I searched for job opportunities online and came across a small company seeking an entry-level developer who was eager to learn to code. I felt that this could be the chance I had been waiting for and applied right away. Luckily, I received an interview invitation.
Their office was quite small, about 20sqm, with open tables, computers, and a coffee machine that had Starbucks coffee. I know Australian coffee is far better than Starbucks, but it was the best option for me at the time. I was thrilled to work for a company that used the latest technology and had Mac computers. As far as I remember, there was only one developer before me, and the owner, who was an expert in Rails programming, acted more like a project manager. The interview was straightforward, with the employer asking a few questions about me and whether I was willing to learn, which is typical for employers.
Upon completing the interview, I returned home and, within a day or two, received an email containing the job offer. They proposed to train me in Rails programming, emphasizing the website’s front-end appearance and functionality. I believed this was precisely what I had been seeking – an opportunity to learn while earning a salary. As a novice developer, I recognized that I required direction and proper coaching, which is precisely what I was hoping for at that moment.
In the early stages of my employment, the company had only three employees, one of whom was another developer hired at the same time as me. I was fortunate to have such knowledgeable colleagues to work with, as they helped me tremendously in my programming career. Throughout my tenure, I became skilled in a variety of development tools, such as terminal usage, Textmate IDE, and collaborative coding platforms like GitHub. As the company’s growth led to more projects, the team quickly expanded to seven members within a few weeks.
Subsequently, one of our highly skilled developers, who was our initial hire, departed the company for a new job opportunity. Shortly thereafter, our employer made the decision to shut down the business and offer us contractual positions, if necessary. It appears that the primary reason for this decision was the company’s financial struggles during that period.