In Her Words: Nadezhda, Junior Software Developer at Van Lanschot Kempen

What do you love about your job and your employer?

I love that my job challenges me to problem-solve and stay updated with new technologies daily. There are several ways in which the company excels as an employer. For instance, they value new ideas from all positions, including junior roles, and provide constructive feedback. The collaborative and supportive atmosphere among colleagues is fantastic. Furthermore, the company strongly supports the professional development of its employees through various avenues such as conferences, in-house trainings, and certifications.

What sparked your interest in tech, and how did you decide to pursue it as a career?

I was always fascinated by the potential of technologies and how they simplify people's lives. Seeing the growing influence and impact of technology only intensified my desire to pursue a career in the tech industry. The wide range of career opportunities available in tech also attracted me, as I wanted to contribute to ongoing advancements and be part of creating solutions that have a positive impact on society.

Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in tech?

I was growing up during a time of constant advancements in technology, and this sparked my curiosity about what was behind all of it and how the world around me works.

What challenges did you face along the way, and how did you overcome them?

In the tech field, there is a wide range of opportunities, from software development to data analysis and information security.

When I first started exploring this field, one of the challenges I faced was understanding which path would be the best fit for me in terms of both enjoyment and career opportunities. I was initially drawn to all aspects of tech because they were all so interesting and tempting.

I enrolled in different courses at university, such as web and mobile development, game development, machine learning, and computer security, etc. Then I conducted market research and spoke to people already working in the tech industry.

All this ultimately helped me to decide to pursue a career as a software developer because of its exposure to different technologies, and its close collaboration with other aspects of the tech industry. Moreover, I appreciated the flexibility and opportunities to transition to different fields within tech in the future if desired.

Another challenge I faced was getting structured knowledge in the tech field. While I was aware of successful tech specialists who had completed boot camps or self-studied without attending university, my background is in the legal field where university education is typically required. For this reason, It influenced my decision to pursue the university path as this way I would be sure to have plenty of high-quality resources.

Were there any mentors or role models who influenced your journey? How did they help?

Throughout my journey, I did not have any specific mentors. As is often the case with university subjects, my interest was sparked by the professors' approach and engaging assignments. Also, I have always enjoyed listening to podcasts that feature personal career stories. The last one was Shawn Wang’s story. It resonated with me as he had also undergone a career switch, like my own experience.

How important is it to have a formal education in tech versus learning through experience?

In the tech field, having a formal education is not always required, but it can serve as a valuable guidance and motivator to keep you on track. If someone has strong self-discipline and an elaborated learning plan, learning through experience can also be a good approach. However, in today's information-rich era, particularly with the rise of AI-generated content, one challenge is the difficulty of finding quality information among all the available sources.

While learning new frameworks and libraries, such as React in the case of web development, is important, it is equally essential to have a solid foundation of fundamental knowledge. Understanding concepts like the request/response cycle and essential algorithms provides a deeper understanding of the underlying principles in the tech field. I also believe that solely learning new frameworks or libraries (e.g., React speaking from the web development perspective), is insufficient. It is important to learn some basics.

What message or advice do you have for the HerFuture community?

My advice to the HerFuture community is simple: believe in yourself. Pursuing a career in tech may not always be easy, especially now. But it's crucial to have faith in your abilities and what you are doing. Then you have less frustration and more energy to keep moving.

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