Breda, 15 July 2026
Thomas is 18 years old and studies Software Development at Curio in Roosendaal. For his internship, he joined LAB Services, where he worked on software projects and learned how systems are built and used in real-world environments.
DFinding an internship wasn’t easy for Thomas. Many positions were already full or mainly focused on bachelor’s degree students. What mainly caught his attention was that the work goes way beyond just building websites, like he was taught by his education. “Suddenly I saw all kinds of robots and automation, which really interested me.”
Going in, Thomas had no idea what to expect, but he quickly figured out how things worked. “You first discuss what you’re going to build. Then you work it out and look at what can be improved or added. I also got quite a lot of freedom to figure things out myself, which I really liked.”
What Thomas enjoys most about his work is figuring out how things actually work, especially when you’re starting from scratch. “At the beginning, you don’t really know anything yet, but by searching and trying things out, you start to understand how it works. Then you can actually build on it.”
He spent a lot of time reading documentation, asking colleagues questions, and working with systems he had never used before. “When everything is new, you just have to start somewhere. Trying things out actually helps you learn faster.”
A key moment during his internship was the step to his first real project that was actually used within the company. “At first, I mainly did skill building projects. Then I got to work on a dashboard that was actually being used. Finishing something that really works without errors, makes you feel proud. Especially the first time that happens.”
“I’m a pretty quiet person myself, and that’s totally fine here. It’s just a nice, relaxed workplace. If you have questions, you can always ask them.” There were also some fun moments outside of work. He especially remembers the company barbecue. “We played darts together. I ended up winning at the last moment, which was really fun. That’s the kind of thing that sticks with you.”
For new interns, Thomas keeps his advice simple: “Just be yourself and go with the flow. You’ll get used to everything else eventually.”