Podcast with our Android-Developer Stefan

Tune in to hear all about how he got to HUM Systems, what his role on the team entails, and what his day-to-day work life is like, and much, much more.

Click here to listen to the whole podcast

Christopher: I have a couple of questions for you – could you briefly describe what you do here at HUM Systems and what is your role on the team?

Stefan: I am a mobile developer and that entails (implementing) new features. Let’s say new features are developed from start to finish, then documentation, requirement engineering and testing. Also, since we are a start-up and kind of a small team; we can talk about everything. So there is also back-end, which is not really my area, which I can talk about; and design, user-design, stuff like this. Role on the team? I would say, part of the team – there is no special hierarchy or roles here.

C: Can you describe to me what your day-to-day is like? What is a normal for Stefan at HUM Systems? I know you like to come in pretty early sometimes…

S: I don’t like to come early (laughter), but it is because of the train service. Day to day is: I arrive, I check the emails to see if there are any changes, get some tea, and then start working through the tasks. We have a task board where are all the tasks are that we are currently working on, and then I continue working. And then sometimes there are hectic days because we have found bugs, and there are a lot of meetings, and in general it is (constantly) developing and talking with my teammates about changes.

C: And when you are saying you guys have some meetings, you usually have a 10:15 am meeting every morning…

S: Yes, that is our daily stand-up.

C: That’s the daily one. And then the other ones, that means, you are in one of the meeting rooms, and you have the app on a bigger screen so everyone can look at it, is that what you are talking about?

S: Yea, sometimes we have an open review, where everyone from the company can join and see what is new on the app side, but then we also have meetings for new features, where we talk about them: what should they be, what should they look like, and how should they function, give input, and come up with technical specifications for it. Yea, these are the bigger meetings.

C: Okay. This was your first job out of university, that right?

S: Yeah.

C: So, was it what you expected it to be in the tech world? Or what were your expectations of what a job in the tech world would be and how is it different, or is it the same?

S: It is completely different. So I imagined myself, sitting at the desk, writing code…

C: Okay.

S: … and this is what I imagined (it would be) 100% of the time. (Laughter)

C: Just straight code all of the time.

S: Just straight code – get some tasks, write some code, be finished. But no, that is not at all what it is. It is, I think, mostly, I would say 40% (writing) code, and the rest is documentation, meetings, requirement engineering. Yea, so everything around it takes up much more time.

C: Okay – and what about just working here at HUM Systems, the day-to-day. What I mean is: the time you come in in the morning, the time you leave, what the atmosphere of the office is like. Was that also what you expected?

S: Well, we have a pretty big margin of when we (can) come in, so we can structure our day as we like. Kind of what I imagined, especially for a start-up. Also the atmosphere is open – there are no restrictions, not like in a big company – (where) you have to talk to your supervisor, then the supervisor talks to the supervisor…

C: Right – there is no red tape. You can go directly to the source or wherever you need to.

S: This is why I go directly to Reza sometimes, well, if he isn’t busy (laughs). And this is also kind of what I expected. Well, even at big companies, the IT departments are a bit more open than the other departments. But of course, this is a start-up, so everything is pretty open.

C: Very cool. You were also the first employee outside of the three founders: Reza, Amir and Helena. What motivated you to take a position at a super small start-up that was in the very beginning of its development?

S: Well, initially I wasn’t quite aware that it was that small at the very beginning, but at the first interview, of course they told me and of course I saw the office and who was there…

C: Was it just those three?

S: I think when I went to my first interview it was just Reza and Helena. By the way I disturbed them while they were having lunch. (Laughter). I forgot to acknowledge the appointment, so I showed up and no one was there, so I called and they came from lunch. (Laughter).

C: How long was your interview?

S: Ah, I would say, about an hour. They showed me the product, the app, and everything, and then I also learned that it was beginning, it was a small start-up, that I would be the first one, and I thought the product was really cool with the Livy, and everything behind it – the philosophy behind it. And it intrigued me to be a part of something that was growing, to give my footprint.

C: So, in other words, you have a little more creative freedom. And perhaps a greater learning opportunity.

S: Yea. And like I said, straight out of the university, I just had part-time and training programs, and then the first time to a real company with real procedures.

C: Stefan, thank you so much, it was a pleasure.