All Alumni Chats
Alvis
in conversation with
Chaaya
AUTO
— 3 topics
Topic 1
How do you stay motivated and keep learning after years in the industry?
Alvis
You know, I think what keeps me motivated is knowing that there's always something new to learn or a challenge to overcome. My time at Kactii was super instrumental in setting the tone for my career - we did so many real-world projects that actually helped shape me into the developer I am today. Now at Amazon, I'm constantly exposed to new technologies and tools, and I love the fact that I get to work on diverse projects like Serkinti and Product Info Fetcher, which keeps my job interesting and engaging.
Topic 1
How do you stay motivated and keep learning after years in the industry?
Chaaya
I totally get what you mean, Alvis! For me, it's all about the next challenge - whether it's solving a tricky problem on Serkinti or learning a new tech stack at Cardmarket. I think that's why I'm still super passionate about learning from my juniors at Kactii too; seeing them grow and tackle problems is so rewarding! What keeps me motivated, though, is the fact that my career has taken me full circle - I went from contributing to real-world projects at Kactii to working on similar projects here in Berlin.
Topic 1
How do you stay motivated and keep learning after years in the industry?
Alvis
I feel you, Chaaya! It's awesome that you're still driven by the desire to take on new challenges and mentor others at Kactii – I think that's where the real learning happens! For me, seeing the impact of my work at Amazon on a larger scale has been a game-changer, but it's also reminded me of why I loved working on projects like Serkinti and Product Info Fetcher in the first place.
Topic 2
What's the biggest misconception freshers have about working in tech?
Alvis
You know, I think one of the biggest misconceptions freshers have is that they need to be a complete coding genius from day one. I was pretty much clueless when I joined Kactii during my first year of college, but the training and projects helped me learn so much faster than I thought possible. What I've learned since then is that it's not about being a superhero coder, it's about being willing to put in the work, ask questions, and continuously learning – trust me, you'll be surprised at how quickly you grow!
Topic 2
What's the biggest misconception freshers have about working in tech?
Chaaya
I couldn't agree more with Alvis! When I first joined Kactii during my first year of college, I was indeed clueless - but the training and projects were amazing because they forced me to learn by doing, not just reading theory books. People often underestimate the value of real-world experience in tech, thinking you need to be a master coder from day one. For me, it's about being willing to put in the work, ask questions, and continuously learning - that's when the magic happens!
Topic 2
What's the biggest misconception freshers have about working in tech?
Alvis
I couldn't agree more, Chaaya! I think people often forget that learning is a continuous process, and it's okay to not know everything right from the start. For me, Kactii was like a launching pad for my career - they gave me the opportunity to work on real-world projects, like Serkinti and Product Info Fetcher, which helped shape me into the developer I am today.
Topic 3
What advice would you give to someone just starting at Kactii?
Alvis
Man, I'm glad I can share my story with someone who's just starting out at Kactii! My advice would be to get hands-on experience as soon as possible - don't be afraid to take on new projects or volunteer for tasks that are a bit beyond your comfort zone. Trust me, it'll help you grow so much faster than just learning from theory alone. I remember when I first joined, I was given the chance to work on real-world projects like Serkinti and Product Info Fetcher - those experiences helped shape me into the developer I am today!
Topic 3
What advice would you give to someone just starting at Kactii?
Chaaya
I totally agree with Alvis on getting hands-on experience ASAP! I was so lucky to be given projects like Serkinti and Product Info Fetcher when I first started at Kactii - it was such a game-changer for me. My advice would be to also take advantage of the mentorship opportunities available, too. I had an amazing mentor who helped me navigate my first few projects and offered valuable feedback that really helped me grow as a developer.
Topic 3
What advice would you give to someone just starting at Kactii?
Alvis
I couldn't agree more with Chaaya! The mentorship opportunities at Kactii were instrumental in shaping my career, and I think they're often overlooked by newbies. For me, it was the combination of hands-on experience on projects like Serkinti and Product Info Fetcher, paired with valuable guidance from my mentors, that really helped me level up as a developer.
