From Campus to Career
My journey from student to developer — and what I wish I knew before day one.
Saro Sereyvichea · Application Developer · OML
14 Sep 2026
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What we'll cover
Introduction & get to know each other
Roadmap
Why internship
How I found and got my internship
From intern to full time staff
Challenges at each stage
Learning new technology in the AI era
Can AI really replace developers?
What AI contributes to business
From PRD to PROD
The developer of the future
Key takeaways
01 — Introduction
Let's get to know each other
About me
2025 Graduated from Institute of Technology of Cambodia - Currently pursuing a career in software development - Still figuring things out! [fun fact]
About you
- What year are you in?
- What are you building right now?
- What worries you most about your first job?
02 — Roadmap
The path, stage by stage
InternStart as an Intern in Year 4
DeveloperThesis project and full time staff at OML
GraduateComputer Science
DeveloperOwn problems, not just tickets. Explore more...
BeyondKeep learning - Keep growing
03 — Why internship
Why an internship matters
- You learn how software is actually built, not just how code is written
- You work with Git, code review, deadlines and people
- You discover which kind of work you like — before committing
- It's the most common door into a first full‑time role
In my case
Gained real-world experience working on actual projects and collaborating with a team of developers.
04 — Finding an internship
How I found and got my internship
Where I looked
Attended to event that led to the internship opportunity.
What got me the offer
Portfolio, School projects, prepare well for the interview.
What I'd do differently
Focus on building a strong foundation in the fundamentals.
05 — Intern to full‑time
Turning an internship into a job
- Ask questions early; ship something small, then something bigger
- Be reliable — finish what you start and communicate blockers
- Understand the product and the users, not only the code
- Write things down: notes, docs, commit messages
My story
Ask good questions, take initiative, and show that you can contribute to the team. Demonstrate your skills and work ethic during the internship, and express your interest in a full-time role.
06 — Challenges
Challenges at each stage
As a studentToo many technologies, no direction, no real projects.
As an internScare of not knowing enough, imposter syndrome.
As a developerStill figuring things out, managing expectations.
07 — Learning
How I learn new technology in the AI era
- Start with the official docs, then use AI to explain what confuses you
- Build a small real thing — learning sticks when it's used
- Ask AI to review your code and explain its suggestions, not just apply them
- Keep fundamentals strong: HTTP, data structures, databases, Git
My workflow
Fundamental - Architecture - Implementation [start with small project]
08 — AI and developers
Can AI really replace developers?
What AI does well
- Boilerplate and repetitive code
- Explaining unfamiliar code
- First drafts of tests and docs
vs
What still needs you
- Understanding what the business actually needs
- Judging trade‑offs and taking responsibility
- Verifying that the output is correct and safe
Take ownership of the final product and ensure it meets the business needs. A quality developer use AI as assistan not a replacement.
09 — AI in business
What AI contributes to business
- Faster delivery — prototypes in hours instead of weeks
- Automation of support, data entry and reporting
- Better decisions from data that used to sit unused
- New products that weren't possible before
What I've seen
Chat bot - Automation - Research and Innovation
10 — PRD to PROD
From PRD to PROD
PRDUnderstand the requirement and ask why.
DesignUI, data model, API, edge cases.
BuildSmall commits, tests, code review.
QATest with real scenarios, fix, repeat.
ReleaseDeploy, monitor, learn, improve.
11 — Looking ahead
The developer of the future
- Less typing, more thinking: problem framing and system design
- Product sense becomes a core developer skill
- Communication matters as much as code
- Learning never stops — and that's the fun part
My perspective
More prompt- Focus on infrastructure - Business needs
12 — Key takeaways
If you remember only three things
Start before you feel readyDont wait for perfection
Build things people can seeStart with from small
Use AI, but own the resultOwnership make you confident
Thank you
Questions?
