The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world we once knew, and it forced us to adapt to a different reality, mainly when related to our work life. However, some companies and businesses suffered a more significant impact than others. At VisionSpace, we could still hire some employees for new open positions, but we needed to adapt our procedures.
To better perceive the job-hunting process in the middle of a pandemic, we interviewed our intern/ freelancer, Selman Özleyen (S).
Selman was supposed to come to VisionSpace as an Erasmus + intern. However, with the borders closed due to the pandemic, the Erasmus+ program was not an option. Still, he had done a promising interview, and we decided to perform a remote traineeship with a freelance contract. We signed another freelance activity with Selman for the holiday period in February, but the possibility for an in-person visit stays on hold due to COVID-19.
Selman, how was the job search process during the pandemic?
Selman: I have always wanted to do an internship abroad. Therefore, I searched for an opportunity online on job boards for Erasmus+ Internships. However, when I applied and got accepted, we weren’t living in the pandemic yet.
Was it more challenging to do the internship from home? What were the differences?
S “Some things were hard, but it also had positive points. For example, I needed to adapt my sleeping schedule. During school time, I was used to studying all day and night and slept when I wanted. In the beginning, it was hard to do everything, and having your bed right behind your desk, makes it even more difficult, but I managed it. Another obstacle I needed to overcome was my internet connection, as it is not that great. The positive aspect is that with the lockdown, you have more flexibility, time to reflect on yourself and develop new habits, even though it can be somehow challenging to establish new habits staying in the same environment.”
Do you think it would be different if you could come to the office on a volunteer basis rather than work from your home country?
S “If I had the choice, I would come most days to the office as I go to the library most of the days because I find it easier to focus on these places. And at the office, I would be able to have more help. It might have been better, but it is also possible that it would have been a similar experience because I try to solve problems on my own, and I make a phone call when I need.”
What kind of support did you get from VisionSpace that made it easier to work from home?
S “All the devices and components I needed were sent on time, and I did not need to wait for anything. In this context, work remotely had no disadvantage.”
You had weekly meetings with the team and daily meetings with our Technical Director. How helpful were these meetings?
S “Even though the meetings were short, about 10 to 15 minutes, they were very productive and helped me reach my goals. We discussed critical issues, and it was great to reflect on the project and get different opinions on it. They were truly relevant.”
What would you like to do if you had three more months to work with us?
S “If I had extra time, I would like to focus on improving the usage of data structures and what I’ve implemented, such as the housekeeping parameters that are somehow partial and some services that I ignored. I would like to have it completed even though there are not yet enough features or appropriate software for using it in flight. I do not know if there is a PUS compliance test, but I would like the board to pass if there is one.“
As already mentioned, Selman has signed another freelance contract with VisionSpace.
Written by: Juliane Verissímo
Featured image courtesy of Dylan Ferreira on Unsplash
