Remote work, global team, real growth: Zhang Qiaowen’s internship story at ONLYOFFICE

We continue our series of interviews with our wonderful interns. Today, Zhang Qiaowen from China talks about her internship journey — balancing studies with remote teamwork, working in a global environment, and stepping outside the comfort zone to grow.

Personal background

Please briefly introduce yourself.

I am a master’s student at South China University of Technology, majoring in a field related to marketing. I have a strong interest in the internet industry, so I applied for an internship at ONLYOFFICE in digital advertising and was lucky to join the team. Now I am gaining valuable experience in remote work, learning how to balance my studies with practice, and enjoying this unforgettable journey.

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

I’d say my inspiration comes from two things: the digital marketing theories I’ve studied and my constant curiosity about the internet industry. ONLYOFFICE, as a global office software company, combines both — international teamwork and fast product updates. That really matches my vision of blending technology with marketing and makes me feel I’m on the right track.

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

My mentor Alina has profoundly shaped the way I think about work. She taught me the philosophy that “a problem and its solution should always come together.” In remote collaboration, simply pointing out issues only creates obstacles, but bringing a solution to the table helps move things forward. This mindset has helped me grow quickly in a cross-cultural team and also made me realize that the essence of effective communication is solving problems together.

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

What my team might not know is that my ‘best office spot’ is actually my bed — so yes, I sometimes literally work lying down. Of course, it’s not the healthiest posture, and I wouldn’t recommend copying it. But what I’ve realized is that the beauty of remote work lies in being able to design your own comfortable environment, which really boosts my efficiency. Especially when we’re free from the constraints of a traditional office setting and strict rules, focus and creativity seem to come much more naturally.

ONLYOFFICE experience

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

What impressed me the most was how seamlessly the company manages a globally distributed team — people from different time zones and languages working together through cloud collaboration to consistently deliver high-quality products. Even more surprising is the pace: 2–3 major updates every year. This kind of ‘Silicon Valley speed’ really gave me a firsthand sense of the incredible energy of the internet industry.

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

The experience of taking part in the China Hi-Tech Fair in Shenzhen was especially valuable: we not only demonstrated the product to clients but also actively collected user feedback. As an introvert, it was a big step for me to start conversations with industry professionals — and in that moment, I realized that ‘understanding user needs’ is not just about numbers in a report, but also about those sparks in people’s eyes and the real pain points they share in face-to-face conversations.

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

The idea of being goal-oriented rather than time-controlled really speaks to me. ONLYOFFICE has no clock-in culture — instead, it encourages everyone to stay self-driven through project milestones. This kind of freedom requires stronger self-discipline, but when you see an international team bringing their strengths together toward the same goal, you truly understand what it means to work in a professional, adult way.

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

• Fulfilling: balancing studies and work helped me develop strong multitasking skills and gave me a real sense of achievement.
• Freedom: the flexibility in both how and what I work on allowed me to take initiative and spark creativity.
• Collaboration: working with teammates across eight time zones taught me the art of proactive communication.

How has this internship influenced your career goals?

This internship shattered my old idea of just having a ‘stable job.’ Now I’m aiming for more challenging goals — positions that can keep me motivated and give me space to unleash creativity. The internet industry has taught me one key lesson: real growth always happens outside of your comfort zone.

Skill development and motivation

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

What I’m most proud of is helping prepare for the China Hi-Tech Fair in Shenzhen. From creating product brochures to interviewing users on-site and handling follow-up promotion, I got to experience the full cycle of a marketing project. It was a great exercise in planning, organizing, and coordinating.

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

I’d highlight three areas where I’ve grown the most:

1. Marketing skills: learning to use different tools and research methods for industry analysis, and gaining deeper insight into creating articles and videos.
2. International communication: working fully in English has greatly improved my professional writing and expression.
3. Goal management: staying strategically focused even while handling many fragmented tasks.

How do you stay motivated and productive during remote work?

I combine the Pomodoro technique with daily task notes. Every morning, I first analyze the day’s key tasks and outline a strategy — for example, if I need to write an article, I’ll sketch the framework before diving into details. Then I use a Pomodoro timer to block distractions, collect materials, and complete each task step by step. This workflow has proven so effective that I now apply it to my studies as well, which has been one of my biggest takeaways.

Future plans

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

After this internship, I discovered that my ideal work environment should combine open collaboration with strong support for growth. Something similar to ONLYOFFICE — where mentors guide you patiently but also give you the freedom to contribute in your own way.

I’d like to stay in the internet industry, especially with companies that build global products. They usually move fast, update technology frequently, and keep you in a constant learning mode. In the future, I might even try working in a startup, because in a fast-changing environment personal growth can be on a completely different level.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

In the next five years, I hope to dive deeper into digital marketing and build solid expertise in areas like SEO, advertising, and data analysis. I’ve come to see that marketing isn’t just about writing copy or running ads — it’s about truly understanding user needs and even anticipating industry trends.

Ideally, I’d like to be independently responsible for a product’s growth strategy, figuring out how to expand the user base through social media, content marketing, and other channels. I may also focus on a specific niche, like SaaS tools or AI-driven products, to explore more efficient marketing models.

Of course, with technology evolving so quickly, I’ll keep a close eye on new tools and trends — like AI-generated content and automated advertising. My goal is not just to remain at the “execution” level, but to grow into a strategic marketer who understands both the market and the technology.

Join our team

Want to join our 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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