We are delighted to announce the signing of two new young graduate developers! Paul McGurk and Chris Lawlor both graduated earlier this year from the University of Strathclyde and after a short time on the open market, they were both quickly snapped up by SwarmOnline!
We caught up with Chris and Paul earlier this week to ask them a few questions:
Thanks guys for taking the time out your busy day to answer our questions! Firstly, can you both tell us a bit about yourself and what you were up to before joining SwarmOnline?
Chris: “Before starting at SwarmOnline I ran my own mobile disco offering DJ services to events and parties. I did this for 4 years while studying Computer Science at the University of Strathclyde.”
Paul: “I’ve just recently graduated from University of Strathclyde where I also studied Computer Science. I’ve been working part time at Tesco during my last year of studies.”
What was it that attracted you both to working at SwarmOnline?
Chris: “When looking for opportunities in the industry, the goal was to work in a smaller company as it’s more agile to my needs and I tried to avoid the large well-known companies. By working for a smaller company I felt there was more chances to learn different skills that are not tied to your role, and the past few months have proved that.”
Paul: “My aim was to get involved with a small, growing company that used modern technology in exciting projects, and SwarmOnline seemed ideal. I didn’t want to feel like another cog in a machine, and here I don’t.”
How have you enjoyed your time at SwarmOnline so far?
Chris: “Having a fantastic time at SwarmOnline. Everyone has been really welcoming and there is always help when needed. Enjoying all aspects of work such as meeting with clients, team building exercises and learning new skills. Moreover, there is a lot of fun to be had such as trips to Alton Towers and gaming nights!”
Paul: “It’s been great, everyone is very friendly and the office culture is very relaxed and hard working. Because it’s such a small company, you can easily ask for second opinions and for advice off of anyone in the company.”
What kind of projects have you been involved in since you’ve started?
Chris: “From starting I have been involved in some great and exciting projects. The first project I took part in involved working on a client’s website’s front-end creating various form validations using Angular. The project I am currently working on, which I have been for around two months now, is a fund management system which displays various analytical data on thousands of properties. For this I have been using the ExtJS framework which I had never used before but with the right help and guidance I have managed to pick it while completing tasks required by the client.”
Paul: “I’ve been working on a new project that involve smart homes and IoT technology. It has involved trying loads of new technology, including node.js, and some interesting sensor technology.”
Finally, can you both tell us an interesting fact about yourself?
Chris: “I have a passion for architecture!”
Paul: “I love watching weird documentaries.”
Brilliant – thank you both for your time! And yeah, probably best you don’t elaborate on that last answer Paul…
Reading this and wondering how you can get your foot in the door just like Chris and Paul? We are always looking to expand the team here at SwarmOnline. So if you think you have got what it takes to become a Swarmer then we want to hear from you!
Email us today at careers@swarmonline.com and be sure to keep an eye on our careers page!
