SEED Interview with Rebecca Dilla
SEED Interview
As part of the SEED project, I recently talked with Rebecca Dilla, a Product Analyst at Niche.com. In this interview, Rebecca told me that students should consider the benefits of working in small companies. She also stressed the importance of professional networking, encouraging people to reach out to others with questions and requests for assistance. Read Rebecca’s responses to the three SEED questions to learn more about her unique perspective on software engineering.
What is the greatest challenge that you face when working in your field?
There are never enough hours in the day to make the product you would love to make! In school, your work is done when you turn your project in. But, in industry, the product is never “done”. It’s continually being fixed, grown, and improved.
What is one point of advice that you can give to people who plan to enter your field?
Don’t just look at the big companies when you’re looking for a job. Ask around, talk to people. Often, there are so many benefits to working for a smaller company, including a bigger chance to make an impact. The downside is that they are harder to find — this is where networking comes in so handy. Invite an acquaintance in the field out to coffee so that you can ask them a few questions. If you currently don’t have any contacts, reach out to some people you’ve found online. It’s scary, but it’ll give you better insight and teach you about opportunities you never knew existed.