Can you give me a brief overview of your career to date?
Sure! I studied dentistry at university, and worked as a dentist for a couple of years. However, I decided to make a career switch and enrolled in a software engineering bootcamp with General Assembly. After completing the bootcamp, I worked as a software engineer for a few years. I have now been with Cevo for about four months.
What sort of work do you do at Cevo?
At Cevo, I work as a full-stack engineer.
What does a day in your life at Cevo look like?
A typical day starts by checking emails and messages on Slack. Then, my team will have a daily stand-up where we discuss the tickets we’ve been working on, share progress from the previous day, and address any blockers. After that, I focus on the specific tickets I’m assigned to, which often involves coding, pair programming, and reviewing the code of my peers.
What do you love most about working at Cevo?
For me, the best part about working at Cevo is the people. Everyone is incredibly friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. The team is made up of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences, which promotes different ways of looking at and approaching problems. It’s a place where you can learn from others, so whenever you need assistance, there’s always someone ready to help.
What moment are you most proud of in your career to date?
One of my proudest moments in my career so far was in my previous role, when I was asked to step into the role of an acting team lead after being there for only a year and a half. Although it was a significant learning curve, it taught me a lot and allowed me to grow both personally and professionally.
What do you think the IT industry could do more of to encourage females into roles like yours?
The IT industry has made some progress in encouraging female participation, with the emergence of more women-centered organisations, mentoring programs, and supportive groups. However, I still think there’s a lot more than can be done. For instance, I would encourage companies to make their hiring processes and job advertisements more flexible and less less rigidly specific, as many of the existing requirements can discourage potential applicants. By broadening the criteria, we can encourage more diversity and invite fresh perspectives that think outside of the box.
What advice would you give to other females considering entering the industry?
- Apply for every single job. Even if you don’t meet all the requirements, don’t underestimate your capabilities and take the chance.
- Don’t hesitate to ask questions. The IT industry is constantly and quickly evolving, so it’s important to seek clarification and guidance when you’re unsure.
- Keep your skills up to date. The rapid pace of change in this industry means continual learning and growth is crucial. Plus, it’s always good to take on a new challenge.
- Expand your network. Attend meetups, engage on platforms like LinkedIn, and build connections. Don’t underestimate the power of networking in this field.
If you’re interested in learning more about what it’s like to work at Cevo, please reach out here and one of our friendly People & Culture team members will be in touch
