Developing professional skills: Suman Shafi shares her internship experience at ONLYOFFICE

Since we launched our PR and marketing internship program in 2024, we have managed to gather a team of talented interns from all over the world who make a valuable contribution to our project and develop professional skills for their future careers. In this article, we interview Suman Shafi, our intern from Pakistan, to share her impressions and experiences.

Personal background

Please briefly introduce yourself.

My journey began with a love for words. From newsrooms to tech writing, I’ve shaped stories with clarity and creativity. With a background in journalism, I started in news media, later shifting to tech-driven content where strategy meets storytelling.

What was your inspiration behind pursuing this particular career path or field of study?

I have always been into writing and expression since my school days. As I entered university, I felt drawn to finding meaningful ways to communicate my words, whether through my poetry book or the freelance articles I wrote back then. Choosing Journalism as my major wasn’t my first choice, but with my family’s support, I took the leap to upscale my love for writing and learn more about the media and its workings.

The one person (a mentor, teacher or public figure) who has influenced your professional journey so far?

While I haven’t had an official mentor, my father and my best friend have played a huge role in shaping my journey. They’ve always believed in my potential and pushed me to pursue my passion for writing and creativity, even when I doubted myself. Their constant encouragement and honest feedback helped me stay focused and confident in my goals.

What’s a fun or quirky fact about you that your team might not know?

A quirky fact about me is that I’m obsessed with organizing things by color — whether it’s my wardrobe, my books, or even my digital files. It’s a bit of a strange habit, but it helps me stay visually organized and makes everything look aesthetically pleasing!

ONLYOFFICE experience

What’s the one surprising thing you discovered about ONLYOFFICE after joining?

I was genuinely surprised by how collaborative and extensive the environment is, especially for a tech-driven company. I was not expecting a real-time document editing and live collaboration through ONLYOFFICE DocSpace to be such a game changer. It truly made me understand how seamless remote work can be!

Have you had any memorable moments with your team or fellow interns?

I didn’t get to interact much with my fellow interns personally, but even in a remote setup, there was a strong sense of support. Whether it was someone leaving a “great job” comment on my LinkedIn post about a newly published article, or watching others grow by attending events and embracing new opportunities — those little moments made me feel like a part of something bigger. It reminded me that even from a distance, connection and encouragement matter.

Is there a particular value or practice at ONLYOFFICE that resonates with you?

What really resonates with me is the trust and freedom given to explore and grow. I always knew I had support, especially since I was new to the field, but even as an intern, I was encouraged to take full ownership of my work. I was given clear guidelines, yet every task — from writing articles to pitching ideas and conducting deep research — was solely my responsibility. That level of autonomy, combined with ongoing support and constructive feedback, made me feel truly valued and gave me the confidence to push my limits without the fear of making mistakes.

If you could describe your internship experience in three words, what would they be and why?

It was challenging, insightful and rewarding because it brought me out of my comfort zone. Where my writings were confined to news and life, writing for tech was something I never thought I could do. It was almost like challenging myself to break the boundaries to learn about what more I can do, and I think I have achieved that partly, and still have a long way to go. This internship taught me new things daily, gave me a sense of achievement, and made me realize that this is just the beginning 🙂

How has this internship influenced your career goals?

This internship made me realize that I enjoy writing about tech and SaaS far more than I ever expected. It genuinely shifted my career focus — from purely creative writing to exploring technical writing, SEO, and content strategy. It gave me the confidence to believe that I can blend creativity with structured, impactful writing in the digital space.

Skill development and motivation

Can you share a project you worked on during your internship that you’re particularly proud of?

I think everything I’ve worked on so far has brought out a new side of me and helped me grow in unexpected ways. From articles where the back-end coding was done correctly to LinkedIn ads and written content that didn’t require any edits — these moments really boosted my confidence. Being part of a growing team and seeing my contributions valued as they were felt truly amazing.

What tools or skills have you picked up that you think will be useful in your future career?

I was always curious about SEO alongside writing, and this internship gave me a solid foundation. I learned how to use WordPress to create SEO-friendly content, conducted extensive research, and even drafted and sent out pitch letters — giving me a hands-on intro to email marketing. I also worked on keyword translation tailored for the ONLYOFFICE environment.

One of the highlights was being introduced to ONLYOFFICE DocSpace — a new way of live collaboration on documents, which was entirely new to me. But the key skill I picked up was writing tech and SaaS-related articles. I never imagined myself in that niche, but now I genuinely enjoy it and look forward to learning and growing more in this direction, especially with SEO.

How do you stay motivated and productive during remote work?

I follow a set routine and break my tasks into small, manageable goals. I usually plan my work based on what needs to be completed by the end of the day, which helps me stay focused and organized.

But honestly, when it comes to writing, the motivation comes naturally. The moment I know I have to write, I’m instantly in the zone — nothing really holds me back from diving right in.

Future plans

What’s your dream job or company (besides ONLYOFFICE, of course)?

My dream job would be to work as a content strategist or creative lead at a global brand that values storytelling, innovation, and purpose — something like HubSpot, Canva, or even working independently with diverse clients through my own content studio someday.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

In five years, I see myself leading content projects that make a difference — maybe managing a small team, running a creative business of my own, or writing a second book. Whatever it is, I hope it combines creativity, impact, and continuous learning.

Join our team

Do you want to join our PR and marketing team as an intern? Send your resume and cover letter to marketing@onlyoffice.com and indicate “job title + your name” in the email subject. We would love to hear from you!

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