Last year, CloudSmiths, a Dynamic Technologies group company, offered Tauhir September a life-changing opportunity. Tauhir, suitably equipped with grit and perseverance, had reached out to the company when his dreams of studying tech came to a grinding halt. Impressed with his attitude and seeing his potential, CloudSmiths brought him onboard as a trainee intern, which resulted in Tauhir being accepted into BSc Information and Knowledge Systems at the University of Pretoria.
Tauhir credits his CloudSmiths internship with giving him the tools he needs to succeed in his studies. “Working at CloudSmiths helped me develop critical thinking skills, especially in situations that required solving complex problems under pressure. This has directly translated into my academic work. I’m now able to approach assignments and projects more efficiently and with a clearer problem-solving mindset.”
Being part of the CloudSmiths team has given Tauhir a head start. “I gained a wide range of practical computer skills that gave me a solid foundation for university. This made it easier to grasp technical concepts and apply them in coursework, especially in areas involving software tools, systems thinking and project management. Being exposed to a professional environment so early helped me develop valuable skills, such as communication, time management and problem-solving, which I now apply both in my studies and personal growth. It has also shown me what it’s like to work in the tech industry, which motivated me even more to pursue a career in development. Overall, the experience helped me feel more equipped and confident in tackling my studies.”
In addition to studying, Tauhir returns to CloudSmiths during his semester breaks. For the upcoming break he will be part of the IT support team, further broadening his experience. “I plan to take full advantage of being around the development teams. I’ll actively engage with the developers, ask questions, gain insights into their day-to-day work and look for opportunities to shadow them on real projects. My goal is to better understand how they approach problem-solving and to deepen my understanding of programming in a real-world context.”
Colleagues at the company encouraged Tauhir to reach out if he needed help, and as his course becomes more practical in the second semester, he’ll be going to them for advice and guidance as he starts working on more hands-on projects. In the short term he aims to upskill himself in C++ and C#, the programming languages he is studying at university, while also learning more about Google Workspace tools.
In the long term, he says, “My goal is to become part of the development team at CloudSmiths. I really admire the work they do and I’d love to contribute to their projects one day. Along the way, I plan to keep improving my programming, problem-solving and collaboration skills so that I’m ready for that opportunity when it comes.”
Tauhir’s trainee internship at CloudSmiths was life-changing, and the relationship continues to shape his future. “Working at CloudSmiths has been one of the best experiences I've had. It’s given me a real head start compared with many other students who haven't yet had the chance to gain industry experience.”