it means to work as an engineer. Beyond technical skills, I have developed stronger communication skills, learned how to approach problem-solving from multiple perspectives, and gained a better understanding of how technology is applied in real-world business environments.
The opportunity to work on actual projects has provided experiences that are difficult to gain through university life alone. It has also given me valuable insights as I think about my future career.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article.
I hope this story has helped you learn a little more about Colorkrew's internship program. If you are interested, I encourage you to apply and experience it for yourself.
Careers Site: https://www.colorkrew.com/recruit/
