Trying on a career shouldn’t have to wait until after graduation. Just like our games let players try on jobs and explore possibilities they might never encounter in school, internships give students the chance to do the same thing in real life. They’re a safe space to experiment, learn, and discover - but they’re also an opportunity for companies to see the future of their industry through fresh eyes.
That’s the magic of internships: they’re not just about teaching, they’re about exchanging. Interns bring curiosity, new perspectives, and questions that challenge “the way we’ve always done it.” Companies, in turn, get to pass along knowledge, test-drive potential talent, and expand their own social capital by building connections with the next generation.
This summer, we got to experience that firsthand with Caroline - a gamer, designer, and all-around creative powerhouse who joined our team. What happened over the course of a few months is exactly why internships matter: not only for students, but for the companies who take the leap to bring them on.
The Learning Moments You Can’t Get in School
Caroline: One of the biggest things I learned had nothing to do with coding or design - it was how to navigate a professional environment. That’s something no class syllabus has prepared me for.
Bridging the Gap Between Generations
Caroline: One thing that stood out was how much the leadership team valued my feedback - even on small details. As an intern, you half-expect your input to be politely ignored, but they listened.
What Did You Think Game Design Would Be… And What Surprised You?
Caroline: I’ll admit that I came in with a pretty realistic idea of what game design was like, so I wasn’t shocked by the day-to-day. It felt familiar, like my school projects, only bigger, with more moving pieces and more voices in the mix. I already knew game development could be both fast-paced and technical, especially close to release dates, and now understand why collaboration is really important.
Your Biggest “oops” Moment?
Caroline: I was auditing some data and used the wrong source for all of it. Once I caught the mistake, I redid everything. Painful in the moment, but it drilled into me the importance of double-checking before diving in. It’s way easier than redoing hours of work later.
Seeing the World Through Player Eyes
Caroline: My perspective on players didn’t change drastically - I already knew games could be powerful tools for learning. But I did have an “aha” moment: if you can make learning genuinely fun, you can spark curiosity that keeps players exploring far beyond the game. That’s huge.
Career Try-On: Is This the Right Fit?
Caroline: This internship confirmed it - I want to be a game designer. More specifically, I want to work on educational games that inspire and empower people to learn, even outside traditional classrooms. So even though no brand-new roles caught my eye, the ones I was already excited about, I’m even more determined to pursue them now.
Advice to My Future Self
Caroline: Don’t stress so much. I’d never had an internship or job before this, and I worried I wouldn’t adapt to a professional environment. Turns out, it’s not about knowing everything from day one - it’s about being willing to learn.
Advice to My Future Boss
Caroline: I can’t speak for all young creatives, but here’s what I wish more employers understood: We want to create new things. We’re not here just to chase trends - we want to innovate and shape what’s next.
Future-Proof Your Workforce
Caroline’s story is proof that internships work. For students, it’s a chance to try on a career and see if it really fits. For companies, it’s a way to spark creativity, share knowledge, and maybe even discover your next star hire.
But the impact goes deeper than just a single summer. When companies invest in interns, they’re building social capital - creating connections with future talent, strengthening ties with schools and communities, and showing they care about more than just today’s bottom line. That kind of investment pays off, not just in reputation, but in the energy and innovation that interns bring into your culture.
Internships aren’t just “nice to have” - they’re one of the smartest (and most rewarding) ways to grow your future workforce while also amplifying your company’s impact.
