- Why did you get into the field? What did you focus on at first?
Always was interested in programming, wrote first lines of code (in BASIC) at the age of 6 (in 1989). Wasn't interested in getting a CS diploma until 2010. Got it in 2014 after already working for 12 years in the industry.
- What are you doing at your job? Is it everything you dreamed of and more?
Currently I am ironically back in the academia working on epidemic modeling (as many people these days), but for the most of my career I worked with financial/trading software engineering.
- How did you break that first-job barrier?
Offered to work for (nearly) free in a small company owned by an acquaintance.
- What were you doing before this?
Not much, as you could infer. :)
- Any tips for the rest of us?
Loving programming is a necessary and sufficient condition to have a good career in it. Enthusiasm here can still overcome many barriers (as opposed to many other industries).
Always was interested in programming, wrote first lines of code (in BASIC) at the age of 6 (in 1989). Wasn't interested in getting a CS diploma until 2010. Got it in 2014 after already working for 12 years in the industry.
- What are you doing at your job? Is it everything you dreamed of and more?
Currently I am ironically back in the academia working on epidemic modeling (as many people these days), but for the most of my career I worked with financial/trading software engineering.
- How did you break that first-job barrier?
Offered to work for (nearly) free in a small company owned by an acquaintance.
- What were you doing before this?
Not much, as you could infer. :)
- Any tips for the rest of us?
Loving programming is a necessary and sufficient condition to have a good career in it. Enthusiasm here can still overcome many barriers (as opposed to many other industries).
Thank you for an excellent topic!