We welcome Paulius, a 26-year-old student from Lithuania, to the CodeHive office in Rotterdam for our Student Interviews. Paulius his journey has taken him from the world of computer science and artificial intelligence to the creative and exploratory field of ArtScience. His background is a fascinating blend of technical expertise and a passion for art, a combination that he is currently navigating.
Personal background
From Computer Science to art
His current studies mark a significant shift from his previous work, but Paulius explains that it feels like a natural extension of his interests. “I’m now trying to figure out what I can do with programming and how it can be combined with art. How it can be used to channel my ideas and make a positive impact on the world,” he says.
Despite his technical background, Paulius has always been fascinated by art. “I really enjoy exploring different areas of art, from graphic design to clay modeling, and I also play music,” he shares. His studies at KABK offer the freedom to explore these interests in a way that traditional programming didn’t. Because of the liberal origin of the program, no one is telling you what you have to do. Paulius explains that he has to come up with his own ideas and choose a way to bring them to life. ”It’s really nice to have that freedom.” Paulius concludes.
The transition from programming to art is not so much a switch, but more so an expansion. Paulius reflects on the change, stating, “Programming, on its own, felt a bit too mundane for me, I wanted to do more with it. I have always been creative, but I didn’t grow up in an environment where people did art. I didn’t even know it was an option. So when I discovered how much I loved art, I thought, ‘Is this something I can actually do? I would love to try.’ So, I gave it a shot.”
Finding new hobbies
Paulius continuously looks for new ways to express himself in his free time. “I recently started learning how to BMX with my friends,” he says, his enthusiasm clear. “I’ve been skateboarding before, but my friends suggested we try BMX. It’s a new skill to learn, and it gives you a sense of freedom to explore the city and get creative.” Besides his tiny-bike adventures he also attends dance classes, focusing on free-flow dancing, which allows him to connect more deeply with movement and expression.
During his free time he also spends a lot of time around art. “Whether it’s creating designs, sculpting with clay, or playing music, I really enjoy making art. But also exposing myself to art, like going to galleries.” His broad interests not only enrich his personal life but also have influenced his academic and professional work, that created an inspiring blend of creativity and technical skills.
His job work at Vesper
Currently, Paulius balances his studies with a part-time job as a developer at Vesper through CodeHive. Vesper is a company that specializes in collecting and analyzing data from the food industry. “My role is to develop scraper programs that gather data from various food producers around the world,” he explains. “It’s fascinating what you can do with that data. You can achieve so much with it.”
At Vesper, Paulius is responsible for ensuring that all the data is collected and interpreted correctly. “If there’s even a small mistake in the data, it can change everything completely and ruin the client’s experience,” he says. “For example, if you’re working with different currencies and the conversion isn’t done correctly, it could throw everything off. So my job is to make sure everything runs smoothly.” This attention to detail is critical, as the programs need to be reliable and able to run independently, potentially for many years. His sense of responsibility does not go unnoticed, “They trust me with some of the harder tasks that span across the architecture of the entire system,” Paulius notes. “It’s cool that they trust me with this work as well.”
Paulius enjoys the vibe at Vesper. “The people there are really cool. The office is great, with things like table tennis and Mario Kart, and everyone was really accepting of me, even though I’m only there part-time,” he says. “What I appreciate the most is that my work really matters. I feel like I’m part of the team, and they rely on me.”
His job through CodeHive
When asked about what he enjoys most about working through CodeHive, Paulius reflects on the process that led him to this role. “I like that there’s a middleman,” he says. “It’s actually really cool because I didn’t know that I could have an opportunity to work part-time as a developer. Usually, it doesn’t work like this, but somehow they made it work.”
How Paulius found CodeHive is quite straightforward, “I found you through Google,” he says with a smile. “I just searched ‘part-time programmer jobs’ and here I am.” When it came to finding a job, Paulius applied to the first one he saw. “The first assignment I came across was with Vesper. They were working in a domain I had experience with and was quite interested in. It was a happy coincidence that they had a role that matched my background,” he explains. “The alignment with my previous experience made it an easy decision to apply. It felt like a natural fit.”
We asked Paulius practical advice for the tech talents of the future. “When I was a student, applying for jobs was tough. I faced a lot of rejections before finally landing a position,” he recalls. “I think the key to it is to find what you like and work on it. Work on your side projects, do projects with friends. Maybe ask around if someone needs a website or game. Whatever you do just connect with your community, the opportunities will come. Don’t just fixate on finding a high-paying job, do what you actually like. Show your work to people!”
Besides his experience with CodeHive, he’s especially grateful to Thomas van Foeken, who he describes as an “absolute legend” for helping him through the process.
Paulius’ future plans
Looking ahead, Paulius isn’t entirely sure what the future holds, but he knows he wants to do something impactful. “I don’t know exactly what I’ll do after I finish my studies,” he admits. “But I want to work on projects that induce positive change. Maybe something that helps combat loneliness or helps people find what they love to do with their lives. I’ve learned a lot about how powerful data can be, and I’d like to use that knowledge in a way that benefits people, maybe start my own company someday.”
Paulius truly pursues his interests by blending his tech knowledge with his passion for art. Seeking innovative ways to create a significant impact along the way, something CodeHive is proud to represent.