A Place to Grow: Stories from the people who’ve been there
Every career starts somewhere.
For many of us at Zinkworks, that "somewhere" was our Graduate Programme. A first project. A first stand-up. A first deployment. Maybe even the first time wondering, "Wait... what exactly is this Jira ticket asking me to do?"
Starting your first job can be exciting, intimidating, and everything in between. The good news? Everyone who's joined our Graduate Programme has been in the same position.
So, rather than telling you what it's like ourselves, we asked some of the people who've been through our Graduate Programme to share their experiences in their own words.
Why did you join Zinkworks?
Everyone has their own reason for taking that first step. For some, it was the opportunity to work with modern technologies. For others, it was the chance to learn from experienced engineers while contributing to real projects from day one.
"I chose the Zinkworks Graduate Programme because it offered the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies while gaining experience on actual projects. What surprised me most was how quickly graduates are trusted with meaningful responsibilities and how collaborative the teams are."
Wojciech Pogorzelski, Software Engineer
PJ McKinney felt the same. From the interview process onwards, he could see that Zinkworks was a place where people were encouraged to learn and grow.
"It was clear that Zinkworks would offer an inviting environment with great learning opportunities. I was trusted with real responsibility and hands-on learning opportunities very quickly."
PJ McKinney, Senior Software Engineer
What surprised you the most?
Moving from university into industry is a big step. Suddenly you're working on real projects, collaborating with experienced engineers, and learning how software is built in the real world.
One thing that came up again and again? The support people received from their teams and how quickly they felt part of the company.
"What surprised me most was how welcoming people were."
Patrick McKiernan, Software Engineer
Shauna Martyn also highlighted the difference that mentoring and teamwork made during her first project.
"Getting to work alongside more senior developers meant I always had someone to turn to when I needed help. That guidance made a huge difference in how quickly I was able to learn and grow."
Shauna Martyn, Junior Software Engineer
The biggest lesson?
University gives you a great foundation. Your first job is where everything starts to come together.
Whether it's working with teammates, solving real customer problems or learning new technologies, every project brings an opportunity to grow.
"Working on a large telecom project helped me understand how large-scale systems are designed and maintained. That hands-on experience significantly improved both my technical skills and my confidence in solving complex problems."
Wojciech Pogorzelski
Patrick's biggest lesson wasn't just technical, it was about believing in yourself.
"Always trust yourself and always speak up when you feel you need to."
Patrick McKiernan
Looking back...
Fast-forward a few years, and today's graduates are helping deliver projects across telecoms, financial services, AI and more.
When we asked what they're most proud of, their answers weren't just about technologies or promotions, they were about how much they've grown along the way.
"I'm proud of my contributions to the successful delivery of multiple complex and cutting-edge projects. Being promoted to Senior Software Engineer earlier this year was a major personal milestone."
PJ McKinney
Shauna reflected on how much she's experienced in such a short time.
"Over the past two years I've worked across numerous projects, POCs and demos, gaining experience with Java, Python, AI tools, GCP, AWS and React. Being able to work confidently across so many technologies so early in my career is something I'm genuinely proud of."
Shauna Martyn
One piece of advice for the next graduates?
If there's one thing everyone agreed on, it's this: nobody expects you to know everything on day one. Be curious, ask questions and make the most of every opportunity to learn.
Here's what our graduates would tell the next generation.
"Be curious and don't be afraid to ask questions. You'll be surrounded by experienced people who are happy to share their knowledge, so take every opportunity to learn from them."
Wojciech Pogorzelski
"Don't worry about not knowing everything from day one, you'll learn so much on the job, and everyone around you knows you're new, so they're genuinely happy to help."
Shauna Martyn
"Take the opportunity to build strong fundamentals. Skills like good software design, Git and development tools will serve you throughout your career, regardless of the project or technology."
PJ McKinney
The journey doesn't stop after graduation
The Graduate Programme is exactly that, a starting point.
Everyone's journey is different. Some discover a passion for cloud engineering. Others dive into AI, DevOps, software development or consulting. And before long, many find themselves helping the next generation of graduates settle in.
No matter where your career takes you, it all starts with being curious, asking questions and giving things a go.
Who knows? In a few years' time, we might be asking you to share your story.
❤️ Thank you
A big thank you to Wojciech Pogorzelski, PJ McKinney, Shauna Martyn and Patrick McKiernan for sharing your stories.
Your experiences, advice and insights are what made this article possible. We hope your words inspire and reassure the next generation of graduates as they begin their own journey at Zinkworks.
