Druid’s ongoing partnership with Business College Helsinki

Druid is once again partnering with Business College Helsinki (BCH) for their Fullstack Development Program, something they’ve done before in 2022 and 2019. In fact, that’s how I first heard about the company. I was part of the 2021 cohort of students and knowing Druid’s connection to the program, I reached out and landed a summer internship. Afterward, I was lucky enough to be hired full-time. Since then, I’ve seen Druid continue to welcome interns from each new group and hire several of them as well.

Because I was once in the same position as these interns, it felt natural for me to help them. I remember how valuable it was to have someone show me the ropes when I started. That’s what motivated me to step into a mentorship role. I consider myself an Apprentice Initiator as I guide interns and junior developers at the start of their careers. I help new team members integrate into the company culture, remove blockers, and provide technical advice. I also mentor them to support their professional growth and check in regularly to assess their progress and well-being.

Real Projects and Practical Experience

At Druid, interns and junior developers typically join the Magical Support team. Our projects are in the maintenance phase, and the team is responsible for keeping projects secure and up to date, as well as handling any further development tasks requested by the client. It’s a great starting point for new developers because it provides a controlled environment where they can learn the ropes while contributing to real tasks from day one. This allows them to explore and grow their skills without the pressure of a fast-paced development cycle.

In early October, I returned to BCH to give a workshop on Drupal as part of Druid’s ongoing collaboration with the program. The workshop was scheduled to align with the start of the students’ year-end project, which was kicking off in two weeks—a decoupled application using Drupal and React. I put together the workshop with feedback from my colleagues who had also been interns and students in the same program, focusing on the things we wish we’d known when we were students. I covered practical tips and walked them through how our team collaborates on projects.

Supporting New Careers in Tech

Once the project wraps up, we’ll offer internship opportunities starting in January. This time, we have an experienced mentor who recently shared her knowledge at DrupalCon Barcelona, so the students will have even more resources and support.

Looking back, it’s amazing to think that I was once in the students’ shoes, and now, I’m part of a company that continues to give opportunities to new talent. It’s even more rewarding to know that I can play a role in helping aspiring developers as they start their own journeys.

DrupalCon Barcelona 2024: It’s All About Community

Community is one of our core values, and it is also deeply reflected in the activities of the Drupal community. At the end of September, a few of us Druids had the chance to experience this sense of community firsthand at DrupalCon in Barcelona. The spirit of community was present in every meeting and conversation with colleagues from around the world—it truly seems to be part of the DNA of all Drupalists.

For me, DrupalCon was all about networking, interesting talks, and gaining a deeper understanding of the Drupal community. The highlight of the event was undoubtedly Dries Buytaert’s #Driesnote, which captivated the audience from start to finish. From a marketer’s perspective, the visual aspects of Dries’ presentation, the demos, and the way he built anticipation worked wonderfully—he really knows how to capture an audience’s attention.

The three-day event offered plenty of interesting technical presentations and, luckily for me as a marketer, also some less technical ones. On the sponsor floor, I got to know partners’ stories and learn what was trending at the booths—from fun treats and activities like caricatures by an artist who normally works on La Rambla, to memorable branded items such as hot sauce and the T-shirts that attendees could customize on the spot.

We’ve gathered our reflections about the event in this blog post. Each of us had our own goals and areas of interest, but one thing was consistent across all our reflections: the sense of community and the people.

“You can spot the Druids by their red T-shirts” was a comment I heard often—our goal of being recognizable and approachable clearly paid off.

Dive into our team’s thoughts about the DrupalCon Barcelona:

Engagement, Growth, and Drupal

For Arto, DrupalCon Barcelona was a journey of innovation and community. From exploring the future of Drupal CMS to hiking the breathtaking trails of Sant Llorenç del Munt, the week was filled with learning, adventure, and reconnecting with old and new friends.

