This week’s graduate recently graduated with a degree in Software engineering from a renowned university. He is a natural born problem-solver with an aptitude for technology. From doing programming for fun to solving Rubik’s cubes in under two minutes, this graduate is on his way to inventing the next Netflix.
Does this sound like you? Read on to learn more!
The Struggling Graduate: Describe yourself in 3 words.
M: Passionate, detail-oriented, persistent.
The Struggling Graduate: What is your role and what is a typical day like?
M: I’m a Technical Product Specialist for a broadcast solutions manufacturer, meaning that I am the person who has to know the product better than anyone. This role allows me to use my ability to be focused to gain a profound knowledge of the features of the product and use cases to fully understand its capabilities. On a day-to-day basis, I am either recreating customer problems to understand the root cause, or I am testing out new features that are to be released at a later date.
The Struggling Graduate: Sounds like very thorough and exciting work! I’m sure a lot of graduates are wondering, how did you get your job?
M: While working towards a Bachelor of Engineering in Software Engineering, a few close colleagues of mine told me about their great experiences during their coop terms working at my current company. These reviews, paired with my interest in the TV industry, made applying for the position a must for me. After an HR interview and two technical interviews on site, I was hired.
The Struggling Graduate: What skills do you need to be good at your role? Describe the kind of person who would excel in your role.
M: My role requires me to be driven and determined, since most of the solutions I’m trying to find are not simple. It often takes a long time to test and verify that the solutions I come up with actually solve the issue I am studying. I also need to be detail-oriented because not only do I have to know the product I am tasked to at a profound level, but I also need to know how to interface the product with other products that the company sells as well as with third party products. This level of understanding only comes when you are willing to fully understand the topic, not just enough to get by. The kind of person that would excel at this role is someone who prefers depth of knowledge to breadth of knowledge, as well as being okay with struggling to find the solution to each issue they face.
The Struggling Graduate: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
M: In 5 years, I see myself working either at this company in a leadership role, or moving onto a leadership role at a different firm. For me, there are so many different parts of the software industry that I would like the chance to work in, and while I think that limiting myself to one is optimal for promotions and progress, it would be detrimental to my core values in life and my passion for the work I would be doing.
The Struggling Graduate 