19 Sep
I have significantly advanced my software development skills through my experience here at zipBoard. I am proud of the skills I have developed, including full-stack development, refactoring, and problem-solving. I have also gained valuable experience in developing solutions while working with new technologies and software. – Radman Tavakoli, Full-stack Developer Co-op, zipBoard
Radman Tavakoli is a 4th year Computer Science student at UBC. He’s a Software Engineering major with a minor in Data Science. Radman’s 4-month internship as a Full-stack Developer Co-op at zipBoard ended on Friday, 30th August 2024.
During his internship, Radman got the opportunity to collaborate on several projects, including major product features, updates and more. This enabled him to hone his skills and prepare him for a role in software development upon graduation.
Meet Radman Tavakoli:
Can you provide an overview of the projects or tasks you worked on during your internship?
I had the opportunity to work with four different apps, developing code for new features, enhancements, and bug fixes in each.
Were there any specific programming languages, frameworks, or technologies you gained experience with during your time with zipBoard?
MeteorJs, BlazeJs, React, Node.js, and MongoDB are the top-level technologies used.
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 added a feature to support mentions in annotation comments for PDF files using the PDF.js Express Library.
The challenge was that the PDF.js Express Library is quite large, and I was initially unfamiliar with it. Additionally, implementing a feature like mentions involved complex factors, including processing project collaborators and triggering email notifications.
Through effective refactoring of the backend, I was able to bring in a lot of the existing mechanisms used in other places onto this task without introducing any unnecessary code.
Did you have a chance to collaborate with other team members or departments? How did these interactions contribute to your learning and overall experience?
Yes, I have collaborated with all the developers as well as the QA team. I definitely received insights and tips that sped up my learning process regarding the technologies and systems used.
How did you approach and solve technical problems you encountered while working on your projects?
Since there is almost always a lot to learn for every task I receive, I had to limit my learning scope to what was necessary for completing each specific task to work efficiently.
Were there any instances where you had to adapt to changing project requirements? How did you manage those changes?
Yes, there have been instances where the initial ticket was created based on vague information. As I develop and explore solutions, I gain better visibility and a clearer understanding of the problem’s scope and discover potential solutions.
When I identify more optimal approaches or notice significant challenges for a minor suggested change, I raise these concerns and findings to optimize our resources and efforts. This helps the team advance more quickly and develop more effective solutions.
What did you enjoy most about your internship at zipBoard?
I enjoyed my role as a full-stack developer and working with this team. I learned a lot from every task and interaction, which has helped develop my skill set.
Did you face any challenges during your period of internship?
Yes
If you answered yes in the previous question, kindly state how you overcame those challenges
Challenges are a natural part of the job, and effectively coping with them is what matters. I consider it effective if I am not faced with the same type of problem again after overcoming it once.
To achieve this, I thoroughly learn the process and take notes as needed during the challenge. Additionally, I consider it effective if I do not consume excessive resources, such as asking for too much help or blocking my coworkers from their own work. I strive to address problems as much as possible on my own before seeking assistance.
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 have significantly advanced my software development skills through my experience here. I am proud of the skills I have developed, including full-stack development, refactoring, and problem-solving. I have also gained valuable experience in developing solutions while working with new technologies and software.
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 would love to remain in this field and work with a software team upon my graduation.
Do you have any feedback or suggestions on how the internship program could be further improved for future junior software developer interns? (State your reason as well)
For new developers who have a lot to explore and learn, creating detailed, step-by-step tickets can significantly accelerate their development process. Investing a small amount of effort in guiding junior developers can yield great results and be well worth it.
Would you recommend zipBoard’s internship for up-and-coming full-stack software developers?
Yes
Connect with Radman Tavakoli 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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