Four Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting My First Software Development Job

I’ve been at Workday for a couple of years now, and what a ride it’s been. Now that I have had time to reflect, I thought it was time to share a bit about my experience in the hopes of paying it forward to the next generation of early-in-career professionals.

From Uni to Workday (Who Knew?!)

Truth be told, I hadn’t even heard of Workday before I applied for an internship in my second year of uni. Fast forward to now, and I can confidently say it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made. The Brisbane office is full of awesome Workmates, and the vibe is super supportive and welcoming. I’ve had heaps of opportunities to learn and grow, and the senior devs are absolute legends when it comes to mentoring. They’ve really helped me develop my skills and confidence.

One of the best parts of Workday is Generation Workday®, our one-year professional program designed for early career talent. I was able to get a taste of what it’s like to work on real projects with real deadlines. We had the chance to collaborate with other new grads and interns, which was awesome for learning the ropes and making friends. Plus, seeing our creations actually being used by real customers? Absolutely mind-blowing!

Four Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Job

• Teamwork makes the dream work: Being able to communicate and collaborate is just as important as your coding skills. No one expects you to know everything straight away, so don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for help. Your team is there to support you!
• Uni helps, but real-world learning is key: Yep, all those programming languages and concepts you learned at uni? They’re definitely relevant! I use Object-Oriented Programming, data structures, and algorithms every day to efficiently solve problems. It’s really cool to see the theory I learned in class applied in the real world. And those group assignments? They’re great prep for collaboration with a team of unique perspectives. Being able to communicate effectively and collaborate with my teammates (both in my own team and across different departments) is a large part of my job.
• Growth mindset is a must: I’ve learned so much in the past two years, from debugging like a pro to writing super-efficient code. The best way to grow is to jump in and get involved. Whether it’s a hackathon or a team project, those experiences are invaluable. I’ve even improved my time management and communication skills.
• Be flexible and adaptable: Uni assignments tend to be pretty “fixed”. The criteria and tasks are usually set in stone from the beginning, leading to an already-planned outcome. But in the workplace, things are way more fluid. Requirements can change on the fly, so adaptability and flexibility are key.

For example, I was working on this project with a very tight deadline, and I finished everything according to the initial plan. But after showing it to my team, they had some ideas about how to make the user experience even better. So, even though I thought I was done, I went back and made those changes. It ended up being a much better product in the end, and it taught me that things don’t always go exactly as planned!

My Work (day) Highlight Reel

One of my biggest highlights so far has been when I participated in a four-day hackathon with other grads. We had to come up with a solution to a real-world problem. The whole experience was a whirlwind of brainstorming, coding, and presenting our ideas to stakeholders. It was a fast-paced project where we had to choose our problem, consult with relevant stakeholders, design a solution, implement it, and then present the solution to an audience. It was challenging, but also super rewarding. The project pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me develop a whole range of skills, including problem-solving, design, collaboration, communication and presentation skills.

If you’re thinking about applying for a grad role, I say go for it! You won’t regret it.

A brighter work day is just around the corner. ☀️ Explore career opportunities here. For more #WDAYLife content, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.