Q: Do you remember what you were thinking before your first day at Cellusys?
I was nervous. I really wanted to make a good impression and worried that people would find it annoying having to look after an intern. I didn't know what to expect at all. It was my first proper office job, even though it turned out to be mostly remote because of Covid.
Q: How did that expectation compare with reality?
It was much more relaxed than I imagined. Everyone was genuinely welcoming and helpful, and that fear that I'd be a burden just disappeared very quickly. People were happy to answer questions or point me to someone who could.
Q: You started during remote working. What effect did that have?
It made the first day less intimidating, but it also made it harder to feel connected. For a long time, I didn't really know people beyond names on chat — sometimes not even what they looked like. Looking back, I would definitely prefer to be in the office more.
Q: What surprised you most about the work itself?
How real it was. I wasn't just working on a theoretical internship project – I was writing code that went into production. When I came back later as a graduate and realised the same code was still being used, that really surprised me. I hadn't expected that level of responsibility as an intern.
Q: What did you find most challenging early on?
Asking questions. I wanted to prove myself and didn't want to look like I didn't know enough, so I sometimes struggled longer than I should have. It took time to realise that asking questions is actually a strength, not a weakness.
Q: Was there a moment when that changed for you?
Yes. During the internship project, I realised I didn't fully understand something but felt it was 'too late' to ask. That backfired. Since then, I've learned that if you don't understand something, it's always better to ask early.
Q: How has your approach to engineering changed since then?
I'm much more comfortable saying "I don't know" now — and following it up with the right questions. I focus more on understanding the problem properly rather than worrying about having immediate answers.
Q: What's it like working as a software engineer at Cellusys now?
There's a lot of trust and collaboration. You're given responsibility, but you're also supported. People are open to questions and discussions, and the focus is always on understanding and fixing problems rather than blame.
Q: What keeps the work interesting for you?
Knowing that what we build is used long-term. Systems you worked on years ago are still running and evolving. That gives the work real weight, and there's always more to learn.
Q: What advice would you give to someone starting at Cellusys today?
Relax and enjoy it. Ask questions early, get involved, and don't overthink mistakes. This is the best time in your career to learn — people expect you to.
