Enigma placements: Matt's year as a software developer

Hi Matt! So, tell us what are you currently studying?

Hello! I'm currently studying a Computer Science degree at Newcastle University and have just completed a year-long placement at Enigma Interactive. I'm now heading back to uni to finish my studies.

Why did you choose to study Computer Science?

I was first introduced to Computer Science concepts, such as programming, towards the end of my GCSEs and instantly fell in love with it. I love the sense of achievement you get from the problem-solving aspect - you are constantly challenged to find a solution and it's very fulfilling when you finally crack it.

What do you think you'll be doing once you finish your final year at university?

At the moment, I'm still figuring out my plans for the future but I'm really interested in pursuing Software Development as a career - especially in a digital agency setting. A digital agency gives you the opportunity to work on all sorts of exciting front end and back end projects for a variety of clients. I love the challenge of applying what I've learned at uni to real-world projects, and it's very rewarding to see my work come to life.

What has been the coolest project you've worked on at Enigma?

That's a tough one but I think the work I've done for National Grid Electricity Distribution is up there.

Enigma has an ongoing digital programme with them and, as part of this programme, I've had the chance to work on some really cool projects.

The first one was the Electric Vehicle Connections Web Portal. The portal was developed to replace a paper application form so it involved a lot of intricate details that needed to be replicated in a digital setting.

The most recent project I worked on for this programme was a bulk uploader that allows companies to apply for multiple electric charging points in one go. This project involved creating an uploader that takes an Excel spreadsheet and converts all the rows into an application submission. To adapt some of the processes, I had to look back at some of the previous code I had worked on for the portal and update it. I found this super rewarding as I could see my coding skills and standards had increased a lot since that initial work 6 months prior. And, it's even more rewarding that this project is contributing to a greener future.

Another project that I enjoyed was some front-end work I did for an eCommerce client. This project involved taking an existing WordPress site and redeveloping it into a cleaner, much more customisable Magento site. The majority of this work used JavaScript to add interactivity to PHTML components, so it wasn't too dissimilar to the National Grid Electricity Work I'd been doing. Working with a variety of platforms has helped me to appreciate that some of the problem-solving and programming skills I had developed were more universal than I'd initially thought and can be applied to any programming task regardless of the language. I found this project particularly cool as I could physically see the changes I was making. Lots of the stuff I'd worked on before this project was about the functionality of something whereas this was a complete redesign to improve the sales performance of a website. It's cool to see the alert banners and promo panels I'd worked on right there on the homepage.

What has been the most valuable skill you have developed during your time at Enigma?

I think my confidence has been the biggest area of growth. Before working at Enigma, I'd never worked in an office environment and would prefer to work on my own. During my placement year, I've been encouraged to collaborate with not only my team of developers but the wider business too - including design, sales and senior management. I've learnt that asking for others' thoughts and opinions on certain issues makes it easier (and more enjoyable) when finding a solution.

From a technical perspective, I know that I wouldn't be as advanced as I am in my skills and capabilities if I didn't undergo this placement year. Having a senior software developer to mentor me and offer guidance not only on how to approach things but how to do so in the most efficient way has definitely propelled my career. I can now look at a potential task and know how to tackle it in the best way.

From a soft skills perspective, I've learned how to manage my time better and not procrastinate as much as I previously did (which I'd say is a common problem for most students). Enigma values efficient project management, and it's been super helpful in showing me how important it is to set deadlines and manage my time efficiently to produce high-quality work within a timescale. I'm feeling more confident about applying these skills to my final year of studies.

How have you found the culture here at Enigma?

The culture is great here. It's such a supportive and positive work environment where you're encouraged to just be yourself.

The team is keen to build good working relationships and there's always something social to do. The dedicated social committee plan events to appeal to a diverse range of interests and we tend to go out for lunch most days. I even had the chance to hold an owl in the office, which was an awesome experience.

How would you summarise your placement year at Enigma?

My time at Enigma has been nothing short of amazing, I've learned so much and felt truly appreciated right from the start. When working on any projects, I was always reminded of the client's goals and the bigger picture of what we were working on. I found that the entire team was always aligned with the same vision and values.

From experiencing things like holding owls to contributing to projects that promote sustainability, my year at Enigma has been invaluable and I hope to return very soon!

Interested in a career at Enigma? Check out our vacancies here.