From classroom code to real-world data project [what this internship taught me]
What really happens during a Data Services internship? Cassius shares the errors, lightbulb moments and lessons that brought technology to life.
Read time:
3 min
At university, coding problems usually come with instructions. You know what you are building, what the expected outcome is and, most of the time, that there is a solution waiting to be found.
But in real life, it does not always work like that!
Sometimes the instructions are less obvious.
Sometimes a system gives you an error message that does not really explain the error.
And sometimes the smallest detail, such as a date format hidden by Excel, can stop an entire data import from working!
This is my amazing four-week Data Services internship at binary10! Grab a coffee and come to this journey with me.
“My internship became a bridge between what I had learned academically and how data work happens in the real world.”
Starting with the theory.
I recently graduated from the University of Reading with a First-Class Honours degree in Computer Science. My interest in technology started much earlier, when I studied computing at GCSE, but data became a particular interest during a university databases module. It simply clicked with me!
My degree gave me a strong foundation in databases, coding and software engineering. However, I wanted to understand how those skills were applied outside a classroom.
I had learned the theory, but I still had questions:
• What does a data project actually look like from beginning to end?
• How do technical teams deal with inconsistent data?
• What happens when a system does not behave as expected?
• How do consultants explain technical decisions to clients and stakeholders?
• Where do tools such as SQL and Power BI fit into a wider project?
The binary10 internship offered exactly what I needed!
The three biggest lessons I will take forward!
1. Understanding the full data migration lifecycle
I now have a clearer picture of the iterative cycles, data quality frameworks and reconciliation steps involved in moving data successfully.
2. Communicating through data
Working with Power BI showed me how visual reporting can communicate data quality issues and project progress more clearly.
3. Thinking beyond the technology
I learned how technical teams communicate with clients and stakeholders, understand expectations and connect detailed project work with the wider outcome an organisation needs.
A clearer picture of my future.
The internship confirmed how much I enjoy hands-on data analysis and technical problem-solving!
I am still open to exploring different directions, including software engineering and roles connecting marketing with data technology. However, I now have a much clearer idea of what a career in data could look like and the skills I want to continue developing.
I also left with something that can be difficult to gain in a classroom: CONFIDENCE.
My advice for future Data Services interns:
If you are starting your first tech internship, my biggest piece of advice is simple:
“Do not be afraid to ask questions. That is where the real learning happens.”
You are not expected to arrive knowing everything. Be prepared to experiment, make mistakes and try again. Listen to your mentors, contribute to the group and take advantage of every opportunity to speak with people across the business.
I would also recommend spending two minutes at the end of each day writing down:
• What you learned
• What you built
• What you solved
• What challenged you
• What you want to understand next
I wish I had done this consistently from my first day. When four weeks are full of workshops, projects, conversations and new tools, it is easy to forget how much progress you have made. Recording the small wins helps you see the bigger journey!
Quick-fire: My internship in a few words.
• Favourite task? Writing SQL
• Favourite technology? Power BI
• Biggest surprise? The number of stages in the data migration lifecycle
• Best advice I received? Take advantage of every moment
• Office or remote day? Office day
• One word for binary10? Connection
• Skill I improved most? Writing SQL
• Proudest achievement? Completing both projects
• What will I remember most? The people
Interested in starting a career in data?
Explore opportunities at binary10 and discover how you could develop practical experience across data migration, data quality and technology consulting. Follow binary10 on LinkedIn.