What A Software Engineer At Workday Wishes They Knew Before The Software Industry
Ryan, a Software Engineer at Workday, wishes someone would have told them the importance of "reaching out for help and asking questions" early on. They initially felt it would make them look incompetent, but they learned that people actually "respect it when you ask for help" because it demonstrates a desire to grow and do good work, which is essential in an industry where continuous learning is a must.
Asking for Help, Continuous Learning, Software Engineering, Industry Realities, Entry-Level
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ryan Vivian
Software Engineer
Workday
California State University, East Bay
N/A
Computer Science
Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Importance of asking for help: Ryan emphasizes that asking for help is crucial in the software engineering industry, regardless of experience level. He initially hesitated to ask questions, fearing it would make him appear incompetent, but later realized that people respect those who seek assistance.
2. Continuous learning: Ryan highlights that software engineers are constantly working on unfamiliar tasks, making it essential to ask for help. This suggests a culture of continuous learning and the need to adapt to new technologies and challenges throughout one's career.
3. Transferable skill: Ryan believes that the ability to ask for help is not unique to software engineering, but is a valuable skill in any industry. This implies that developing strong communication and collaboration skills can benefit students in any career path.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
One thing I was really bad at when I first started was reaching out for help and asking questions. I always felt like it would make me look like I didn't know what I was talking about, especially when I was fresh out of college.
So, that's one thing you have to learn how to do: ask for help and don't be afraid. People actually respect it when you ask for help because it shows that you care, that you want to grow, and that you want to do the best you possibly can.
That's probably the one thing I wish I would have learned. No matter how long you're in the industry, you're always going to be working on things you don't really know about, so you're always going to have to ask for help. I think that's true of any industry, not just software engineering.
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