It took me a few years and a few different jobs out of university to decide I wanted to pursue a career in software development. I had studied mathematics at university and had relatively little programming experience so found the idea of applying to graduate schemes somewhat daunting. Softwire caught my eye because they put such an emphasis on problem solving and aptitude as opposed to plain experience. That and their promise of on-the-job training and support, plus a lot of very friendly people, and I knew I wanted to work there.
Most of the work is project-based so you’re likely to find yourself part of a relatively small team. This gives a great support network and means that there’s always someone on hand to talk through problems and answer questions. The work itself is enjoyable and challenging – whether it’s design, programming or support work there are always clear goals and a real sense of achievement in meeting them. You have to use your brain a lot which, though tiring, adds to the sense of satisfaction when you work something out. The teams are pretty fluid too and there’s quite a bit of variety in the type of work you might be doing, which is great for keeping you on your toes.
Despite the team-based structure, the company is small and close-knit enough for there to be a lot of information sharing and support between the teams. There are also a number of responsibilities which are shared around the office, such as conducting interviews, organising morale-boosting events and sourcing new ‘accessories’ for the chill-out area in the office… this all adds to the community feeling which exists at Softwire and makes for a great working environment.
It’s not just the work that’s fun, though. Softwire puts a huge emphasis on morale so there’s always a variety of events being organised – from pub trips and poker nights to paintballing and picnics, there’s definitely something for everyone. The office has a very inclusive atmosphere and there are regular unofficial social events that everyone’s invited to as well as the official ones; in fact there’s a real danger of filling up your entire social calendar if you’re not careful!
I’ve yet to find a downside to working at Softwire, and I honestly don’t think there is one. I was happy enough to find a career that I was excited about following, but to find a company that I’m so excited about working for – it really can’t get much better!
Emily Lawhead
