After completing their Work-Based Training at askblue, Bruna Rodrigues and Frederico Santos, graduates of the Specialist Technician in Technologies, Programming and Information Systems programme, were hired by the company.

Read the perspectives of both the company and the graduates in this article.

askblue in interview 

From your perspective, how important is Work-Based Training as part of a training programme?

Work-Based Training is a fundamental step in the transition between academic learning and professional reality. It enables trainees to apply their technical knowledge to real projects, gain exposure to working methodologies used in the market, and develop essential soft skills for professional success. At askblue, in such a dynamic sector as technology, this experience is particularly relevant to accelerating learning and fostering a stronger integration into the labour market.

What role do you believe host organisations should play in this process?

Host organisations have a responsibility to provide an enriching experience aligned with the trainees’ development objectives. In addition to transferring technical knowledge, it is important to create opportunities for trainees to understand the organisational culture, work as part of a team, participate in real-world challenges, and develop a continuous learning mindset.

Based on your experience, what aspects would you highlight about the preparation of CINEL trainees?

The trainees demonstrated solid technical preparation and a strong ability to adapt to new contexts and technologies. We would also highlight their willingness to learn, curiosity when faced with new challenges, and ability to integrate into teams and professional environments. They clearly had a strong educational foundation that enabled them to meet the demands of askblue’s real-world projects.

What motivated you to hire the trainees after their Work-Based Training?

The decision to hire the trainees was based not only on the technical skills they demonstrated, but also on their growth potential, positive attitude, and alignment with askblue’s values. We look for people who are eager to learn, develop, and contribute to a culture of collaboration and innovation. The trainees demonstrated these qualities, showing that they could add value to our teams and build a successful professional career within our organisation.

Would you recommend that other companies host CINEL trainees for Work-Based Training? Why?

Absolutely. The experience was very positive and allowed us to connect with well-prepared, motivated young talent with significant potential for development. The partnership with CINEL helps bring training closer to the real needs of the labour market and gives companies the opportunity to actively contribute to the development of future professionals.

It is also an excellent way to identify talent, foster innovation through new perspectives, and strengthen our commitment to the development of the national technology ecosystem.

Bruna Rodrigues in interview

What led you to choose CINEL?

I chose CINEL because I was already interested in the technology sector, particularly web design and interface development, but I felt I needed more practical and solid training to enter the labour market.

What attracted me most to CINEL was precisely the opportunity to gain real-world experience through Work-Based Training, as I saw it as a concrete opportunity to enter the field and develop my skills in a professional environment.

What aspects did you value most about CINEL as a training centre?

What I valued most about CINEL was its practical approach to learning. Throughout the course, we were constantly challenged with projects, teamwork and tight deadlines, which helped a lot in preparing us for the professional environment.

I also really enjoyed the variety of technologies covered and the freedom to create projects from scratch. It was during the individual projects that I truly realised how much I enjoyed this field, especially the combination of creativity and problem-solving.

How did Work-Based Training contribute to your learning and preparation for the labour market?

Work-Based Training was very important because it allowed me to understand what the professional environment in IT is really like. One of the things that had the greatest impact on me was experiencing the pace and demands of everyday work, where people are constantly busy and you need to know how to find your way around challenges and look for solutions independently.

In addition to the technical side, the experience helped me gain confidence and professional maturity.

What technical and personal skills do you feel you developed throughout the course and Work-Based Training?

On the technical side, I developed skills in web and software development, working with technologies such as C#, HTML, CSS, JavaScript and SQL. I also improved significantly in programming logic, interface design and application development.

On a personal level, I would say that resilience and adaptability were among the skills I developed the most. At first, I struggled a lot because I felt like I knew nothing, but I persisted, kept practising, and gradually improved. I told myself I was going to succeed — and I did.

I also developed greater autonomy, the ability to work under pressure, time management and teamwork skills.

What does being hired by the company after your Work-Based Training mean to you?

Being hired by the company after my Work-Based Training means a lot to me because it represents recognition of the effort, dedication and progress I made throughout this journey.

I felt very proud and motivated, especially because it confirmed that all the hard work and dedication had been worthwhile. It also represents an opportunity to continue growing professionally, keep learning and be part of real projects with a meaningful impact.

What advice would you give to future trainees considering training at CINEL?

I would tell them to make the most of all the practical opportunities offered throughout the course and not to become discouraged by the initial difficulties, because programming is not always easy at first.

The most important thing is to keep going, learn as much as possible and celebrate the small victories, while maintaining curiosity, initiative and a constant willingness to learn, because that makes all the difference in this field.

Frederico Santos in interview

What led you to choose CINEL?

I did some research on Reddit about transitioning into IT, and CINEL stood out as one of the best options.

What aspects did you value most about CINEL as a training centre?

The friendliness and dedication of the teachers, as well as the possibility of completing the course 100% remotely.

How did Work-Based Training contribute to your learning and preparation for the labour market?

The fact that the programme involved relatively little theory and was highly focused on practical learning allowed me to make a smooth transition into the labour market.

What technical and personal skills do you feel you developed throughout the course and Work-Based Training?

Technically — all of them. I had never seen a line of code before, and I finished the course knowing how to programme, build databases, and take functional requirements and turn them into real applications.

On a personal level, attending an eight-hour-a-day course helped me establish disciplined routines and schedules.

What does being hired by the company after your Work-Based Training mean to you?

It was a great experience. Not having to go through the often lengthy process of multiple technical interviews, knowing how competitive the market is and without any certainty that I would get the opportunity to demonstrate my skills in a professional environment, was extremely rewarding.

What advice would you give to future trainees considering training at CINEL?

One specific piece of advice: don’t use AI to think for you. During the learning process, use these tools as a personal tutor, available 24 hours a day.

About askblue

askblue is a Portuguese consulting company specialising in project development, particularly in the financial and insurance sectors, with strong expertise in information technologies. The company has been operating in the market since 2013.

askblue offers a broad range of services based on the following key areas: Business Consulting, System Implementation (application development), Application Management, Quality & Testing, Data & Analytics, and Specialised Outsourcing.

Across these areas, askblue designs and delivers solutions based on the multidisciplinary knowledge and experience of its team, providing innovative responses to the new challenges faced by companies and professionals.

CINEL — technology and the future, all in one centre!