EduAsiaNews, Jember – A long journey marked by discipline, consistency, and the courage to step خارج of one’s comfort zone has led a student of the Faculty of Law at Universitas Jember (UNEJ), Anju David Saputra Manihuruk, to achieve the distinction of Top 10 Mentee Hard Skill Excellence in the Digistar Class Internship Batch 3 program organized by PT Telkom Indonesia in 2025.
The Digistar Class Internship is a talent development and internship program in the digital field initiated by PT Telkom Indonesia. This comprehensive program requires participants to directly apply their knowledge in a professional setting within the company, supported by structured training sessions covering both soft skills and hard skills. Participants can choose from three learning paths: Cloud, AI, and B2B.
During the program, Anju was assigned to Telkom Regional 4 Kalimantan, specifically in Balikpapan, within the Bidding Management and Business Support (BMBS) division. He chose the B2B path, which focuses on developing competencies as a professional Account Manager—one who not only sells products but also formulates and delivers targeted business solutions for corporate clients. Notably, the training method extended beyond theoretical explanations and case studies, incorporating hands-on practice using Telkom’s proprietary platform, myDilan, as well as gamification techniques that made business simulations highly realistic.
Anju explained that his primary motivation for joining the program stemmed from a strong sense of curiosity. According to him, being in his seventh semester was the ideal moment not only to study theory but also to directly implement the knowledge he had accumulated.
“I see Digistar Class not merely as a regular internship, but as an ideal crucible for accelerating my capabilities, stepping خارج my academic comfort zone, and proving my best potential in the real digital industry,” he stated during an interview at UNEJ on Thursday (March 26, 2026).
The peak of his competency demonstration occurred during the Pitching Competition. At this stage, participants were required to carry out the full scope of an Account Manager’s responsibilities, from client profiling and problem analysis to formulating solutions through a pitch deck and delivering persuasive presentations.
The greatest challenge he faced was not the complexity of the material, but time management amid demanding responsibilities. In addition to his role at Telkom, he actively serves as Vice Director of ICT Affairs at Asian Law Students Association (ALSA), is a recipient of the Djarum Beasiswa Plus Batch 40 scholarship with various national engagements, and is currently completing his final thesis. Strict prioritization, high discipline, and strong commitment to targets became the key to maintaining performance across all responsibilities.
The Top 10 Mentee Hard Skill Excellence award serves as validation of his cross-disciplinary adaptation process as a law student in the digital industry ecosystem. He believes that mastering hard skills beyond academic disciplines is no longer merely an added value, but a necessity in the face of rapid technological advancement and increasingly competitive job markets.
His education at the Faculty of Law has shaped his critical thinking, logical reasoning, and systematic argumentation skills. However, he emphasized that the professional world demands more—namely, technical skills relevant to industry needs. His opportunity to learn in the B2B field at Telkom has been a valuable experience in refining his overall profile.
“This award provides an extra boost of motivation, reinforcing my belief that regardless of our academic background, as long as we remain open-minded and maintain a growth mindset, we can deliver relevant performance and solutions in the digital industry,” he remarked.
Anju also shared a message for fellow students not to waste opportunities for self-development. He emphasized that building a dream career may seem complex, but everything begins with a strong foundation. Students, he noted, should not focus solely on classroom learning but should also actively engage in organizations and competitions at faculty, national, and international levels. By making the most of the privileges of being a student, they can build a meaningful and tangible portfolio of experiences.
