Written by
Lorina Balan
, Digital Marketer
Stagii pe Bune has once again proven to be a fantastic platform for connecting with students that are truly invested in their growth. For us at XWiki, these events aren't just about finding interns. We want to share what we know, get students excited about open-source, and help them think about the ethical side of building software.
And this year, we saw something exciting: students are more curious than ever about how open source can shape their careers, help them gain real-world experience, and contribute to ethical software solutions.
Open-source internships as a way of building experience
Breaking into the tech industry can feel like a paradox. Many job postings seem to require experience, but how do you gain experience if no one hires you without it? The good news? Open source is one of the best ways to bridge that gap. Here’s how you can begin to get ready for your first job in tech.
At XWiki, we’ve spent over 20 years building open-source software, and we’ve seen firsthand how contributing to projects like XWiki and CryptPad gives students real, hands-on experience that translates into jobs.
We believe that an internship should be more than just a temporary experience. It should be a stepping stone toward a meaningful career. We’ve learned that soft skills are just as critical as technical expertise. A well-rounded candidate who can collaborate, think critically, and continuously learn will always have an edge.
This isn’t just theory. We make a habit of turning interns into full-time team members. Take Lavinia, for example: She joined XWiki as an intern and grew into a full-time developer. Her story proves that when internships are built around real projects (not just busywork) students can quickly transition into meaningful roles. We give them real challenges, pair them with experienced developers, and let them contribute directly to software that organizations actually use.
That’s why our approach goes beyond offering projects; we create real learning opportunities that expose students to the principles of open-source development, collaborative coding, and ethical software practices.
When we talked to students at our booth, we made sure they understood that working on open-source projects teaches you way more than just coding skills. You learn how to solve problems creatively, work well with others, and come up with new ideas.
Unlike closed-source environments, where work often stays behind corporate walls, open-source projects allow contributors to build a public portfolio, engage with a global community, and make an impact from day one.
And the best part? You don’t need to be an expert to start. Even small contributions (whether fixing a bug, improving documentation, or testing a feature) can help thousands of users worldwide while making your resumes stand out.
We care about building ethical software
We also talked about something that doesn't get enough attention in tech education: ethics. These days, a lot of proprietary software locks users into systems they can't escape from. Students are increasingly aware of the problems with proprietary software, starting with vendor lock-in, data privacy concerns, and lack of transparency. Our goal is to educate students that there's a better way. One that respects users' freedom, keeps their data private, and works well over the long term.
That’s why we not only develop open-source solutions like XWiki, but also privacy-focused alternatives like CryptPad, which offers end-to-end encrypted collaboration tools.
The thoughtful questions we received at Stagii pe Bune showed us that students care deeply about these issues, and want to work for companies that share their values.
Looking ahead
If there’s one takeaway from Stagii pe Bune 2025, it’s this: students are looking for meaningful opportunities. They don’t just want internships. They want experiences that help them grow, work on projects that matter, and be part of companies that share their principles.
We're committed to helping grow the next generation of developers who care about both technical excellence and ethical considerations. We love to talk with students who share our values, our passion for open-source, ethical software, and learning by doing.
If you're one of them, we’d love to hear from you. Your future in tech can start with an email to jobs@xwiki.com.
