Effective Collaboration

Pair programming and effective collaboration are crucial throughout the entire software engineering life cycle. These rely heavily on clear communication, consistent updates, and the ability to clearly express your current tasks, past tasks, and any obstacles. Our full stack project and host company experience offer a unique opportunity to learn how to communicate in a team environment and gain insights from both seasoned developers and newer devs. We get to model our daily communication after a proven system, one that yields proven results from a company with a reputation that exceeds client expectations. During my first DSU, I was very nervous about speaking up and being in that environment, but the team expressed how grateful they were to have me on board and were more than willing to help me get up to speed. Their communication and openness to collaborate have helped me with all my tasks, from onboarding to my first ticket, for which I’m very thankful.

Currently, I’m working solo on my full stack project, which means all the responsibility is on me to bring my ideas to life, write code, and stay organized. Even though I technically don’t have a teammate, I still collaborate with my mentors to discuss issues I’ve encountered, ask for guidance, present demos, and give updates—everything that’s involved in working within a team environment. I see it as having a ticket that only I can technically work on, but I still receive support and expertise from those willing to listen. The amount of work between my full stack project and my host company can be overwhelming, so I really appreciate having a team to help me manage the workload by keeping me focused and productive.