My Internship at Method4

I came to Method4 in June 2016 straight from my second year of university. I moved from student accommodation into a flat in Cardiff and within a few days I started work. It was on day one that I realised that I knew nothing about web development.

The basics of HTML and CSS had been covered in lectures, but next to nothing about actually producing a product. I was thrown in at the deep end, but I was always supported. Method4 has a great team of people who are all passionate about the work they do and want to help each other succeed. I was given a whirlwind tour of visual studio, C#, LESS (a precompiler for CSS) and MVC. Initially it felt a little overwhelming, but within a week I started to write code for Method4. It was a very hands-on approach and ultimately it was perfect for me. My confidence grew and so did my abilities as a developer and as a self-starter.

Method4 works in circles: small working groups who self-organise their work loads and work on projects together. This means that everyone has a sense of ownership for the finished product, and there’s always someone to turn to for help if you need it. 

Over time I began taking on bigger and bigger chunks of work and felt I was a useful part of the team. I never felt like I was looked down on for only being an intern and that was a huge confidence booster. Over time I would work on bespoke systems from scratch, SharePoint projects and existing projects. I don’t think I would have had the opportunity to work on such a diverse range of projects anywhere else and I’m grateful for the opportunity this placement has given me.

Out of hours Method4 still feels like a community and regularly goes on nights out and other activities. Early on we took part in the Welsh 3 peaks challenge. It was a fantastic team building opportunity and helped me to get to know the people I was working with. As various other interns had to go back to university, we’d have nights out and there’s even a small running club on Tuesday lunchtimes! Method4 feels less like a place of work and, cliché though it may be, more like a community or family.

During my time in Cardiff I’ve gained confidence in my own abilities, learnt a ton of new skills and made some great friends. It’s an experience I really treasure.