Deniz Tan Hasdemir
Student Computer Science at TU Delft
Company: Robin Radar
Can you give us an introduction of yourself?
My name is Deniz, I’m originally from Ankara, Turkey but I moved to The Netherlands about 5 years ago. I came here to study Computer Science in Delft and because I think the Netherlands is a good country with enjoyable social dynamics. Besides studying I have a job through CodeHive and I’m also part of a Turkish study association.
Why did you choose to study Computer Science?
When I started looking into university options I quickly realized all work is moving towards digitalization, so I figured going for a digital-focused study is a good choice to create a proper future-focused career.
Can you explain some more about the job you have?
So, I work for Robin Radar, a company that develops wind radars, radars for birds and drones. Within the company, I’m on the software development team where I work as a part-time full-stack developer, API in particular. The most exciting thing for me is when I get to build a new thing, like a function that people will actually use, rather than fixing errors. I’ve been working here since September 2023, so about 6 months now. Before that, I worked for a different company, also through CodeHive!
What does your typical day look like at Robin Radar?
First I’ll go to the office in The Hague, where we begin with a morning stand-up. After that, I’ll start to work depending on what kind of tasks I have. If there aren’t any, my manager will tell me what kind of back-end or front-end work can be improved and I work on that all day. In total, I work about 2 days a week sometimes 3 if I work on the weekend.
What is your experience with working for this company?
The company is very fast growing, I like that. They are also very friendly towards their consumers and employers, there are weekly ‘borrels’ (drinks) for the employers. When I started the CEO explained the vision he has for 2030, which was very inspiring. This resonated with me so much that it motivates me to help the company get to this vision.
What about your previous job, how did you find that?
In my second year, I realized my studies would be 4 years instead of 3. This motivated me to get a job alongside my studies. A friend of mine told me about this WhatsApp group chat from CodeHive that sends out interesting vacancies, so I joined the chat. One morning I woke up and saw a vacancy on crypto exchange, that fit my profile and sparked my interest because in my personal life, I am also interested in crypto. I texted Thomas Boer to show my interest and eventually, I got the job. My current job I also found through CodeHive.
What is your experience with working alongside your studies in your field of expertise?
It’s great. Of course, some moments are harder, like exam week. That week and the week before I usually don’t work. Once I figured out how to better arrange my work around the exams it got easier. I have never had a side job that was not related to my field of expertise so it is hard to compare. However, the experience I have gained, also in terms of industry knowledge, is helpful. You learn to work in a team: work together on something, how to communicate, and have shared responsibilities. Working for such companies allows me to work on real-life projects, in school it’s just fictional.
Do you have any advice for people who want to build a career alongside their studies?
If you have a part-time job, it’s better to do a job that is related to your studies. When you apply for a full-time job after studying you can use the experience and get a job you might not get with an ‘empty’ resume. If you don’t have a part-time job, it is good to improve your resume and earn some extra money that you can use for yourself or help to finance your studies.
What are your long-term career goals?
This year I’m finishing my studies, after which I plan to stay in the Netherlands. I will look for a full-time job, using my current experience. After working for a few years I might do a master's degree, something related to management. But first I want to build some finances for myself and get a Dutch residency. The end goal is to be a manager within a development team. Developing is nice but the managers usually think of the projects, like they develop the development, I want to do that too.
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