From university to full-time developer: Aleksandr shares his student journey at ONLYOFFICE

Our Back to school series is not only about returning to classes but also about people who balance studying with their first professional experience and gradually turn what they learn into real skills.

For many students, having a job while studying can be challenging. Classes, assignments, exams, and work all have to fit into the same week. However, working on real projects can change how you view your studies and give you a clearer idea of where you want to go professionally.

In this interview, Aleksandr shares what it was like to combine university life with development work, what he learned from working with a large codebase, and how he eventually moved into a full-time role.

Student life

What were you studying when you joined ONLYOFFICE?

I studied computer systems and technology. By the time I joined ONLYOFFICE, I started my third year.

What inspired you to apply for an internship or student position here?

I wanted to do more than just write code for the sake of writing code. I wanted to work on a product that people actually use.

What was your first impression of ONLYOFFICE?

I was surprised that I was given real tasks right away instead of being told to spend a month reading documentation. It was also easy to ask anyone a question.

Balancing work and studies

How did you balance classes, assignments, and work responsibilities?

Honestly, not always perfectly. A flexible schedule helped: I had classes during the day, and my work could be adjusted around them. I learned to plan my week in advance. Otherwise, everything would fall apart.

What was the biggest challenge during that period?

Exam session. When you have exams and deadlines for tasks at the same time, you have to set priorities pretty strictly.

Did working while studying help you become more organized or disciplined? How?

Yes, very much. When you don’t have ten free hours a day, you automatically learn not to stretch a single task out over the whole day.

Growth journey

What skills did you develop the most while working here?

Working with a large, existing codebase. You don’t really learn that at university. I also improved my debugging and profiling skills and learned how to read other people’s code.

Looking back, what project or achievement are you most proud of?

The performance optimization tasks. When you see in the profiler that something has become several times faster, it’s a really satisfying feeling.

Was there a moment when you realized you wanted to continue your career at ONLYOFFICE?

When I realized that the tasks had become more interesting to me than my university assignments. I wanted to see them through to the end, not just do them and forget about them.

Transition to full-time

How did it feel to transition from being a student employee to a full-time team member?

Calm, without any stress. I already knew the team, the project, and the processes. The biggest changes were the workload and the responsibility.

What has changed the most since your student days?

I started thinking not only about how to do a task, but also how it would affect the rest of the code and the users.

If you could go back and give your student self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Don’t be afraid to ask “stupid” questions. Half a day of struggling on your own can often be avoided with one message to a colleague.

ONLYOFFICE experience

What makes ONLYOFFICE a great place for students or young professionals?

Real tasks from the first day, a live product, and an understanding that students also have their studies to manage.

How has the team supported your learning and professional growth?

There was always someone I could ask a question. Code reviews here aren’t about tearing your work apart. They’re about explaining why something might be better done differently, and that’s how you learn faster.

What’s your favorite part of working here today?

Seeing the result of your work. You make something, and people actually use it.

Photo by Social Mode on Unsplash

Fun & personal

Describe your journey at ONLYOFFICE in three words.

Study, code, coffee.

Coffee or tea during exam season?

Coffee.

What was your go-to study playlist or productivity hack?

No music with lyrics, just ambient or lo-fi. As for productivity hacks, I use a 45-minute timer and keep my phone in another room.

Which ONLYOFFICE feature or tool did you use the most as a student?

The Spreadsheet Editor, both for studying and preparing reports, as well as for my own calculations.

What’s one memory from your student days at ONLYOFFICE that still makes you smile?

My first task that made it into a release. I specifically opened the build afterwards to see how it worked for users.

Advice for students

What advice would you give students who are thinking about applying for internships or student positions?

Don’t wait until you “grow into it.” Nobody expects perfect code from a student. They expect a willingness to figure things out.

Why shouldn’t students wait until graduation to gain work experience?

After graduation, you’re competing with people who may already have a couple of years of experience. Studying also becomes more meaningful when you can see where what you’re learning is actually used.

What would you say to someone starting their first day at ONLYOFFICE?

Relax. Nobody expects you to perform miracles in your first month. Ask questions, take notes, and don’t be afraid to admit that you didn’t understand something.

Start gaining experience while you study with ONLYOFFICE

At ONLYOFFICE, students and young professionals can take on practical tasks, learn from experienced colleagues, and gain experience while continuing their studies. For those who are ready to give it a try, the first step is simply to apply.

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