For Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang, a Vietnamese undergraduate majoring in International Economics and Trade at Donghua University in Shanghai, internships served as a crucial bridge between campus and career. Through hands-on experience at Judy Doll and ByteDance, Trang not only gained industry experience but also clarified her career direction, strengthening key skills such as business thinking, cross-departmental collaboration, and data analysis. Here are her key takeaways.

During her time at Judy Doll, a Chinese cosmetics brand, Trang did not limit herself to a single type of task in the cosmetics industry. She was involved in brand marketing and product promotion, gaining hands-on experience in market research and user feedback collection. She believes internships should not be confined to academic specialization and that students should actively seek cross-disciplinary opportunities. Even foundational tasks such as research and collaboration can help build transferable skills essential in any professional setting.

Her experience also reshaped her views on creativity. In the workplace, Trang realized that ideas must serve a purpose — enhancing product competitiveness and meeting user needs. Unlike the often idealistic creativity nurtured on campus, workplace creativity demands practicality. Internships, she found, are crucial for learning how to turn ideas into actionable outcomes and for cultivating a strong commercial mindset. She advises students to think carefully during internships and ensure that each task aligns with team goals and product value.

Moving from Judy Doll to ByteDance marked a significant step forward. There, Trang was exposed to advanced technologies and professional data analysis methods, systematically learning skills such as user needs analysis and product optimization. She emphasizes that students should not blindly chase large companies when choosing an internship; what matters most is whether the platform values intern training and provides meaningful, hands-on opportunities for growth.

Trang also realized how her academic training could translate into professional strengths. Courses such as applied statistics and industrial marketing proved highly relevant, supporting her analytical work and deepening her understanding of promotion strategies. She encourages students to avoid focusing solely on grades and to apply classroom knowledge during internships, turning their academic training into a workplace advantage.

Through these two internships, Trang gradually defined her career path in the internet industry, focusing on product operations and data analysis. To her, internships are not just about gaining experience, but about trial and error, exploration, and self-positioning. By testing different roles and environments, students can better understand their strengths and make more informed career decisions.

Looking back, Trang sees her internship journey as one of breaking boundaries, developing skills, and finding direction. Her story encourages international students to seize opportunities, broaden their horizons, and turn internships into a strong foundation for entering the workplace.

Source: Official WeChat account of Donghua University International Education Center (ID: "DHU-IEC")