I joined Softwire just over six months ago, after deciding that I needed a change in career. At the time I was looking for a job which would offer me a stimulating and engaging working environment and where I could produce something of which I could be proud. I am pleased to say that this is what I have found.
My previous occupation - working as a medical doctor - had not provided me with any formal programming skills, so when I was taken on it was with the promise of on-the-job training. It is fair to say that Softwire have been good to their word. In my time here I have been involved on several different projects, both web- and GUI-based, and have been exposed to many different programming languages and technologies, including Java, VB, C#, HTML, XML and XSL; the list goes on.
I felt right from the beginning that I was making a useful contribution. I was initially assigned to a large project and, in a relatively short amount of time, became involved in coding some of its core features. Any concerns I had that I would be out of my depth or not know what I was doing were quickly dispelled. I found everyone I worked with to be both helpful and instructive and it wasn't long before I found my feet.
So what is the work actually like? Most of my time I'm actually doing nuts and bolts programming - either the actual coding or design. I also provide first line technical support for a system which Softwire wrote a while back, and this takes up about a day a week and gives me direct customer contact. The working environment is both relaxed and informal, and people are very friendly. There’s also a fair degree of flexibility regarding office hours which is extremely convenient. One of the big attractions for me is that this is a small company – albeit growing fast - which means that you can get to know everyone, and you don't get lost in the system.
Another important aspect of the company is the social life. There are regular company events such as go-karting, wine-tasting, a summer picnic – and of course numerous pub trips after work.
The bottom line is this. If you want to have a fascinating, well-paid job in a friendly environment - Softwire is a great place to work.
Richard Popple
