Owen She-Yin
Current Employer/Organisation Name
OnTheMove Software
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
It’s only been two months since exams ended! Like most, I had all sorts of exciting summer plans – only to be thwarted by COVID. As such, I’ve been focusing on personal projects and spending time with family.
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
Software is so ubiquitous that you can work on just about anything. I love having that freedom. In just a couple of years I’ve worked on a small indie game, a global trading platform and a geoscience modelling system. Next I’ll be working on an enterprise product which aims to improve people’s day-to-day lives. What I enjoy about software engineering is the problem solving and creativity. Creating things is fulfilling whether it’s art, music or food. What software you choose to make is limited only by your personal drive. Honestly – you can go so far using Google and StackOverflow! Knowing that my work has a tangible impact; the gratitude from those I’ve helped; these are what I find most rewarding.
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
I really enjoyed the breadth of content. The syllabus touches on nearly every major area of software development e.g. web, mobile, enterprise, infosec. Additionally, there are so many smart and motivated students in Computer Science. Being surrounded by these brilliant people was the perfect environment to push me towards aiming higher. My highlight was my year in industry. It really contextualised what I’d learnt. There was also a lot that I wouldn’t have been able to learn during a degree. I made new friends and gained a lot of perspective from talking to people with all sorts of experiences and backgrounds. Previously, I had a lot of uncertainty regarding my future – and felt a little lost. Afterwards, I had much more motivation and a stronger sense of where I wanted to go.
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
Social skills for sure. I was quite shy before uni (and still am)! During my placement, I was far from family and friends. I had to force myself out of my comfort zone and get comfortable chatting with anybody. As a result, I made a lot of connections – one of whom referred me to my current freelance client. Soft skills helped me build good relationships with my team, build a solid network, and establish good rapport with interviewers. Aside from that, it’s great to experience a variety of software projects – working with friends is especially fun. After completing a few projects, I really gained belief in my ability to deal with new challenges. I think bringing that can-do attitude to the workplace is really important.
