Valentina Krhlanko: A backend developer driven by a passion for programming and learning

This young backend developer will captivate you with her charisma and cheerfulness, and her articulate personality reveals a thing or two about her enthusiasm for learning. Speaking with Valentina, you might recognize a spirit that doesn't settle easily, that seeks improvement and welcomes challenge.

At the end of her fourth year of college, Valentina started her internship at an IT company. Today, she has over 6 years of experience as a developer, and for the past year and a half, she has been part of the Emil Frey Digital team. As she says, the appeal of IT didn’t have to do with trends or promises of high pay. Rather, it was about programming, which she has known and loved since high school.

Beyond code: The diversity of a backend developer's job

While it's a common belief that backend developers spend all their days coding in their room, Valentina says that’s not what the job is. In her words, it is a multifaceted role, with a range of tasks and responsibilities.

- Typically, people think a backend developer's job revolves around receiving coding specs, writing code, testing it, and calling it a day. When starting out, developers often expect coding to be the main thing they will do. And that may be the case at the beginning. But as you gain experience, you realize there is a lot more to it. Over time, you end up spending less time coding and more time planning, analyzing, participating in meetings. Also, what you do as a developer largely depends on the technologies you use and industries you serve. Your taks will vary from team to team, too. To give you an example, on my last team I was a full-stack developer, handling both backend and frontend. My job scope was different, explains Valentina.

“Development is not just about coding. While anyone can write code, being a developer means having the ability to solve problems and navigate challenging situations."

How to become a backend developer in a company building software for the automotive industry

Does it all come down to learning on your own? How do experience and education weigh in? If you ask Valentina, the formula is simple - you complete your studies, you take an extra course, you apply for a job, you pass the selection process. You do the onboarding, and in just two weeks, you will be diving into coding. 😊 

- In high school, we programmed every day in computer science classes. When I started studying at the Faculty of Organization and Informatics (FOI ), programming was the least of my problems. At FOI we worked a lot in teams. It helped me develop soft skills, especially communication and presentation, she noted.

“University teaches you responsibility and discipline. It gives you a solid foundation. After that, it is about putting in the effort to keep learning and growing.”

If you are in IT, you can expect there will always be new technologies to keep up with. It’s a job that requires constant learning, reading, and research.

- I am always on the lookout to learn more. Whether it is reading new documentation, browsing, checking social media posts, or reading books. We have colleagues who follow major industry topics and share with the rest of us. Plus, the company supports us in attending training and events where we can pick up new stuff. It’s important to use these opportunities well, she said.

From meetings and mentoring to solving complex bugs

As the main developer on the project, Valentina has a specific job schedule.

- I participate in meetings, oversee progress and support colleagues developers. There is a lot of collaboration with clients and product owners. I draft specs for analysis and we align on strategic topics. At the moment, I am also mentoring new teammates. If a more challenging bug pops up, I will go and wrap my mind around it. Then there is quarterly planning. Code quality and high project standards are also my responsibility, as well as implementing ideas and suggestions from the architecture board, Valentina explains.

- On the other hand, if you are not the main developer, you will have fewer meetings and planning sessions and more tasks related to coding, bug troubleshooting, preparing a script for data export, reviewing and giving feedback on technical specifications, functional tests, and more. Although testing is primarily handled by our QA team, backend developers also assist when needed, conducting regression tests or testing functionalities developed by other team members. Collaboration and mutual assistance are integral to our way of working. Everyone is proactive and contributes, which is something I really like, said Valentina.

Mentoring - vital for having the next generation of developers

One of the most importan tasks of developers is passing on their knowledge to the next generation.

- This is the first time I got involved in mentoring. I can tell you it’s challenging. You may be the best developer in the world, but if you have not shared your knowledge with future generations, you have not truly made an impact, she said.

Mentoring is about mutual growth and development.

- I am constantly amazed by how much I learn as a mentor. New colleagues often ask such simple questions that surprise me. Communicating and working with people can be challenging, but it is also rewarding. Time management could be my biggest challenge, as there never seems to be enough time. I think mentoring pays off in the long run. You can say it was successful if you helped someone become a productive team member, explains Valentina.

"Mentoring is something every developer should aspire to. Ultimately, your success as a developer is measured by how many junior developers you have guided to become proficient seniors."

Unlocking career potential at EFD

Her decision to switch to a new job brought her new challenges and, importantly, a new sense of fulfillment.

- In software development, it is not uncommon to work on the same project for a longer time. It can be several years or more. What can happen in those situations is that it stops being challenging. I found myself at a standstill. Technology is evolving rapidly, and if you don't keep up, you fall behind. I wanted to take on new projects. When I got the opportunity to join Emil Frey Digital, I knew it was time to take the leap. It meant leaving my first job after five years, and stepping out of my comfort zone. Things turned out well. People here are great, projects are interesting, and I have not regretted my decision, she said.

- The role is dynamic. I am constantly juggling multiple tasks and thinking on my feet. I enjoy the complexity and things that truly test my skills. Each day brings something new, and that’s what keeps me motivated, said Valentina.

"Just when you think everything is running smoothly, a completely unknown issue pops up. And then you seek for a solution. That's great! 😊"

Problem-solving skills are key to being successful in software development

Just like in any other profession, there are skills and qualities that make a backend developer successful in their work. We asked Valentina what those skills are, and why they are important.

- First and foremost, I would say problem-solving skills. If you are a software developer, you really need to excel in this area. Coding is more than code production. It is about solving real-world problems with software. Then there is proactivity. It is important to seek self-improvement all the time, to think about how to make code better. The rule of thumb is very simple: if you are reviewing code from a year ago and you find no areas for improvement, you have not progressed enough, she said.

The ability to communicate well, in both speech and writing, is something we all need. Even more so if we work in good organisations. Everything happens by means of communication, whether internally with the team, whether with stakeholders, management, customers or external partners. Valentina believes that lacking soft skills can be a serious blocker in growth.

- Because we can’t accomplish much without other people, being a team player is important. I would also say that persistence will serve us well, especially when making our first steps at a job. Continuous learning, precision and attention to detail are important in software development, because there are standards in quality that need to be met. You need to cover all use cases, analyse, and stay focused on what you are doing.

"To develop software, teamwork, attention to detail, and proactivity are essential. In my opinion, these qualities extend beyond backend development and are integral to the entire development process. And, of course, mastery of Google is a must!" 😁

What skills do young programmers need in today's job market? What advice or guidance to offer them?

- Stay open to continuous learning and be persistent. Also, be open for feedback. It can be difficult to accept at times, but every instance of it will help you grow, she concluded.

Travels, books, and cats

As we wrapped up our conversation, Valentina shared a bit about how she relaxes and a few more tidbits about herself.

- I love to travel! My bucket list is really huge, so I try to make the most of every vacation and holiday for traveling. For me, it is like therapy for mind and soul. Everything just feels lighter afterward. Exploring new places and different cultures brings so much joy. A recent trip to Africa was eye-opening. It made me realize how much we take for granted and how little we appreciate. I am also a bit of a bookworm. There is nothing quite like relaxing with a good book in hand. My literary tastes span from science fiction to romance novels. And once a week, usually on Friday, I treat myself to a work-from-home day. Oh, and let's not forget my two beloved cats. They are my faithful companions and helpers while I work!