Summer is here! Besides hanging out with your friends, do you have any internship or training plans in mind?
At Winking Studios Taipei, we regularly recruit 6-month and 1-year interns; at our Nanjing office, we offer ongoing trainee programs.
To help students better understand what it’s like to be an intern or trainee at Winking, we interviewed seven team members from both Taipei and Nanjing. Let’s hear how they describe their experience!
Question 1
What’s the most memorable task you’ve worked on during your internship or training?
Mark: One of my proposals ended up being discussed in a team meeting. I was surprised that my work, as an intern, was taken seriously. That moment really made me feel like a true part of the team.
Question 2
Was there a moment that made you feel like you better understood the industry?
Jia-Xiu: Definitely! The quality standards here are way higher than I expected. It’s much stricter than submitting assignments at school.
Mark: Time management is extremely precise. People use tools like Slack for project tracking—something we never needed in school.
Connie: The technical requirements in the industry are much higher. What I learned at school wasn’t enough. I realized I still have a lot to sharpen (laughs).
Question 3
How does the team usually guide interns or trainees?
Pudding: It feels more like working with friends. Just because we’re interns doesn’t mean our opinions aren’t valued, we communicate on equal footing.
Yu-Han: I usually start by working on something independently. Once it reaches a certain stage, I ask my supervisor for feedback.
Yang: When I first joined, we had a two-hour training session. We would complete practice tasks, and the instructors would review and explain our mistakes. Sometimes, they’d also provide example works for us to study.
Question 4
What new skills or soft abilities have you learned through this experience?
Jia-Xiu: I’ve learned to communicate better. At first, I was hesitant to talk to supervisors, but now I’m more proactive and effective in how I communicate with them.
Xin-Qi: I record my work progress every week, and looking back, I’ve improved so much in terms of fundamentals. Also, my aesthetic sense has really leveled up. I used to get praise at school, but in the professional world, I now see how much further I need to go.
Question 5
What challenges have you faced, and how did you overcome them?
Pudding: At school, I could draw whatever I wanted. But as an intern, I had to prioritize client needs and even learn new techniques. I asked colleagues lots of questions—and they were always happy to help.
Yang: At first, I had trouble modeling a gun. But after the instructor explained things and colleagues pointed out possible errors, I was able to finish it successfully.
Xin-Qi: Sometimes I followed the tutorials exactly, but the results still weren’t ideal. When that happened, I’d first ask colleagues—and if it still didn’t work, I’d go to my supervisor (laughs).
Question 6
How do you feel about the working environment at Winking Studios? Is it what you expected from the game industry?
Mark: It’s pretty much what I imagined, and the perks are great. We even have a “Winking Day” every month with a variety of free lunches!
Jia-Xiu: I thought the environment would be stiff and serious, with everyone working in isolated cubicles. But at Winking, it’s an open-space office, which makes communication much easier.
Yu-Han: It’s just like I imagined a game company to be. The people here are really helpful and especially friendly to newcomers.
Question 7
Has this internship influenced your career goals?
Connie: I realized there’s a huge gap between what I’ve learned and what the industry expects. I still have a lot to learn and need to improve my skills.
Mark: It gave me more clarity about my future. Trying things out helped me better understand what I want in my career.
Yang: I’d love to stay here. The HR and promotion system is well-structured. After six months of training, I’ll move into the internship phase, and the full program lasts three years.
Yu-Han: I really enjoy 3D modeling and want to keep learning in this field. I’d be happy to stay at Winking Studios.
Question 8
What advice would you give to other students who are thinking of interning at Winking Studios?
Mark: I’d definitely recommend it. The environment is great, and the benefits for interns are solid.
Pudding: 100% yes! It’s a great way to gain real-world experience—especially if you want to go into game art.
Yang: I’d say: just apply (laughs). The projects here are top-notch, the team vibe is great, and there are lots of chances for promotion.
Xin-Qi: I highly recommend it. The atmosphere is super friendly. HR even told us we could treat them like college counselors—whether it’s work-related or personal issues, they’re here to help. I really appreciate that support system.
Interns Participating in Company Activities
Every day of your internship brings you one step closer to real-world experience—and a giant leap toward your future self.
In just a few months, these seven interns and trainees have grown from students into budding professionals. They’ve learned how to collaborate with different roles, respond to challenges, and—most importantly—move forward even in uncertainty.
Winking Studios will continue to provide internship and training opportunities, welcoming young talents with a passion for the game industry. We look forward to seeing more of you step into this world full of challenges and opportunities—with curiosity, courage, and dreams.
And here at Winking, become the person you aspire to be.
