Software Academy Intern Review

I was working within an infrastructure team within the company. I would attend the daily stand-up meetings and perform as a standard member of the team. Throughout the day I would write code, attend meetings with stakeholders of the products we were developing as well as working across different teams. In addition to my 'daily' role, I was also a part of a team of interns that were working on an API that the company take to Hackathons, this helped me get to know my peers better.

I had never worked with Amazon Web Services before so the infrastructure side of things was a steep learning curve. I feel that by the end of it I could work my way around fairly advanced systems as well as make infrastructure diagrams for them. I also learnt React.js which previously I had had limited experience with. Overall I learnt a lot about how software is developed in a professional environment that I hope will stand me in good stead in the future.

I was given responsibility to carry out an entire software engineering project. This involved generating the initial specifications for the product, developing it as well as demoing it at the end of the internship. I was leading the project which meant I was the lead developer and getting assistance when required. I also lead the teams agile ceremonies for a cycle which allowed me to get a greater insight to how agile software development should work.

When I joined I was assigned a buddy and a mentor alongside my manager. These positions had slightly different responsibilities and were with people across different levels within the organisation. Having three official points of contact meant that I always had someone present to talk to even in the height of holiday season. I also had a very supportive team which meant I could always ask for help even when some people were busy. Everyone at Cap One was more than happy to help

Capital one has a strong culture promoting the work life balance and enjoyment in the office. There are many activities planned for the enjoyment of employees and interns alike. Everyone is always happy to help and support. Time is always made for those who need it whether it be for help with work or with a wider issue. Overall the culture is very friendly and everyone is welcoming and happy to provide support when people require it.

I thoroughly enjoyed my internship and would encourage anybody to take the same opportunity. I would encourage them to take all the opportunities available at the company such as getting the (free) amazon web services certifications and getting involved networking with not only the intern group but also the wider employee base including graduate and more senior developers. Everyone is super friendly and happy to ask any questions you have (no matter how big or small).

Yes

I would advise others to make the most of all the experiences available. Not being afraid to ask questions no matter how small they feel they are. Everyone is always super happy to answer them and offer support even if they are unable to answer directly. I would also suggest they take advantage of all the opportunities that are available such as the Amazon Web Services accreditation and other courses such as the Udemy Licence.