My experiences as a SWE intern at a Japanese Cloud Security Company.
I was fortunate enough to be selected for an on-site software engineering internship program in Shibuya, Tokyo, at HENNGE for 6 weeks. Here is my story.
How I found out about HENNGE.
In May 2023, I was walking around my career fair at the National University of Singapore and came across a distinctly unique booth. The booth was all white and had a bunch of brochures mentioning of a software engineering internship onsite in Tokyo.
The brochure had the words “HENNGE” in large and I was very interested in finding out more about the program as I had never heard of any opportunities to do overseas internships in Japan. However, having already committed to a summer internship, I was really sad knowing that I could not apply. Upon returning home, I discarded the internship brochures, adding it to the stack of papers in my room. That, I thought, was the end of my dream to ever work in Japan…SIKE.
The application process.
In August 2023, as I tidied up my room, I stumbled upon the HENNGE brochure that I had cast aside months earlier. Instantly, a surge of adventure swept over me, mingled with a tinge of melancholy, knowing that the opportunity had seemingly slipped away, given my impending graduation in a few months, rendering me ineligible for internships.
Nonetheless, I decided to conduct a quick Google search about the company and its programs, with the intention of sharing the information with my friends. It was during this search that I discovered HENNGE offered multiple internship batches throughout the year, one of which aligned perfectly with my timeline.
I proceeded to apply for the HENNGE Global Internship Program and was required to complete and submit a technical test (in either Python or Golang). After a few weeks, I received a phone call from a HENNGE representative for a screening interview. During the screening interview, I met a member of the Engineering Talent Acquisition department, who asked me about my motivations for relocating to Japan and posed some behavioral questions. Several weeks later, I was invited to a technical interview with the developers I would potentially be working with during the internship. The interview was fun as we discussed various projects HENNGE is working on and the technologies being used.
After a few weeks, I received a response from HENNGE. Unfortunately, the slots for the batch were already filled, and I was placed on a waiting list. I was devastated to know that I was so close to being part of the program but just fell short. However, after a few more weeks of painful waiting, I received news that I had been granted a position in the program. LETS GOOOO!
Internship Experience
On the first day, we were introduced to the other interns in our batch, along with out incredible mentors (shout out to Rob, Krizza, and Takashi-San), and briefed on the tasks we would be working on for the next few weeks. I won’t delve into too many details, as most of the task specifics have been covered in other Medium articles. Instead, I’d like to share more on my experience of living in Japan during the internship.
I chose to stay in a Share House provided by Sakura House near Kita-Sando eki. It was a great location, and I walked an average of 15,000 steps every day since I was within walking distance of Shinjuku, Shibuya, Yoyogi-Koen, and Harajuku. There were so many things to see and do in these areas, so I highly recommend staying here.
In addition to exploring the various city wards of Tokyo during my free time, HENNGE organized numerous subsidized activities that we could participate in. One memorable weekend (shout out to JAZZ-san), we went snowboarding, which was incredibly enjoyable since most of us were beginners and we had the opportunity to learn how to snowboard together (it was more like falling around like a bunch of babies). There were also plenty of activities arranged such as board game nights, karaoke nights, bouldering, chocolate tasting and trying food from other countries.
Being a native English speaker with little to no knowledge of Japanese, I didn’t encounter any difficulties working in the office or navigating the city. All the HENNGE members I met were proficient in both English and Japanese, so communication wasn’t an issue. Moreover, as native English speakers themselves, they would offer tips on learning Japanese, which was greatly appreciated.
Some photos of my time throughout the internship
Photos from exploring Japan during the nights and the weekends!
Here’s a section just for the foodies:
On some days, HENNGE would arrange a free lunch for the interns together with two members from the company. Yes you heard me, FREE lunch in JAPAN. Aside from how crazy that is, it was a great way to talk to a HENNGE members from different functions such as sales, marketing and engineering. Below are some of the dishes I had as a GIP intern!
Conclusion
During my 6-week tenure as a GIP intern, I indulged in amazing cuisines, interacted with individuals from diverse backgrounds, and acquired technical skills that I would never learn in school. This program has been an extraordinary journey that has significantly influenced my understanding of culture, teamwork, and professional life. I highly encourage anyone to consider applying for the HENNGE GIP program.
Dion Ng from Singapore interned with the HENNGE Global Internship Program from January 16 to February 16, 2024.
