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This was after a couple of years being in envy of the working lifestyle he had, in comparison with my previous position at another software firm. I had a rigid 8.30 - 5.00 working day and very little opportunity to get out at lunchtime, whereas Data Connection offered flexible working hours and a host of sporting opportunities. This sounded a much better idea to me.
I have been here for four years now, and this flexibility continues to allow me to get my work-life balance right. The work is demanding, but I can always get outside of the office environment to take a break for a while. I play frisbee, football and tennis at lunchtimes and also play for the Data Connection team in the London Summer Ultimate league. Plus, there are quite a few people here who like going on mad weekend adventures, so we're off surfing and kitesurfing whenever we can.
I have been working on MeetingServer, Data Connection's web conferencing solution for all of my time here. I have been offered opportunities to move onto other projects, but I turned them down and this was then accommodated into the plans. I spent the first two years working in the development and test teams, and then moved into Customer Support. This role is still technically challenging, but allows me more opportunity to yabber down the phone to people, which suits me very well! It also offers quite a lot of variety. The three major things I've done in the past year have included design, coding, analysing masses of customer information, customer management, cost-saving ideas and plenty of problem solving. And of course there are constant communications with my customers and discussions with my team and my manager.
Another striking thing about working here is how well organised things are. Gone are the days from my old job of launching into the development of a product without knowing exactly what it should do. The project management is impressive, with a good mix of standard guidelines and enough flexibility to change things as customers require. My manager and I work out goals for my personal development which are thorough, without being too burdensome, and I am regularly informed of how I am doing. Data Connection don't flinch from telling me the truth about my progress, whether good or bad, but I’m allowed a lot of personal input on this too.
So, to sum up, it is hard work but you are treated like a member of the family. I do thoroughly recommend applying to Data Connection if the sort of work attracts you. It's a good place and they look after you well.
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