The Flex Factor with... Jamie

Say hello to Jamie, one of Flexciton's frontend developers. From watering his cactus to perfecting the user experience of our application, find out what he does during his day-to-day in this month's edition of The Flex Factor.‍

Tell us what you do at Flexciton?

At Flexciton, I have a few different roles. My main role is as a frontend developer, which means I work on creating and improving the user interface of the app. But I also have other responsibilities - I lead the frontend engineering practice, and I'm in charge of guiding discussions and decisions about the frontend architecture. It keeps me busy, but I enjoy the variety!

What does a typical day look like for you at Flexciton?

A typical day for me at Flexciton starts off with some personal tasks - I check on my trusty cactus (Mr Prickles) and give him some water. After that, I open up my personal Trello board and plan out my day, which usually involves working on engineering tasks or frontend related work.

Next up is the daily stand up meeting, where I update the team on what I've accomplished and what I plan to work on for the rest of the day. Then it's time to dive into work - if I'm working on an engineering task, that usually means writing some code and asking for help from resources like StackOverflow or ChatGPT. I like to listen to some ambient and melodic tunes while I work.

If it's a practice day, I'll probably be working on tickets to address existing tech debt or putting together plans for the UI architecture. Around lunchtime, I take a break and grab some food - on Tuesdays, we have a team lunch that gives us a chance to chat with other members of Flexciton outside of our immediate team. After lunch, it's back to work until it's time to call it a day.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

What I enjoy most about my role at Flexciton is the variety of tasks and responsibilities that come with being a frontend developer and leading the frontend engineering practice. I love delivering features that provide real value to the users of our app, and there's nothing better than seeing someone using a feature I've helped build. The idea of making a user's experience even just a tiny bit better is highly motivating.

On a daily basis, I get to work on both technical and creative aspects of the app - whether it's writing code for engineering tickets, collaborating on designs, or planning out the UI architecture. I find it really satisfying to see the tangible results of my work and how it contributes to the overall success of the company.

Additionally, being part of a team that is collaborative, supportive, and always striving for improvement makes my job even more enjoyable. I appreciate that I have the opportunity to learn from my colleagues and contribute my own ideas to help move the company forward. Overall, the combination of technical challenges, a positive team environment, and the ability to make a real impact on our users is what makes me look forward to coming to work every day.

‍If you could do it all over again, would you pursue your same career?

Absolutely, I would pursue the same career again without hesitation. Before transitioning to frontend development, I worked as an electrician for five years. Although I gained valuable experience and skills during that time, I knew that it wasn't the right long-term career path for me.

Switching to frontend development was a challenging but rewarding decision. I've been able to build upon my previous technical knowledge and apply it in new and exciting ways. I feel incredibly lucky to have found a career that I truly enjoy, and I never take that for granted.

Being a frontend developer allows me to combine my technical skills with my creativity and problem-solving abilities. I find the work to be constantly engaging, and I'm always learning new things. The fact that I'm able to contribute to the success of a company and make a positive impact on its users is incredibly fulfilling.

I know that not everyone has the opportunity to pursue a career they enjoy, so I feel grateful every day for the path that led me to frontend development. Looking back, I can confidently say that I made the right decision, and I'm excited to see where this career will take me in the future.

‍If you could summarise working at Flexciton in 3 words, what would they be?

Rewarding, challenging, fun

Tell us about your best memory at Flexciton?

My first day at Flexciton is definitely one of my fondest memories. Starting a new job can be daunting, but I was immediately struck by the friendly and welcoming atmosphere in the office. My colleagues went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and part of the team from the get-go. I knew from that first day that I had made the right choice in joining this company.

Since then, I've had the opportunity to work on some truly exciting projects and collaborate with some incredibly talented people. Every day presents new challenges and opportunities for growth, and I'm constantly motivated to improve and learn.

But it's not all work and no play at Flexciton. One of the highlights of the year for me is our company trips. After working hard all year, it's a much-needed break to spend some quality time with my colleagues and enjoy some downtime. It's always a great bonding experience, and I come back feeling re-energized and ready to tackle whatever challenges lie ahead.

Overall, I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such a supportive and dynamic team at Flexciton. From my first day to now, it's been a truly memorable and rewarding journey, and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

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