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Employee Spotlight: Rachel Low
I want to intern at Pixium Digital because I wanted to try something different from the tried and tested path, smaller-in-size company. I also wanted to try working in a fast paced environment. From my interview process, I realised how approachable and helpful the management team was. After spending a few years at university, I wanted to continue learning throughout my internship. I knew that working at Pixium would allow me to continue to grow and learn as I would be constantly exposed to new technologies. I also knew that working at Pixium could be challenging at times, but the time would be worth it.
My Advice: Always Stay Open, Humble, Initiative & Curious (OH IC)
During my onboarding, the largest obstacle I faced was that I ain’t able to apply my theoretical knowledge independently. I was aware that I needed to learn PHP Yii framework and I had also found tons of resources to learn it. The main barrier was when I needed to write new code code for certain functions or to solve a certain problem. That’s why I was stuck and don’t know how to apply my theoretical knowledge to solve the problem. This was a skill gap.
I overcame this challenge by starting to study a closed to completion project, and I tried to break the project into smaller parts. When I started implementing the small features myself, it was easier for me to implement the logic. If I didn’t understand the logic, I checked for how my feature was connected to the other parts of the app and how I could break the features back into smaller chunks. This way, I could find the solution to my problem. Not to mention, the guidance that I got from the awesome team!
During my Advanced Technology Attachment Programme (ATAP), a full-time 6 month internship programme at Pixium Digital, I have weekly meetings with the team to address barriers from last week and questions for the upcoming weeks. I like how the bosses ensure that everyone is on the same page and has the same information. Besides work, I also have get-togethers to share ideas about life and my individual progress. These sessions made my experience fruitful and positive. Although I am just an intern, I can reach out to my bosses for help. I like how the bosses take the time and effort to understand my needs. Due to the size of the company and the nature of the projects, I am able to work with everyone in the team at least once. They are very open-minded. I was given a lot of opportunities to be a part of the various projects and discussions. I like how my bosses and supervisors are receptive to my feedback.
Some of my responsibilities include the following:
- Conduct feasibility studies on the possibility of implementing technologies within Pixium Digital engineering workflow
- Write software that will be used in production and have a meaningful impact on the project
- Give and receive technical feedback through code reviews or design discussions
- Work with senior engineers to find ways to optimise the front-end / UI testing workflow and process
- Support the entire system development lifecycle from requirements gathering through design and development to delivery
- Support the team on existing and new projects
After interning at Pixium, I hope that I can still stay connected with the team. I will continue with my studies at my current university. I would like to take time off to reflect on the skills that have helped me succeed and the areas where I have struggled to excel. By defining what I am good at, I can better communicate my skills and expertise to future employers. Also, by identifying areas that can be improved, I can challenge myself to develop and achieve new goals.
One thing that should be taught in school is the code review process. In school, they only taught us about the fundamentals concepts, tasked us to implement them during our practical lab sessions and graded us. However, there was no-one around who we can question or address what is exactly right or wrong with our code. Code review is very important as it helps the code base stay current. It also helps prevent unwanted, unnecessary, or incorrect code from entering the codebase, especially working on complex projects for the clients.
The bosses give the team and even interns permission to act and make decisions:
- Delegate to develop
- Set clear expectations
- Give employees autonomy over assignments
- Provide necessary resources
- Give constructive feedback
- Accept ideas and input
- Communicate the vision of the organization
- Recognise employees for hard work