Is there a fun fact about yourself that you would like to share with us?

This will be very random, but I love mowing the lawn. This is probably because we don’t live in a family house and don’t have our own garden, where it’s a must. There is also a lawnmower simulator game that I play. I have two cats who love to participate in my Teams meetings. Besides that, I do a lot of things. I enjoy cooking, climbing wall, swimming, running, playing, including board games and gaming. Plus, I also paint and draw. Oh, and I sometimes design wedding invitations and logos.

 

WOMEN IN THE TECH WORLD

In the IT world, we encounter many more men than women. How was that in your life? 

Even in high school, I was the only woman in the IT department besides our female teacher. The ratio was a bit better at the university, but I was never bothered by the fact that mainly men surrounded me. However, it always feels good to have another female colleague in the team besides me. I make friends very easily, and this probably helped me a lot in fitting in.

Have you had any negative experiences while working with men?

Throughout my career, I haven’t had a single bad experience. There have been times when I had to assert my opinion a bit more to someone, but this didn’t necessarily come from the fact that I am a woman; rather, it was because I’m not a loud person. Therefore, in such cases, I rely on my communication style rather than the volume. I apply different communication styles with different colleagues and try to shed light on same topic from several perspectives.

 

CAREER CHANGE, STARTING A CAREER

Why did you choose the developer career?

I started to be interested in computers from a very young age. But I didn’t just play video games; I was also interested in all kinds of software and hardware. My parents saw this and supported me. I was sitting in front of the computer at just 8 years old, which wasn’t as common before as it is today. When we started programming in high school in the IT specialization, I immediately knew that this was something I was interested in.

If a young university student were to message you on LinkedIn and ask if they should become a developer, what would you say?

Well, I would ask back why they want to be a developer.

Obviously for the high salary!

Well, then I wouldn’t recommend this career to them! I wouldn’t recommend development to anyone just for the sake of a high salary or because they like playing computer games. It’s essential to genuinely be interested in the subject. Persistence is needed, and you must love solving problems because this profession is entirely about that. For me, it’s like solving a puzzle. Additionally, humility and a thirst for knowledge are also very important because the web world changes incredibly fast, and to keep up, one must have a drive to continuously educate themselves. But for that, you need to be interested in the subject…

What advice do you have for those currently looking for work as developers?

I can share what was important to me. A lot can be gathered from the job posting. ALDI’s one was interesting and direct. I didn’t feel that the expectations were overwhelming. I felt that I fit the position. There were job postings at other companies where they listed so many requirements that I thought it was impossible for a mid-​level developer to know all of that. Also, the chemistry with the people who interview me matters a lot.

Do you think there is a difference between developers who have a degree and those who taught themselves?

A university degree is not necessarily required. It’s obviously good, and it’s essential for someone who wants to be a developer to complete at least one course because these programmes provide a structured and well-​organized foundation. However, throughout my career, I have found that it is not the qualification that matters, but rather the attitude and mindset. Those who remain in this field are the ones who have internal motivation and possess that little spark necessary to drive them forward.

 

TRAINING

Recently, I have encountered several junior developers in the job market who can’t find a suitable developer role for months. Do you have any tips for them?

I wish I did. The market has changed a lot since I started developing. I believe it is worthwhile for companies to invest in juniors because seniors will eventually need to be replaced, and it is important to mentor the next generation. In terms of technical skills, I would say that JavaScript alone is no longer enough. It is essential to choose a framework to go along with it, such as Vue, React, or Angular. Additionally, TypeScript has become widespread, so it’s worth getting familiar with that as well. A solid understanding of HTML, CSS, and responsive design is also beneficial, and applicants should explore more on-​trend areas like web performance optimization and accessibility. Another important aspect is that a junior developer should have their own project, but not one created with AI. It should be something they did independently, as that is where they learn the most. With this and high level of enthusiasm, their chances of finding a job are good.

Many developers include GitHub repo links in their CVs. Our colleagues also tend to look at these when reviewing applicants. Do you think a GitHub repo is more of an advantage or a disadvantage for junior colleagues?

It is an advantage, but it depends on how they use their repo. I also check this when interviewing applicants for ALDI. I have encountered GitHub accounts with many started projects and others where only cloned projects were present. This created a lot of chaos because it was unclear what the applicant had done and wanted to showcase. I would share a well-​organized GitHub repo and remove any noise that does not demonstrate my skills. If necessary, create two GitHub repos: one that represents your skills and another that serves as a playground for experimenting.

How should a mid-​level developer continue to develop if they want to become a senior?

It’s great if a developer takes advantage of having colleagues with various levels of seniority at their workplace and asks for feedback from them. A mid developer usually knows their strengths and weaknesses. They don’t need to be good at everything; it’s worth focusing on one or two weaknesses and asking a senior colleague if they could recommend any resources for learning. Additionally, reading documentation is fundamental. It’s advisable to periodically revisit and reread the documentation of the framework currently in use.

How can a developer stay up to date with technology?

It’s worth checking out YouTube channels aimed at developers. For example, I love Tailwind because it’s very easy to use, and I’m subscribed to the Tailwind channel. I also follow those on YouTube who develop while streaming, as there is a lot to learn from them. Additionally, it’s beneficial to listen to discussions with developers to hear their opinions on certain technologies.

I would recommend Udemy mainly for beginners, as they start explaining things from the basics. For mid and senior developers, Frontend Masters is a more useful knowledgebase, which operates on a monthly subscription and is a true goldmine! Furthermore, I have been working with Vue for over 6 years, so I can recommend Vue Mastery and Vue School in that regard, but I’m sure there are also resources for React and Angular.

 

WORK-​LIFE BALANCE

Life as a developer is quite busy, working 8 hours and then sitting down to learn...

It’s great that at ALDI, we are given a specific amount of time each month to spend on our training during work hours. This is why I mentioned that a certain level of commitment and interest is necessary because a developer can only stay up to date with the latest technologies if they also engage with it in their free time. I usually allocate time for this, setting goals for myself on how much time and on what I will spend throughout the month, but I don’t force myself to learn at all costs. 

How do you maintain a balance between work and personal life?

I enjoy working on my private pet project in my free time. For me, development is not just work, but also my passion. I find it very difficult to maintain a balance between work and personal life, but I’m trying! 😊 It doesn’t help that my boyfriend is also a developer, and we watch streams even during dinner. However, traveling and sports help me to relax too. My commuting time home from the office is quite long, and the good thing about it is that I can mentally close off work during the journey.

Office work is currently a big dilemma at multinational companies. Many companies have drastically increased their office presence. Which is better for a developer: working in the office or from home?

I like both. I’m in a fortunate position where I don’t have many office days, but I still enjoy coming in once a week because it’s important for me to socialize. However, I am much more efficient at home for deep work tasks; I have more time for focused work. Working from home is good for people who are truly disciplined; I think they can best utilize productivity. I believe that both office work and working from home are important, and it’s great that I can decide when I come into the office.

Do you have a role model or someone who inspires you?

I don’t have a specific role model, but there are many people I look up to. There’s a colleague of mine who communicates exceptionally well, and I always pay attention during meetings to how well they express themselves and how attentive they are to others; there’s a lot to learn from them. Also, Steve Kinney from Frontend Masters is very inspiring. His humorous presentation style is very engaging, which can be useful in a presentation to maintain people’s interest. I also watch YouTube videos related to wall climbing, and there’s a coach who teaches very well – I can pick up some tricks for mentoring from him.

 

Interviewer: Bettina Gottfried