Trainee Program

Hey everyone! 👋 Today I’m not here to talk about the usual topics, such as tests or SQL (Yes, I know part 2 is in progress for both subjects). Instead, I want to share a little bit about my career journey and the valuable experiences I’ve gained along the way.

Who am I?

First things first, I’m Antônio Paulino de Araújo Neto (I have my grandfather’s name, so I go by Tony). I’m from Natal/RN, Brazil, a paradise city with beautiful beaches and a vibrant culture. I have two degrees: one in Science and Technology and another in Mechanical Engineering, as well as a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Yes, that’s right, I have a background in engineering. Before I started my career in software development, I worked as a temporary professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) and the State University of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), as well as a researcher in Tribology studies at the Group of Tribology Studies and Structural Integrity (UFRN).

As an engineer, I’ve always loved problem-solving and finding efficient solutions. I always enjoyed the programming classes during my degrees and tried my best to apply that knowledge every time I could. As a professor, I was always trying to have programming in my classes in some way, whether it was to calculate the slope of a curve (derivative) or to calculate the head loss in a pipe. I was always trying to teach my students that programming-thinking could be used to solve these problems. Programming is not just about writing code; it’s about the way we think and approach challenges.

II didn’t know at first, but today, when I think about my Mechanical Engineer classes, I realize that it was my foundation to learn how to think like a pragmatic programmer. My engineering background taught me to break down complex problems, such as Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Solid Mechanics…I could go on; it was a lot, and it was good. The complex problems I’ve faced in engineering prepared me, but I didn’t know that at the time. When I think about the Thermodynamics classes, I remember the problems I had to solve, and everything can be solved as a good algorithm. Having to calculate the flow rate of a fluid in a pipe, for instance, is not so different from writing a function to process data; we have a set of inputs, a process to follow, and the expected result. This is the essence I’ve learned and try to use every day.

With that said, I need to thank my professors and mentors who guided me along the way in my engineering journey. They taught me the importance of critical thinking, problem-solving, and continuous learning. These skills are essential for me, and I’m really grateful for their guidance.

My Journey in Software Development

Ok, now you know a little bit about me. While I was working as a professor and the pandemic hit the whole world, I decided to switch lanes and pursue a career in software development. With the help of a couple of friends who were already in the field, I started to learn a little bit of Java and Spring Boot. This helped me to understand the basics of object-oriented programming and how a simple web application works.

In 2021, when my contract as a professor was close to an end, I started to apply for jobs as a junior developer. By the end of 2021, I got to know about Codeminer42 and their trainee program. This was the first edition of the program and my first contact with a software company. I applied, went through the process, and I was accepted! 🎉 I gave my best during that time, and it was amazing… three months of intense learning and growth.

The Trainee Program

The trainee program at Codeminer42 is a unique experience designed to help aspiring developers. I was able to learn so much during those three months. The program showed me that I wanted to be a software developer and that I could do it. I was fascinated by backend development, especially working with Ruby on Rails. The program helped me to understand the importance of clean code, testing, and most importantly, the value of collaboration, teamwork, and continuous learning. I’ve learned the principles, best practices and tools that are essential for my career.

During the trainee program, I’ve had the opportunity to work with amazing mentors and share knowledge with my peers. The best part for me was the collaborative environment; it wasn’t a competition, and everyone was there to help. This is amazing for beginners; it creates a great learning environment where everyone helps each other to grow. We were all learning, sharing knowledge, and learning from the best.

The program was not just about coding; it was about learning, growing, and becoming a better developer. Soft skills are as important as technical skills, and the program helped us to develop both. We had weekly meetings, where we could share our progress, challenges, doubts, and talk about our experience. Communication is key; we were all the time encouraged to ask questions, ask for help…we had to communicate effectively (we still do). What an experience! I’m thankful for the opportunity to be part of the first trainee program at Codeminer42. I am a better software engineer because of this.

Real Projects

After the trainee program ended, I started to work on real projects, trying to apply everything I learned. Besides working on projects, we were encouraged to keep learning and to contribute to open source projects, which is a great place to learn and apply our skills, and contributing to the community is a great way to build our portfolio and gain experience. Other than working on a project and contributing to open source projects, I’ve kept studying and talking to my colleagues and mentors.

I’ve got the opportunity to keep contributing to the Program. I’ve become a mentor for the following 2 editions of the trainee program, helping new developers to start their careers, just like I did. It’s been amazing to still be part of the program, now as a member of the organization, contributing to improving the program and its agenda to be up to date with the technologies we use.

What comes next?

Nowadays, I’m a full-time developer at Codeminer42, working on real projects. I’m excited about the future; the trainee program was just the beginning of my career. I’m committed to keep learning, and recently I’ve been focusing on improving my knowledge in Frontend development using React.

When will the next trainee program happen? It’s still being decided yet, and I’m doing my best to be part of it again. Keep an eye on our social media and website for updates!

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