01 Jul
I enjoyed being able to explore many different fields of software development, including DevOps and AWS. I believe that I grew a lot as a developer, mainly with my debugging and DevOps skills. Moreover, I learned a lot about how to be a better communicator and asking for help. – Jeffrey Zhao, Full-Stack Software Developer Intern, zipBoard.
Jeffrey Zhao is a student at the University of Waterloo. His 4-month internship as a Full-stack Software Developer Intern at zipBoard ended on Friday, August 18, 2023.
Just like Param Thakkar, one of our software developer interns at the time, Jeffrey also had prior experience as a software developer.
In his early days as a Full-Stack Software Developer intern, Jeffrey worked on small UI tasks to ease himself into the role. However, as time went on he collaborated on major projects and feature updates, enabling him to gain experience in AWS, Meteor, CyPress, and DevOps.
Meet Jeffrey Zhao:
Can you provide an overview of the projects or tasks you worked on during your internship?
At first, I worked on small UI tasks to ease myself into the role.
Were there any specific programming languages, frameworks, or technologies you gained experience with during your time with zipBoard?
I gained experience in AWS, Meteor, CyPress, and DevOps
Could you share a specific project you worked on during your internship that you found particularly challenging or rewarding? What was your role in that project?
I personally found working on the notifications’ redesign to be quite challenging since the code hasn’t been changed in a long time. Updating it to meet our requirements took some time because lots of stuff needed to be changed so the code is efficient and functional.
Did you have a chance to collaborate with other team members or departments? How did these interactions contribute to your learning and overall experience?
I had numerous interactions with members of the team and they were all extremely helpful in my growth as a developer and a communicator. They mostly helped me get on board with the code base ASAP and showed me the nuances of Meteor and best practices.
How did you approach and solve technical problems you encountered while working on your projects?
I’d first ask the people assigning me the task what requirements are expected of me and ask all potential issues I have before starting. Then, I take a quick glance in the codebase at what needs to be changed before starting. If I run into a bug, I do some debugging while looking at existing code. If I can’t figure it out, I’d ask someone more experienced if they have any idea what this issue is.
Were there any instances where you had to adapt to changing project requirements? How did you manage those changes?
While working on the notifications redesign, we had several design changes during/after coding the solution. I managed these changes by treating these changes as a new task and applying what I would do if I faced a new challenge.
What did you enjoy most about your internship at zipBoard?
I enjoyed being able to explore many different fields of software development, including DevOps and AWS.
Did you face any challenges during your period of internship?
I had communication issues because of how time zones work.
If you answered yes in the previous question, kindly state how you overcame those challenges
I overcame this issue by trying to work independently whenever possible, and saving my important questions when the people I need to speak to are available.
Reflecting on your internship, how do you feel you've grown as a software developer? Are there any specific skills or qualities you've developed that you're particularly proud of?
I believe that I grew a lot as a developer, mainly with my debugging and DevOps skills. Moreover, I learned a lot about how to be a better communicator and how to ask for help.
Where do you see yourself in terms of your career development after completing this internship? Do you envision yourself continuing in the field of software development?
I do envision myself continuing in the field of software development in the near future. I may transition to more DevOps roles, but still have some involvement with software development.
Would you recommend zipBoard’s internship for up-and-coming full-stack software developers?
Yes, I would recommend zipBoard since there is a lot to learn here. Many new features are being discussed and implemented here using all sorts of technologies. Moreover, the support from senior engineers is extremely helpful whenever you get stuck and they always make sure that you somehow learn something from your mistakes.
Connect with Jeffrey Zhao on LinkedIn.
Have any questions? Contact us at [email protected]. For product-related questions, reach out at [email protected]
Dorcas Kpabitey is a Content Marketing Specialist at zipBoard. She began her content marketing journey alongside her BA in Political Science and Spanish degree at the University of Ghana. If she’s not tapping away at her keyboard or spending time on Twitter and LinkedIn, she spends her day reading articles, newsletters and books.
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