Mike Dolha took part in the Professional Pathway (PP) scheme at City, University of London. He now works as a Senior Staff Engineer at Nagarro.
What made you decide to join the Professional Pathway scheme?
The main reason I joined the Professional Pathway scheme was that I was a foreign student living in the UK and needed a source of income. The other reason was my eagerness to start working in the industry and gain relevant experience before graduating. Also the fact that PP was even an option at City was too good to pass up.
What roles did you do whilst on the Professional Pathway scheme?
My first role was as a Software Developer at an R&D company specialising in Gamification, working with Government and European projects. We were a team of 10 people in total and I worked there for almost two years.
My second role was during my final year of University, as a Student Teaching Assistant at City, working with first and second year students. To this day, working at City as a TA has been my favourite job.
How did the scheme help you find work on graduation?
By the time I had finished University, I had gained invaluable knowledge from working real, relevant jobs in the industry rather than relying solely on coursework and textbooks. The PP work-based project helped me get a good overview of my own development and the showcase we had to do at the end of the scheme helped reconnect with classmates and get a glimpse of what my competition looked like.
Describe your career journey since graduation.
After graduation I started a job at a small indie studio where we were working on a video game. It was an intense six months after which I unfortunately had to relocate back to Romania.
Since then I have worked at two different corporations as a Frontend Web Developer specialising in Angular. I have been with my current employer, Nagarro, for over four years now and have experienced massive development in my career.
I now get invited to speak at conferences and various tech events as well as host a few of my own, both within and outside the company.
Are there any lessons you want to share with current Professional Pathway applicants?
I think the second most important lesson is that you absolutely should join the PP scheme and start working in the industry of your choice as soon as possible.
The most important lesson however is to never take for granted those few years of university. They sure pass by quickly. There has never been a better time to make friends, build long-lasting connections and spend as much time as you want honing your craft and absorbing as much information as possible.
You will never have as much time and freedom to explore who you really are and unlock your true potential as you do during university. Don’t take it for granted.
Any final message about the Professional Pathway scheme?
Everyone at the University and part of the PP scheme is there to offer you support and help you reach your goals. Don’t be shy to ask for help and don’t be afraid to fail. Failing is the only way through which you truly learn.
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