A day in the life of a… Mobile Intern

We’ve always built outstanding apps, so our mobile developers form a critical part of Apadmi’s offering. The interns and graduates we attract are fuelled by a determination to succeed in a sector that’s rapidly growing.

Whether you’re interested in applying for a Graduate position or Mobile Intern role, or you want to see more of life at Apadmi, one of our recent recruits Haroon is here to give you an insight…

Haroon Chishty, Mobile Intern for Apadmi

Currently studying for his Software Engineering MA at Sheffield University, Haroon began his 12-month internship with us back in July.

He’s always been interested in mobile tech, and joined us for his year-in-industry to experience a real-world developer environment.

We sat down with him to discuss what life is like as a Mobile Intern at Apadmi…

Q: How does your work-day start?

“Every day starts with our team stand-up. We’ll speak to the client (if needed), but otherwise it’s an internal discussion group where we clarify where everyone is up to on a project, and set objectives for the day about what we need to achieve.”

Q: Are there any specific websites you check each day?

“I check Endgadget and Gizmodo for the latest industry news, but at work, I’m always using Stack Overflow. It’s a community-driven website with thousands of helpful code snippets from people who’ve been stuck on similar problems. I also use BitBucket, where you can view everyone’s code and see what they’re working on. You can either accept it and use it in a code base, or reject it and suggest edits.”

Q: Why did you choose a software engineering career?

“When I was growing up, I remember my dad installing games onto a computer one time using CD’s and floppy disks. I remember getting so confused – I couldn’t understand how he was putting things onto a computer, yet it wasn’t getting any bigger!”

“Eventually I realised that software and files aren’t physical things of course, but from that point, I knew my career would be in tech – I love the creativity behind software, and how you can be the one responsible for what makes it great.”

Q: What are the typical skills your role requires?

“There’s not been a day without problem-solving. Whether it’s a simple bug-fix or something completely unexpected, the process you use is always the same – ask yourself why it’s there and what you need to do to fix it. I’ve quickly realised that coding is basically getting a big problem and breaking it down into chunks, solving each element step-by-step.”

“Good communication skills are vital too; you need to be able to establish what the client wants, but also how we as a team are going to achieve that. I’m always asking my desk-neighbours (both senior developers) for advice. If you’re around knowledgeable people, make the most of them!”

Q: How do you stay focused throughout the day?

“Water! I drink a lot of it. Everyone makes jokes about the fact I always have 2 or 3 water bottles on my desk, but staying hydrated helps a lot. It sounds generic and basic, but for me it’s key. I also find that using two desktops helps keep me focussed – my code sits on one screen, while the other is split between the thing I’m working on, and then something like JIRA or BitBucket.”

Q: Does the working day end for you when you leave the office?

“For me, yes. Over the past few years at uni, my days have been filled with lectures and studying, followed by more studying in the evening. Here, if I’ve achieved what I wanted and I feel like I’ve had a good day, the work does end when I leave the office – a fact that’s caused some jealousy amongst my friends who are still cramming uni work into their evenings!”

Q: Do you build on your skillset in your spare time?

“When I first started at Apadmi I didn’t – I had to get used to working and learning on the job together. But once I’d settled into life as a Mobile Intern, I found I had more time to put towards my personal development to improve productivity. Now, if there’s something I want to look into or add to my skillset, I can go home and work on different projects to trial and test new ideas. It’s vital for me I’m aware of new technologies and developments if my work is going to be the best standard.”

Q: What’s the biggest misconception you’ve come across?

“Personality stereotypes. If I search for ‘computer scientist’ or ‘software engineer’, I’ll either get an image of someone in a suit and tie (the tech entrepreneur) or someone who hides away in a dark room behind a screen 24/7 (the nerd).”

“I suggested ‘what I do’ as a career for my younger relatives and they said: “No! That’s for nerds!” – then off they went to play Fortnite, when it’s people like me who build those games! We need to change these perceptions. Thankfully, these stereotypes are being washed out as more people come into these roles, and realise just how great the need for developers really is.”

Q: What qualities do you look for in your colleagues?

“I’d say being open and approachable – it’s important people don’t fear asking you a question, which is crucial when you’re learning. Everyone is so open, kind and eager to give you their time at Apadmi, but they listen and give you feedback too. You’re really valued as a person here – you’re not just a number, you’re a member of this team.”