My Industrial Placement At StyleTech: A Year As A Software Developer
When starting University there are so many decisions to make, but as a Computer Science student, I knew that an Industrial Placement was the right decision for me. There are so many skills you gain at University but, hands-on development and working with commercial clients in a B2B setting is an invaluable experience that can boost your career.
My first interaction with StyleTech was at a Careers Fair at Hull University. I knew an Industrial Placement was right for me, but I didn’t know which company would be the best fit. After talking to some of the team at StyleTech and finding out more about what they do, I was very excited about their opportunities available.
Getting Started
I was drawn to StyleTech by the range of services they offer, including the variety of languages and technologies they work with. After sending off my CV, cover letter and taking part in two interviews, I was thrilled to be offered the placement.
StyleTech kept in contact with me prior to starting and made my first day less daunting, by inviting me to their office for a day to get to know and interact with the team. They also introduced me to the projects I would be starting on.
Various Projects
Over the past year, I have worked on a range of projects, making use of the skills I had already developed during my time at University, but also learning new languages and technologies. The range of projects I have been working on has varied, giving me a large breadth of experience in a variety of industries.
Whilst working in HTML and JavaScript, I also had the chance to learn development with Microsoft Azure and C# with SQL. To support my work with mobile apps I was given time to learn Xamarin and make use of Xamarin University, developing with XAML and C#.
What Next?
As my Industrial Placement comes to an end, I will go back to University to complete my final year. My year at StyleTech has provided me with a professional development mindset and skills that can be transferred to my final year project in September. My confidence has improved when working with clients and my development skills have skyrocketed.
My advice to any Computer Science student considering an Industrial Placement is to grab all the opportunities you can and make the most of them. Do your research and find a company that works on projects you are interested in and use languages and technologies that catch your eye. Always be yourself, show that you are a team player who is excited to be a part of the team and learn as much as possible.
I would definitely recommend the Industrial Placement at StyleTech. I have learnt so much and will come away as a stronger developer, ready for my final year at University and future career. With the diverse projects, welcoming team and supportive environment, I believe StyleTech helped me get the most out of my Year in Industry.
To see the available opportunities at StyleTech, take a look at our Hiring page.
