Overview
My first professional internship in IT, completed at Global SPES in Douala, Cameroon. This 4-month experience introduced me to corporate IT support and helped me build a solid foundation in system and network administration.
Company Context
Global SPES is a Cameroonian SME with approximately 50 employees across multiple sites. As an IT intern, I was responsible for technical support for all staff.
Daily Missions
User Support
My main role consisted of:
- Responding to support tickets (helpdesk)
- Diagnosing and resolving hardware and software issues
- Managing requests for new equipment
IT Asset Management
- Inventory: Creating a complete hardware database
- License management: Tracking software licenses
Problems Solved
LAN Network Restoration
One major challenge was the complete restoration of the local network after a outage:
- Network equipment diagnosis (switches, routers)
- VLAN reconfiguration
- DHCP and DNS server restoration
- Connectivity testing on all workstations
Active Directory Migration
Participation in migration to a new Active Directory structure:
- Creating new user accounts
- Configuring groups and permissions
- Training users on new login procedures
Tools and Technologies
Operating Systems
- Windows Server 2016
- Windows 10
- Some Linux machines (Ubuntu Server)
Network Tools
- PuTTY for SSH access
- TeamViewer for remote support
Ticketing
- Internal ticket system for request tracking
First Contact with the Professional World
What I Learned
Technically:
- Basics of Windows/Linux system administration
- Practical network troubleshooting (LAN, VPN, DNS)
- The importance of documentation
- Ticket management and prioritization
Humanly:
- Patience is essential in user support
- Explaining clearly to non-technical people
- Managing emergencies while staying calm
- The importance of communication
Challenges Encountered
- Knowledge gap: Some problems exceeded my initial knowledge - I learned to search, read documentation, and ask for help
- Multiple emergencies: Managing several simultaneous requests taught me prioritization
- Missing documentation: The absence of documentation forced me to learn everything through practice
Recognition
At the end of the internship, I received a recommendation letter from my supervisor highlighting my autonomy, learning ability, and professionalism. This experience remains a valuable memory that laid the foundation for my IT career.