From Interns to Engineers: The Story of Dušan and Marko at NIMA Labs

Internships too often mean errands and quiet observation, but that’s not how things work at NIMA Labs. A few months ago, Dušan and Marko joined us as interns with a strong interest in blockchain technology and Web3. They didn’t come in with long resumes or years of experience, but with determination, persistence, and a hunger to learn.

Over the past three months, they worked on real projects, learned how systems function behind the scenes, and found their rhythm within the team. Their time here was all about building, experimenting, and learning by doing.

Now, both Dušan and Marko have completed their internships and joined NIMA Labs as full-time backend engineers. Seeing them take this step feels full circle and well earned.

We sat down with them to look back on how it all started, what they learned along the way, and what lessons they would share with those who hope to take a similar path.

1. What motivated you to apply for an internship at NIMA Labs, and what were you hoping to gain from the experience?
Dušan: It was the first time I visited the company’s previous website and came across the GitHub profile of our founder. Seeing that he is also the CTO assured me that the company is led by someone deeply invested in the space and technically grounded. After my first interview, I had a feeling that I could learn a lot from these people. Looking back, trusting my gut was the right thing to do.

Marko: I was interested in the Web3 world and how crypto works under the hood. I was hoping to improve my teamwork and problem-solving skills, and of course, to learn as much as I can about Web3 and DeFi.

2. What surprised you the most when you started working here, compared to your expectations from university or previous projects?

Dušan: The laissez-faire approach and how well it works here. Turns out you don't need a complex HR structure to get results.

Marko: I was most surprised by the good atmosphere in the company and by how things are organized.

3. Which project or feature did you work on that you feel made a real impact?

Dušan: I had a majorly supportive role in making sure that the teams understood how the protocols were designed under the hood.

Marko: I worked on backend improvements that included refactoring project structure, improving code readability, and implementing clean repository interfaces. I also improved database transaction handling and contributed to waitlist and token features such as fetching tokens, sending responses, and updating prices.

4. What technical skills did you sharpen the most, and what non-technical skills did you unexpectedly develop during your time here?

Dušan: Time management was a soft skill that I have developed the most, as there is never enough time to do absolutely everything. Learning to prioritize is necessary.

Marko: I think that I improved a lot in working on bigger projects and organizing them. Communication and organization are the non-technical skills that I developed the most.

5. You both went from interns to full-time hires. What do you think made the biggest difference in proving your value to the team?

Dušan: Before our very first month at NIMA was over, we were already met with real production work demands.

Marko: I think that the fact that I had the opportunity to work on real projects from the beginning and managed to contribute to them was a very good way to prove my value.

6. What advice would you give to future interns who want to make the most out of their time here?

Dušan: Strive to be technology/framework agnostic. Those who have built themselves upon rock-solid foundations will be able to adapt every time.

Marko: Be curious and do a lot of research, go deep into the things you are doing, and work hard.

Growing Beyond the Internship

Dušan and Marko started their paths with a strong interest in blockchain and finished their internships as core members of our engineering team. Their experiences reflect how internships at NIMA Labs open the door to long-term growth.

We’re proud to see them continue their path with us, and we look forward to welcoming the next wave of interns ready to build with us.

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