Developers who started at MSI as interns share their experiences developing software here and what they love about MSI.
Bill, Marko, and Jacob were all brought onto the MSI team as interns and have each been with the company for at least a year and a half. They all highlight MSI’s casual and fun atmosphere and the other developers they work with day-to-day as major perks of the job.
From my conversations with them, it’s clear MSI is a great place to develop software. But, don’t take my word for it – here’s what they have to say about beginning and advancing their careers at MSI.
Bill – “It’s a great opportunity to learn more about programming in general and you can specialize on features that you want to learn more about. MSI is very accommodating and flexible with that; I constantly have the opportunity to keep learning new things. I’m only 23, so there’s still a lot left for me to learn. It’s nice that I get to do that while I work.”
Marko – “I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about interns who get pulled into testing and bug fixes, then they stay in that spot for years. When I started, I did some testing, but then I got into reports and started taking on bigger tasks on the front-end and back-end and eventually I ended up getting control of the back-end project. It’s pretty much what I was hoping for. The experience has been opposite of people said it would be starting out.”
Jacob – “I really like the laid back atmosphere at MSI. The hours are flexible and you can work on the projects you want, including mobile, back-end work, and SQA. The environment is open and friendly.”
Why MSI?
You know that feeling when you start a new job? Something has to click to make you feel the company is worth the hours and energy you’ll spend there. Bill felt that connection during his interview: “During my interview, all the people I met were down to earth and knew what they were talking about. That really impressed me.”
Jacob knew he wanted to work at a true software company that was developing exciting products. He received offers for software development within IT departments at other companies, but he choose MSI because, “I like working for an actual software company,” he said.
What’s the best part about your job?
Marko, Bill, and Jacob are all working on different projects and teams, so it was interesting to hear what they liked best about the various projects they’re working on. Marko is all about usability. He’s working on the back-end and API for the new cloud-version of our flagship software: “my favorite part of the job is making improvements on existing products. I like seeing the small performance improvements and making usability better.”
Bill works mainly on developing MSI’s mobile product and likes improving user experience and developing something totally new: “developing new features is the best. You get to design as you go. I like creating something that looks good and is nice to work with.”
What’s the best part about MSI?
The developers all highlighted the collaborative work environment and projects they’re excited about. But, as we all know, a good job is more than just the work you do day-to-day. It’s also about the environment, expectations, culture, and people you work with. These things can add up and determine whether you wake up excited to go to work, or dread the thought.
Jacob is finishing up school, and he’s been an intern for over a year: “As an intern, I really like the laid back atmosphere and the flexible hours. During the school year, I can fit my hours to work around my class schedule. Basically, I can work as much or as little as I want depending on how busy I am with school work.” That level of flexibility is a huge perk for someone trying to work around the ebbs and flows of busy student life.
Bill even has the flexibility to pursue a graduate degree in computer science while working at MSI. He makes his own schedule, works a little extra Monday through Thursday, and comes in half days on Friday so he can make it to an afternoon class.
Marko appreciates the laid back atmosphere, “I enjoy coming into work. It’s more relaxed than I’m used to. And I really like the people I work with day-to-day.” Bill also values the relationships and connections he’s made here: “I really enjoy the people I work with – everyone has unique personalities but we can all contribute to a project without butting heads.”
As I’ve heard again and again, finding a company that understands you’re a person and treats you like one is one of the most important factors in choosing a job. At MSI, it’s clear your personal needs and interests take high priority. And sounds like there’s a good chance you’ll meet some friends and work with some skilled colleagues along the way.
What sort of skills have you gained at MSI? Do you feel there’s room to grow within the organization?
While the atmosphere at MSI is laid back, the work our developers do is challenging and cutting edge.
Marko said he likes that he gets to take ownership of the projects he’s working on: “I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about interns who get pulled into testing and bug fixes, then they stay in that spot for years. When I started, I did some testing, but then I got into reports and started taking on bigger tasks on the front-end and back-end and eventually I ended up getting control of the back-end project. It’s pretty much what I was hoping for. The experience has been opposite of people said it would be starting out.”
Since being brought on full time, Bill has seen whole projects through from start to finish, which he appreciates: “when I was in undergrad, we worked on assignments and we tried things out, but we never got to touch a whole project and understand how everything builds on each other to make a complete structure. Now that I’ve worked on complex projects at MSI, I see how everything fits together like a puzzle.”
Ready to put your hat in the ring?
Not only are the programs and languages we use, like Xamarin, C#, Entity Framework, Kendo UI, Visual Studio, and the latest from Microsoft tools and Amazon Web Services some of the best tools on which to code and develop, MSI offers a relaxed and flexible environment. Bill, Marko, and Jacob all mentioned the ability to collaborate and get along with co-workers as a main benefit. The casual dress code and flexible schedule don’t hurt either.
Sound like something you’d like to be a part of? Check out our developer openings to learn how you could fit into this fast-growing software company.
