Software Developer

Emma Thomas

Computer Science and IT

Placement (10 Months+)

Totalmobile

What was the interview process like?

This consisted of an online form that you submit along with your CV. This was followed by an assessment centre which included a variety of tests and then a technical and personality interview. Cognito assess if you have their ethos, along with the enthusiasm and required skills for the placement.

How much responsibility were you given?

I’ve been treated like a real developer at Cognito and have felt like an important member of the team from day one. During my time here I’ve had the opportunity to work on a large codebase, meet international suppliers and help maintain software for over 20,000 customers.

What advice would you give to someone applying for your role?

Show that you are passionate about the company and make it clear why you’ve chosen Cognito. Communicate your strengths in your interview, as your skills will be matched to the role best suited to you. Try to relax and be yourself!

What has been your biggest challenge?

I think the biggest challenge has been the sheer amount of code! Going from working on a small project at university to a huge code base was certainly different! Also, because I work in mobile development often I can’t use live debugging which is challenging.

Where has your experience exceeded your expectations?

I never thought that I’d rather work than go back to university! I’ve had such a good experience at Cognito that I don’t want to leave and have extended my contract through my summer. It’s nice to work somewhere where every day is different and interesting.

What do you most enjoy about your role?

No day is the same in my role; I get to work on a variety of solutions that utilises different problem solving skills. This keeps every day interesting and helps keep me motivated. It also means that I can choose issues to work on that will challenge me the most and help me develop new skills!

Describe a situation where you have surpassed expectations?

At the beginning of my placement I never thought it would be possible to complete the whole process from the investigation to bug fix by myself. I’ve now been able to do this on a regular basis and it goes to show how much I’ve learnt!

What is the atmosphere like in your team?

My team is mostly laid back, but that doesn’t mean we don’t get the work done! I feel lucky to have been part of such a friendly team, where no question is too small. They have always been available to help and have taught me a lot over the year.

What were the activities outside of work?

There are regular curry nights and often social events within each team including cinema and gaming. We go for burgers at a local pub every Friday lunch and there is table football available in the lunch area which I use most days!

How promising are the graduate prospects?

A lot of the people I’ve met at Cognito are past placement students, which shows how often placement students do come back to the company. Cognito have invested a lot of time and effort into their placements, and it pays off!