Jessica Bates

What brought you to study at Teesside University?

Teesside University was my first choice due to its reputation for computing studies while also being local. I first heard about the university from advertisements around my college campus. I visited an open day to experience what the course had to offer, which was both interesting and exciting and it confirmed my decision about wanting to study there.

What was your course like?

I particularly enjoyed the programming modules such as Rapid Development Systems. We often had lots of freedom for project ideas, and the lecturers were all really supportive, helping you achieve the best grades you could. I studied modules which involved both individual and group work, this allowed me to work as part of a team and expand my knowledge further by working with others.
I had a lot of support from the placement and careers service. They often ran lectures on tips for CVs, interviews and networking sites such as LinkedIn. These helped me to brush up my skills and stand out from the crowd.

What was the best thing about your course?

I have made some excellent friends as I got on with all my classmates, working with some of them on group projects. I enjoyed working on my final year project the most as it really pushed my technical ability and allowed me to be creative with my ideas, working to a specification and to deadlines. This project gave me skills which I could transfer to industry so that really helped.

Did you do an industry placement?

I did a one-year industry placement at a local online distribution company where I worked as a Web Developer. I worked alongside some inspirational developers, and vastly improved my programming knowledge. I found my real love for programming, whilst picking up real life industry skills, which helped me secure my graduate role.

What have you done since graduating?

When I graduated, I already had a graduate job lined up. I’m now working at Trade Interchange as an ASP.NET developer where I work in a supportive, growing team. As part of my role, I worked with Teesside University on a Knowledge Exchange Internship based around Machine Learning for document classification and validation. Trade Interchange offers many opportunities for me to develop in my career and become an even more confident and competent developer.

Did your time at Teesside University help you get closer to your goals?

Yes, it gave me the underlying knowledge I needed for progression into my graduate role. It taught me both technical and personal skills through the modules offered and the mix of group and individual work. Alongside this, my lecturers were extremely supportive in assisting with work and any problems I encountered, making my time at university pleasant and as stress free as possible.