How did you get into the industry?
I started working for a small company developing a web-based contract management system, as a general admin assistant. After helping out with a few designs for site images and moving onto page layouts, I was asked if I’d like to do a basic 101 course on web development.
So I took the course and suddenly had the frontend developer title! I was able to train on the job working on a live product so it was a good way to get started.
Have you always wanted to work in web development?
No, I was originally interested in 3D animation for use in video games and film and before that I studied English literature and classical history. That may sound like a leap, I can’t really make sense of it either!
I’d not really considered front-end development as a career option until being introduced to it by my previous employer (whilst I was working on completing an animation course). I quickly found out that I was better at web development / design than I was animation and enjoyed it far more.
So through a mix of random chance and luck I found something that I could see myself enjoying in the future and decided to pursue it.
What inspires you most about working in this job?
The aspect of the job I enjoy most is seeing a static design come to life, from a big block of code to a vibrant, colourful site.
Every project has its problems to solve and being able to figure out and work on a solution can be a very rewarding process. Definitely frustrating too, but that makes figuring it out more satisfying.
What are you working on at interconnect/it?
My first project with interconnect/it is with another new starter, Jack. The project is to remake John Carpenters classic 1982 film The Thing, itself one of the best remakes in film history. No easy task.
That’s what I thought at least until I was informed that ‘The Thing’ is in fact the working title for a web based central repository for all of interconnect/it’s client data. The project has required me to learn a lot of new skills, which has been great, and it’s coming together nicely (cue incoming error messages…).
What do you like most about the company?
The company has a nice relaxed, calm atmosphere. Everyone is within reach and more than ready to help out or have a chat.
What is the most exciting part of being a frontend developer?
There is always something new to learn and new tools available, you’ll rarely find yourself bored as there’s always going to be something new or interesting worth investigating. The role has multiple ways of approaching a project and deciding what techniques to use or what new tools to implement, highlights how diverse each project can be.
What do you find the most challenging aspect of this career?
Err… There is always something new to learn? As well as being an exciting aspect of the industry it also means that you have to keep up to date with new developments and technology. Whether it’s learning a new coding language / concept or reading up on a new trend, there is a lot to keep you occupied!
What are your future goals and ambitions?
At the moment I’m very much a frontend developer but I’m looking forward to filling out my repertoire and learning enough backend to call myself a full-stack dev. It will probably take me a while to do, but if working on The Thing has taught me anything it’s that it can be done!
Any outside hobbies or interests?
Outside of work my main area of interest is music. I play guitar in a rock / pop covers band called ‘Sick Note’, a terrible name for quite a fun band. Playing guitar as a hobby quickly descended into an obsession and I’m always messing around with technique, gear or convincing myself that I can ‘modify’ my equipment, despite having none of the knowledge or skills required…
Outside of that I’ll be either gaming, D&D-ing, comic book-ing or watching too many horror films.
