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When you've worked towards a goal in the past, what systems or tools have been helpful for you in accomplishing that goal? How could you adapt those same systems/tools to use while at Turing?
When I think about working towards goals in the past, what comes to mind in terms of helpful tools is other people. I've noticed that when I am left to my own devices, or if I isolate myself, I am less likely to see a project through to the end. I think this is largely the case, not because I can't do the work or overcome the challenges associated, but rather because I become uninspired or that I lose perspective on what I'm doing and why. I think the biggest thing for me at Turing will be to join groups/discussions/zoom meetings and anything else that will keep me engaged with others and on track in my own projects.
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As you start this new career, what is one of your strengths and how do you know?
One of my biggest strengths is identifying what it is that I don't know or am struggling with and being able to put that into words that make sense to others. I'm really good at breaking things down into their basic parts, cutting out the fluff, and reconstructing it so that the heart of the matter is easy to understand, and therefore easier to manage/ overcome. I know this will help me at Turing, because already I'm noticing that programming is so technical. It's easy to get lost in all the minute details and not know exactly what to do or where to go when a difficult problem arises. I'm also good at understanding others' confusion and applying the same skill, so hopefully I can help others along the way as well.
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Describe how you work best (conditions, environment, preferences, etc.):
It is hard for me to work in groups because I can't seem to focus when there are so many ideas and voices around-- I kind of get lost in the sauce. However, I really need to discuss with others in order to stay on track. I think the best way to navigate these two would be to work by myself as much as possible, and convene with others after a project is finished or when an issue arises, and then taking back any new ideas or info to use later when I am working independently again. I will be attending Turing completely online due to coronavirus, so I've been putting work into establishing a solid work environment at home-- I don't have roomates, and I have a separate space with a desk carved out that is free of distractions.
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As you start this new career, what is your greatest area of improvement when it comes to your professional skills?
My biggest hurdle will be to stay on track with assignments and not procrastinate my work. When I am not already engaged in an assignment or project, I find that it is very hard to force myself to sit down and get started. This means that I often lose precious time and have to rush at the end to get things done. I know this isn't efficient and is far from ideal. That's why it's the biggest area of improvement not only while I'm at Turing, but needs to be addressed in order for me to succeed in a professional setting.
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How will developing a deeper understanding of your strengths and working preferences benefit you as a software developer?
I'm basically brand new to software development. I dabbled in it on my own last year, but I have never engaged with it in a rigorous manner. Anything that I can do to better shift into the developer mindset is bound to help me transition into this field. I think that understanding my strengths and preferences will also be reassuring since I'm so new, allowing me to temper feelings of imposter syndrome. Understanding my working preferences will also help me become more efficient with my working style.
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Describe the vision you currently have for your career after Turing:
This one is tough for me. Since I'm still pretty new to software development in general, I'm not entirely sure all the ways it can be utilized. Ideally, I would like to work for a company or nonprofit that helps marginalized groups, or helps to make information more accessible to greater swaths of people. I'd love to work for the ACLU, or something in that ballpark. In general, I'd like to do meaningful work that fulfills me personally, and also provides a steady and stable income.