University of Auckland
Bachelor of Engineering / Engineering Science / Part 3
It was extremely big and required me to use my creativity in some areas instead of relying on previous implementations to guide me. I think it was the first task that forced me to think a lot more independently, which was both difficult and rewarding.
Belinda learned about Tidy through a BESA (Biomedical and Engineering Science Students Association) event. Initially, she rushed to apply for an Engineering Science internship, but found that applications for this had already closed. Seeing that Software Engineering internships were still open, she decided to break out of her comfort zone and give it a try.
“With an unconfident click, I sent my CV and cover letter through,” she recalls.
“A few days later, I got an email asking for an interview. It was very flexible, and they agreed on times that suited me. The interview was to the point and casual – I remember Terence letting out his dog in the middle!”
During her first interview, Belinda was mostly quizzed about the projects on her CV and her experiences with coding in a university context. She was soon contacted for a second interview with Kevin, Tidy’s CEO.
“The second interview was even more casual, with Kevin just getting to know me. We had a long chat about how his grandfather translated Morse code and all the events/choices that led to me choosing engineering. Fast forward a bit, and I was granted an offer to join the Software Engineering team!”
The most interesting project Belinda worked on was making two whole pages on Tidy’s TidyStock product frontend. Technically, it was the most daunting task she had ever tackled.
“It was extremely big and required me to use my creativity in some areas instead of relying on previous implementations to guide me. I think it was the first task that forced me to think a lot more independently, which was both difficult and rewarding,” she recalls.
Belinda was surprised by how relaxed the office was. Having never done an internship before, she expected a strict, cutting-edge dress code and solid deadlines. She was glad to discover it was okay to relax as long as she completed her work.
“I was also surprised at how much I could do in the end, especially since I don't study software engineering. Everyone was supportive and helped me learn quickly.”
Her most memorable moment was going out to pet the neighbourhood cats during breaks.
“There's a friendly grey cat close to the office that doesn't run away even if you're really loud!”
Belinda’s advice for the next batch of interns is:
Don't be afraid to pick something outside your expertise. This can apply to both job tasks or the job itself! You don't have to be perfect at it, just give it your best shot.”
Belinda is keen to continue developing her skills as a programmer, regardless of what profession she ends up in.
“Although Engineering Science coding is completely different to Software Engineering coding, I am confident that spending a summer as a software engineer has had a huge positive impact on my skills and my future. I think coding is an invaluable skill in today's day and age, and I am forever grateful that I've had this opportunity to enhance it.”
