Welcome Rohan

Rohan here! I’ve just started as a new Software Developer at Glow, after graduating from Liverpool university. It has been a challenging but rewarding experience so far. Your degree can only prepare you so much, which usually means a steep learning curve, however the team at Glow are extremely helpful in assisting and guiding me in the right direction.

My first few weeks have involved building a small feature on Safe Team Guardian (a product which is being used commercially in the NHS https://safeteamguardian.co.uk/) and this has given me an introduction on how code is designed and built in the real world.

I’ve dipped my toes into both the front and back end of the product whilst gaining an insight into how different pieces of the system are linked together. The toughest challenge so far has been getting to grips with Angular 8, which is a frontend programming language, but I was given enough time and direction to figure out how it worked. Even though I’ve encountered many obstacles, the team at Glow have been willing to help by taking the time to answer any questions to support me through the learning process.

Fixing issues has taught me a lot about programming over the last few weeks. Complex systems which are used by many people can be daunting to understand and analyse, but I was introduced to the right tools and techniques to be able to understand the bigger picture. I really like the architecture diagrams Glow produces to outline how a system works and which components link to each other.

One of the most important things I have learned during my first few months, is that coding isn’t the only skill required by a developer. There are other aspects which are just as important such as: planning, testing and documentation. I’ve had the opportunity to improve my skills in these areas through regular collaboration with senior developers, weekly meetings and giving presentations.

It’s not only work here at Glow. We have our own legendary events coordinator Andy who organises various after work events such as crazy golf, escape rooms and the epic crystal maze experience in Manchester. Although my attempts to golf or shoot a bow and arrow are beyond terrible, these events are a great way to relax and bond as a team. A few other perks to working at Glow is flexible hours and finishing early on Friday, although this can be an excuse to go to the pub! Overall, my time so far at Glow has been very positive. I am able to learn more about technology whilst being surrounded by a talented and cooperative team. This has created a comfortable environment for me to explore and develop my skills even further, so I am grateful to the team at Glow and I look forward to the next couple of months as I continue on my journey as a developer. If you're interested in a career at Glow have a read of our jobs page