#Gradstories Leann Bermingham, Trainee Software Engineer, Ericsson

What does your job involve?

On a day to day basis I would take on a task or project, beginning with design analysis, all the way through testing, development, maintenance and delivery. We work in sprints, with three weeks to work on a certain task.

What skills do you need to be successful?

Depending on the area and project you’re working on, different technical skills will come into play. Whether you’re working with Javascript or Python will be based on the project itself. Also, communication plays a big part. I work in a very global company where I deal with teams in different parts of the world, so it’s important for me to be able to link in with them.

How did you get your job?

If someone told me three years ago that I would be a trainee software engineer, I wouldn’t have believed them. My primary degree was in business and law, and I felt at the end of it I didn’t have enough knowledge and confidence to enter the workforce. I then took a higher diploma in Computer Science through Springboard. In that conversion course I used some of the skills I gained in my primary degree. Once that finished I was sponsored by Ericsson and Skillsnet to complete a masters in Software Engineering. That really got me where I am today.

What do you love about your job?

There’s a lot to love about working in IT. You gain experience with new and interesting technologies. It’s such a big area that you can find something that you are really interested in. There’s so much to love about Ericsson. They’re really big on knowledge sharing and you learn new stuff every single day.

What advice would you give a first year student?

For anyone starting out it can be really daunting going into the IT industry. It’s important to keep an open mind and remember nobody expects you to know everything. You’re there to be trained, to learn and to grow as a software engineer.