Coming straight from the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology where he is studying Software Development, Gabriel, 20, joined us for a summer internship at our head office in Gozo.
He embraced every opportunity he could to gain experience and make new friends.
We asked Gabriel to recall some of the proudest, most enjoyable and surprising moments from his 10-week Keen journey.
What have you been working on at Keen?
A wide range of projects. My activities were so varied and included developing ads, working on new websites, enhancing existing web pages, and lots more.
On the first day I arrived, everyone was very friendly and welcomed me warmly. They didn’t make me wait or sit in a corner, they just took me straight to Keen’s creative area and we got going right away.
The tasks I were given on the first day were straightforward but I could tell this wasn’t going to be about sitting at a desk, it was about getting a well-rounded experience of what it’s like to work in a forward-thinking company.
The project managers and web development teams not only fully supported me, they also gave me more and more responsibility as time went on. It was such a great learning experience, and it really helped me to gain confidence.
And if I wanted to shadow someone in a different department, I just had to ask. Nothing was too much trouble.
‘As an intern, you’re taken seriously’
What have you learned at Keen?
Since joining Keen, my communications skills have improved immensely. At first I admit I felt a bit nervous about giving my opinions and ideas about projects, but then I felt good because I saw I was really being taken seriously.
Another thing that I have learned is the way that websites are developed at Keen. They’re all custom-built and unique to that business rather than an off-the-shelf template. Every aspect is designed in the best interest of the business customer. As a developer you have the opportunity to design a layout that will be able to stand out from the crowd.
Keen’s way of working was much more advanced than what I had learned in college. I feel that as a student, no matter how good your grades are or how much you study, there’s always something new to learn, especially in my field because new formats are being invented every few months.
What have you enjoyed most about your time at Keen?
The internship broadened my horizons. Having a good work-life balance is a big thing at Keen. It’s not just about work, it’s about your life too. It’s really clear that everyone, including senior management, is always looking out for you.
There were regular team events like beach barbecues at Ramla Bay, free pizza on Fridays, free cooked breakfasts and staff birthday celebrations. I feel that these moments are so important, because when you socialise with the people you work with, you feel more confident and comfortable in the office.
What I especially liked is that the creative team is allowed to wear jeans and t-shirts, which means you feel really comfortable. And I’m really going to miss the Keen pool table in the recreation area.
We had some hilarious and really competitive games of pool there. Playing pool at lunchtime against the big boss was a lot of fun.
What advice do you have for an intern?
Take every opportunity that comes along. There’s always something new to learn and never be afraid to fail. It’s all part of finding your own way in life.
Our purpose is to champion potential
At Keen, we are passionate about servicing our business customers brilliantly and pride ourselves on delivering expert support to meet our customers marketing needs.
We offer internship opportunities covering areas such as social media and content creation, research, branding, business development, internationalisation, UI and UX design, web and app development as well as graphic design.
Our well-structured internship programmes provide opportunities to be part of real projects that make a difference for our customers, businesses and communities. We work with clients across a vast number of industries and never get bored.
Your experiences at Keen can help to open doors and build lasting bonds. You might even opt to stay onboard with us. Anything is possible!
Would you like to find out more? We would love to hear from you.