Barcelona has a particularly warm place in Arto’s heart – find out why.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Mikko attended his first DrupalCon back in 2015, also in Barcelona. This year’s event reminded him of how far Drupal and the community have come. He was especially impressed by the progress of the Starshot project and the unveiling of new features that make Drupal more marketer-friendly while retaining the flexibility developers love.

Explore Mikko’s highlights

Not the City, But the People

For Simo, DrupalCon was all about reconnecting with the people behind the screens. The event provided an opportunity to meet friends, collaborators, and new acquaintances, making it a true highlight of his journey.

Simo also shares his thoughts on the evolving technologies within Drupal, such as the Experience Builder, and the role of accessibility in Drupal CMS.

Read Simo’s full reflections

Community, Tech, and Inspiration

For Toni, attending DrupalCon for the first time meant embracing the supportive and passionate Drupal community. From reconnecting with familiar faces to attending sessions on debugging and accessibility, Toni highlighted the power of knowledge-sharing and collaboration.

Read about Toni’s reflections

Notes from the First-Timer

Yevgeniya’s talk on mentorship and training for Drupal developers was well received, showcasing the community’s dedication to nurturing new talent. Yev also cherished witnessing Dries Buytaert’s keynote, further strengthening her connection to the Drupal community.

Discover Yev’s experience as a speaker

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Photo Bram Driesen, licenced as deed Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 The original image was edited by narrowing it.

Embracing Connections at Druid and DrupalCamp 2023

It has been over a year now since I started working together with Druid. Little did I know that this partnership would take me on a trip from my hometown of Ljubljana to the vibrant city of Helsinki, where I met my colleagues from Druid in person for the first time and attended the highly anticipated DrupalCamp Finland 2023. The experience was nothing short of transformative, allowing me to deepen relationships, expand my professional network, and immerse myself in the vibrant world of Drupal.

Feeling the Druid Spirit

Meeting colleagues from Druid for the first time face-to-face was an exciting experience. While we have been working together for quite some time, it was a unique experience to finally meet each other in person. We had built a strong professional relationship, but meeting in person helped to build a more personal connection that goes beyond just work. My Finnish colleagues were all friendly, accommodating and hospitable. They all made me feel very welcome.

Druid’s laid-back spirit was embodied at the office. The working environment was nice and I loved seeing the physical space that houses all the Druids. The office “no shoe” policy was awesome and there was also a cosy room filled with soft cushions, designed to provide a relaxing environment for employees to unwind and destress.

Finnish Cultural Experience

After work, my colleagues took me on a tour of the city centre. We did some sightseeing and we visited some of the top tourist attractions. My favourite was the Ferris wheel where one of the cabins was a sauna. That stood out and I remembered that I was told how much Finnish people love to go to the sauna.

I also had the pleasure of sampling some of the local cuisine, such as munkki and tippaleipä. Munkki’s sweet and fluffy texture was a true delight, while tippaleipä, though its appearance resembled a tangle of threads, surprised me by being also tasty.

DrupalCamp 2023 – A Meeting of Minds

The next day, I attended Drupal Camp Finland, which was an incredible opportunity to learn more about Drupal and meet fellow Drupalists. The event was packed with interesting presentations, and I gained new valuable insights into the field.

I also participated in the after-party – where there was of course a sauna. We were talking about the differences between Finnish and Swedish and I made some comparisons from Slovenia. My colleagues also told me how it is to live in Finland, the different cities and dialects. 

After the first after-party, we had a second after-party where we went to have some drinks. I saw some busy Helsinki nightlife and truly enjoyed myself. 

Until We Meet Again

In this age of digital communication, where virtual interactions have become the norm, there’s something uniquely special about meeting colleagues face-to-face and connecting with like-minded individuals. Thus, I am grateful for this experience. 

Finland, its culture as well as its people were unique and fascinating. I left with a greater appreciation for the country. I gained a lot of knowledge from Drupal Camp Finland, and I was able to experience a new culture and meet my colleagues. I hope to visit again soon and experience more of what Finland has to offer.