Software developer

Briefly explain what you do for a living. 

I’m a software developer in a company called Nursebuddy. Nursebuddy is a Finnish programming company that develops online and mobile services for the needs of home nursing service providers. My tasks include the development and maintenance of software. I also provide technical support to our Customer Success team, which is responsible for the customer experience. In practice, they ensure that getting started with our software is as smooth as possible.

How have you ended up in the profession of your choice? 

I have a long history of work in the field of trade and health care. I thought about getting into IT in the 1990s, but back then, girls weren't really encouraged to take that path. I ended up studying to be a dressmaker, but later on, I wanted to do something more meaningful. I became a practical nurse and worked with people with memory loss.

When I moved to Tampere, I had to leave my care job. In my old hometown, I started working in an import company for an employer I already knew. I worked as a supervisor in a warehouse, and the work was versatile. I got involved in a software development project when a new picking software was being purchased for the warehouse. I was able to test it and help in the deployment. That's when it hit me that the IT sector could be my thing.

I thought about changing fields and experimented with free programming courses. Combining full-time work, parenting and studies seemed difficult. So I quit my job and started self-studying coding. My brother already worked in the field, so I got a lot of information and good advice from him. Through a recruitment training, I finally got my foot between the door and landed my first job in IT.

Describe your typical working day or week. 

The rhythm of working days depends on the number of meetings and technical support requests and whether I’m at the office or work from home. We work in two-week cycles, or sprints. My everyday routines include a daily meeting with the development team to discuss the schedule and work situation. That’s when we make changes to the work plan, if necessary.  On office days, I also reserve time for social interaction, such as having lunch with my colleagues.

A typical day includes independent coding and handling support requests. Writing or correcting code is ongoing trial and error. I investigate and break the code into smaller pieces to see how the desired outcome can be achieved. I also participate in testing, various cooperation meetings and reviews, where we examine code written by others. I get support for coding from the more experienced employees.

I also handle technical support requests. Typically, a support request is for a software not working as it should. That's when I try to follow the steps of the customer and spot the error in the code.

What kind of work environment or working hours do you have? 

I work from both home and the office. The office has an inspiring atmosphere but a lot of noise compared to remote work. Our office is located in the Platform6 startup house, which is home to many companies. The building has shared spaces where you can meet many different people. On remote days, it’s easier to focus on coding, get immersed in information retrieval and solve problems. I enjoy the hybrid work.

My working hours are flexible, but I usually work from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

What kind of competence or qualities are required in the profession? 

Above all, the profession requires interest in problem solving. It's important to see the big picture and the different parts of it. You also need communication skills quite a bit. You need to know how to give and receive help. You also need tenacity, perseverance to learn about things, a systematic approach and information retrieval skills.

What is the best thing about your profession? 

The best thing about the profession is learning new things and developing yourself as well as the joy that comes at the moment of success. It's also great that the IT sector takes great care of employees. There is a genuine interest in our well-being, and new faces are always welcomed with open arms. I feel that hybrid work and regular working hours are also advantages.

What are the downsides of the profession or what seems challenging? 

Sitting work. We must invest in work breaks and maintaining our physical condition. It can also feel consuming that technologies are constantly developing and that the stream of new information is endless. You must accept the fact that you can't learn everything.

What would you tell a person considering the profession of a software developer? 

There are plenty of tutorials and free courses online that you can use to learn about coding. You should take advantage of events in the field and network boldly. As a layman, it may be difficult to get a clear picture of all the possible tasks in the field, but the free materials and networking will help with it.

All kinds of people are needed in the sector, so you shouldn't dwell too much on your background. I personally think that you don’t have to work in one profession for your entire career. In the IT sector, previous professions are likely to only benefit you.

How do you see the future of your profession? 

Artificial intelligence will change the field. Already, AI-assisted coding is being used, which makes the work more efficient as routine coding is done by a machine. There will be more and more competition between software languages in terms of efficiency, in other words how much energy and resources different languages require. I also think that graphic tools will be used in the future, which will make it possible to distribute the workload, and not everyone needs to know how to write code the same way. An example of this is low-code software development.

People say that the IT sector develops so fast that information expires in five years. Because of it, the profession keeps on developing and changing, and I don't even know what my job will be like in the future.