Would you like to get a software engineer job? Here is an interview with Dennis Brujin, How he got a Software Engineer job
How was your university time?
Good. Actually, I didn’t go to university for your stereotypical computer science degree. I finished community college, doing a course mainly focused on creating applications but also had to do tasks like soldering hardware and creating private networks for machines to communicate on.
Why did you choose a Software Engineer career?
From a young age, I already knew that I wanted to be in IT, I always was drawn to it, and the moment that “programming” cracked in my head, I knew what I wanted to do at least for the following 10 – 20 years.
What was the first job that helped you to get to where you are today?
The first job that I landed was straight out of college, an IT company specializing in complex software architectures, mostly writing back-end applications. Learned a lot over there.
How do you prepare for a software Engineer interview?
Usually, I do not!
Of course, I do some reading (what’s the company about, what can they offer me), but after that, I just go and be myself.
Things are changing very fast in the technology industry. How do you keep yourself updated?
Go to events, get involved in some communities (i.e., the React Community), read someone else code to understand their way of thinking, and evolve yourself, watch talks and tutorials on the web. Last but not least, stay passionate and hungry for more.
What can you recommend on a CV?
Write a good summary of yourself. “I’m x, I’ve been a y for z, these are my competencies, etc. etc.” and also note what you don’t want to do or dislike (especially with all those recruiters out there).
Advice for someone looking for a software Engineer job?
Just go for it! IT, especially programmers, are in high demand, you’re in control, and if you have some years of experience, you can even use that as leverage to land you a better job as well.
Why do you think you are selected over other candidates for the software engineer job?
Passionate, flexible, good soft skills (a real team player).
Bio
Dennis Brujin is a software engineer with over six years of experience in the field. I’ve worked with a handful of companies in various roles, from application architect to front-end developer and everything in between.
I’m a team player, eager to learn, and always striving to succeed in my goals. I like to grow and help others grow, as well. I’m a self-labeled geek that loves to go to conferences and talk about technology all day long. Besides that, I love to hit the gym, go for a hike, and take photos.
