Emma, Oxford, Physics
After finishing my exams in 2010, the last thing I wanted to think about was getting a job. As most of my friends spent the summer applying to endless companies and worrying about their futures, I flitted about on holiday, going to festivals, and generally using the time to see family and friends I had neglected over my exam period. By the time it got to November, however, my savings had begun to run low and I started to become acutely aware of my lack of job prospects.
I had known for a few years that I was interested in a career in software development, but only on a very vague level. A few C++ practicals during my Physics course had made me aware of the fact that I seemed to enjoy coding, but other than that I had basically no experience in computing. Despite my parents' obvious scepticism, I didn't let this deter me, and began researching software companies that had good reviews as a place to work. I went to a few interviews at places from my shortlist, and started to question my decision; the interview processes were pretty strenuous and I started to feel that perhaps this career choice might be a little out of my depth. After a few weeks of interviews, many of which involved multiple stages, I was delighted to receive an offer from one of the companies. The next day I was due to go to a first interview with Ensoft. I was exhausted, and very nearly called to cancel it, seeing as I already had an offer from a different company. But after some scolding from my mum I dragged myself off to my last interview.
I was relieved to find that the interviews at Ensoft involved only one aptitude test and a few informal interviews with the directors of the company, and surprised to find myself with another offer for a job the next day! I weighed up the pros and cons of each offer, and eventually decided on Ensoft - partly because the refreshingly un-stressful interview process which had left me with a good vibe about the place, but mostly due to the fact that they offered better pay! Now that I have been here for nine months, I am very happy with my decision, and it's now based on a lot more than just the salary. The atmosphere here is so relaxed and flexible, and the fact that I was a novice when I started doesn't seem to be an unusual situation. There is a comprehensive education schedule for all new recruits, starting with three weeks of intensive teaching followed by regular short session that extend into the first few years of working here. In addition, every new starter is assigned a mentor for a year, to help 'newbies' learn the ropes, and ensure we can continue to learn and develop alongside doing real work and contributing to the company's success.
From a social perspective, Ensoft has opened my eyes to how friendly and fun a workplace can be. There are so many interesting (and hilarious) people here, I have found myself developing a whole new social circle to an extent that I really wasn't expecting from a job. There is a real sense of community, with every employee given the same level of input into how day-to-day things are run around the office. We have the opportunity to suggest things to buy (I want beanbags!), and also there is a whole social team dedicated to organising regular company funded activities, including trips abroad.
Oh, and there's free biscuits. (I totally just stole this closing comment from Julian's casebook)