Margaret Carlin

"My results were Coach, Influencer, Quality ControllerI feel like each of these really applies to the role that I am in. As a software engineer, it's important to be creative. One of the good things about software engineering is there are many different ways to solve the problem, and as a team we're able to use our creativity and understanding to make sure our customers get exactly what they need. For me to know what I need to do, I need to listen to our customers and be compassionate to their needs, and make sure their expectations are met.Part of my job involves explaining my work to my team and to others who may be using my code in one way or another. Because of this, I need to explain in a way that people understand, and also understand the detail to make sure people know how to use my code. In my role, I work on my own for some tasks, but I also buddy up with other developers to work together. This is a great way to learn new skills and also to find out new ways to problem solve!"

"My official role is as a backend software engineer. This means I write a lot of code that goes behind-the-scenes. Even though the code isn't visible to the everyday users, it's still important as it makes our applications work! Although day-to-day, the tasks I work on may seem small, they add another piece of the puzzle to our application. Some days it might be adding a new feature for our customers to use. Other days it might be fixing an issue or making the application easier to use. Every day is different, and that's one thing I really love about my job - I don't think I could manage doing the same thing over and over again!The thing that I enjoy the most about my role is that I never stop learning. I am very lucky to be in a very collaborative role with a supportive team. The members of my team are good at explaining new concepts and helping me to make my code the best that it can be! I am also lucky that in my role, I can take time for training. This means I can go and learn new concepts on my own to improve my work. Knowing that I can keep progressing is such a rewarding feeling!"

"I've always known that I wanted to do Software Engineering, so my route to my current role has been one that's all about programming! During my degree, I was incredibly fortunate to undertake a placement year with a company called NaviNet. Specialising in medical insurance software, I was able to build on my skills in C# and work as part of a professional team for the first time! I was also incredibly fortunate to work with the company after my graduation.Since graduating, I have worked in two separate start ups. I am currently at WorkRise, a company that helps workers in the US get work in a number of sectors, including renewable energy. Working for a start up is definitely very challenging, but also incredibly rewarding! WorkRise is a great company to work for. I am lucky to be in a team that's incredibly supportive and helpful - no question is too silly! I am lucky that I learn something new every day in my role, and that I always have the opportunity to grow!Although I never had anyone in my family or friends who was interested in programming, I knew it was something I always really wanted to do. My parents were a big inspiration for me, as they always gave me the opportunity to do the things that I wanted to do, and were always supportive of me even on the days when I didn't succeed. I have also been lucky to meet people in my career who have helped me grow and have challenged me to be a better software engineer."

"I have a lot of hobbies that I really enjoy, and I like to make sure I make time for myself! One of my biggest hobbies is baking - I absolutely love baking cakes and cookies. Though I'm not an expert decorator, I like to practice and try new ideas with different themes! I've also been making sure I have time to read - there's nothing nicer than curling up with a big mug of tea and a good book! One of my big passions is Disney - I absolutely love Disney movies and I especially love all of the theme parks! My ultimate goal is to visit all of them, and I even worked in Walt Disney World in Florida for a summer, which was so much fun! Who would've thought work would be so exciting?!When I'm not busy working or baking, I'm either dancing or looking after my baby Labrador, Moose. He's a big boy at 8 months old, but he's a big softie, and I love him to bits!"

"As a backend engineer in a startup company, my role from day to day can vary as I have to wear a lot of different hats! Day to day, I write in a programming language called JavaScript. I write code so that the system does the specific task that I need it to do. To make sure the code is working as expected (and doesn't do anything unexpected), I also write some tests. As part of the team I'm in, we review each other's code. So once my code is ready and working, I submit it for review. This gives people a chance to test my code in different ways to make sure it works as expected, and also to ask questions to make sure they understand the work I've done. I also spend a bit of my time each day reviewing other people's code to make sure I understand the changes!Once that is done, I have to deploy my code and get it to our customers! This also gives me a chance to do different tests, interacting with our systems the way the customers would, before completing my work and picking up something new!Since all of our work is virtual at the moment, the team also takes a little bit of time to catch up on each other's work through a virtual call and also to talk to each other! It's important for the team's mental health to have a little bit of time to talk and unwind!"

"After GCSEs, I did A levels in ICT, Maths and Physics. I decided that I wanted to get as much practical experience with programming, so I undertook a diploma (HND) in Computing and Systems Development, achieving distinctions in every module of the diploma. During my course, I learned a lot of new technologies, and started programming in Java, C#, JavaScript and HTML/CSS!After that, I went straight into second year of an integrated Masters in Software Engineering at Queen's University. During my time at Queen's, I continued to develop my programming skills, including taking modules on cybersecurity, database development, high performance computing and software testing. I was also fortunate enough to be able to support my peers at the university, through my role as a peer mentor, as well as through my role as a demonstrator. This allowed me to build on my own skills, and also help other students understand the course content."