Watch out IT, you don’t know what you’re in for!

June 2016 · 5 minute read

How excited am I to be getting flown to another city for the day just for an interview? Uhhmmm, pretty damn excited! Now, the job isn’t guaranteed, nor is it guaranteed that I’ll take it but the fact that someone from a highly reputable international company has approached me then had a small conversation and then flown me to Auckland for an in-person meeting is just extremely exciting and I can’t wait to see what my future holds! It could be a new city, a leap in my career or just an introduction to some fresh new faces and ideas.

So excited for an experience that could potentially change the course of my life beyond this point.

After gaining my AWS developer associate certification and updating my profile on LinkedIn, it would seem that I may have been noticed by one or two people. One of those people jumped at the chance to reach out to me and fly me to Auckland for an interview at an international company who could offer me an opportunity for growth in a semi development role (initially).

Of course, I’m not about to turn down any opportunities so I went for it! Correspondence over the past couple of weeks has been consistent, reassuring and welcoming as they prepare to meet me. This is highly exciting, the feeling of a complete stranger approaching you, offering you an opportunity which they generally don’t offer up to just anyone, purely based on a few small things you’ve done and a few opportunities you’ve had.

Of course, there’s always a chance it won’t work out but I mean really, it’s not every day you get flown around the country because someone wants to meet you. And if it doesn’t work out then I’ll still be glad for the experience and the incredibly pleasant feeling of being sought out.

This is just another stepping stone on my journey and is the sort of experience that pushes me to work harder. I am well on my way now and the chance of turning back has long since disappeared. The light at the end of the tunnel is starting to beam brighter, at least for this leg of the journey anyway.

What a diverse bunch! I don’t think I’ve ever walked into such a relaxed working environment where everyone in the team is so chill and happy. And happy to meet me, too.

Out to lunch with the team I could wind up working with, one or two beers later we have a few awesome chats and I even accidentally drop a few F-bombs… Woops.

And the end result… Success!! Looks like someone actually read the dribble I wrote and enjoyed it. Not only that, it turns out the time put into writing those articles also paid off.

What an experience?! What a feeling?! To be approached by a complete stranger, flown across the country, chauffeured to an interview which feels like anything but and then be told. To your face. Point blank.

“We want you. What will it take for you join us?”

I mean, who do these people think I am? Maybe they’ve confused me with someone else? Like, I always say I’m pretty awesome but that’s kind of me just reassuring myself. What if I can’t deliver? What are they expecting from me? What if I’m actually not cut out to be a dev??

There’s so much that goes through your mind in that moment. All while feeling a massive sense of accomplishment. All this hard work, it’s paying off, it wasn’t all for nothing. You’ve found your golden ticket! In fact, it seems too good to be true. And then you start to think is this a dream? What’s the catch? Why me? What makes me so special? Is this really how it happens? How people get their first ever break in a new industry? Anyone with years of experience I can understand, but me?

Trying to hold back the “yippee” and maintain a level of professionalism. Don’t want to seem too eager, nor do I want to say an immediate “yes” after a couple of beers. Haha, now I see what happened there…

Well, the answer is simple. I already decided two weeks ago that it wouldn’t a bad thing to move to Auckland. And already the plans are rolling through my mind about what contracts I need to tie up in Wellington, who I need to notify, how I can move everything and find a new place too. I actually don’t need the weekend to think about it, I’ve already convinced myself it’s a plan set in motion. There have been too many coincidences in the lead up for this not to be my path.

I’m nervous that I might not cut it. But at the same time, I’m fucking excited! I’m overdue for a change and now that I’ve perfected my schedule, it really is time, that I throw a spanner in the works. I’m ready to give this my best shot and I sincerely hope that I can deliver.

Watch out tech, I’m coming and you don’t know what you’re in for!