Congratulations Christopher, on being named one of our Spartans of the Month! How did it feel when you found out?
It felt amazing! I’ve been putting my absolute all into this role, so having that recognised really made my day. I wasn’t expecting it, which made it even better.
Let’s go back to the beginning of your journey, what did you study at university?
I studied Computer Science at the University of Essex for a year and a half after starting in 2019. I earned my Certificate of Higher Education but decided to leave the course when COVID happened.
What made you decide Sparta Global was the right career move for you?
I’ve always loved computer science and software development, but my experience was quite varied. I wanted somewhere that could help consolidate everything I’d learned and guide me toward a real career in development. Sparta’s hire-train-deploy model felt like the perfect match for that.
When did you join Sparta?
I joined Sparta in June 2024.
How did you find the training experience at the Academy?
Training at the Academy was the best learning experience I’ve had. I learned more in eight weeks than I did at university. It taught me the fundamentals of being a successful Web Developer, technically and in terms of teamwork. Even though my placement role was different from what I trained in, the fundamentals like REST APIs, MVC, proper version control, agile, and scrum really helped me make the switch from Java at the Academy to PHP in my current role.
Where are you working now, and what’s your current position?
I’m currently a Digital Developer at a large Healthcare company.
What does your day-to-day role look like? Waht do you get stuck into?
Day to day, I work on one of my company's web applications, mainly focusing on backend development, which I absolutely love. Right now my main work involves integrating new connections so it makes bookings easier. There’s a bit of everything though: building new features, keeping the app running smoothly, responding to incidents, and fixing issues. I’ve even done a little front-end work when needed.
How have you found your first tech role so far?
I’ve loved my first tech role. There are definitely more meetings than I expected, but diving into an enterprise-level codebase has been a great experience. It was daunting at first, but I’ve learned a huge amount from being in a professional environment.
Are you enjoying working in the tech industry and if so - why?
Absolutely. It’s what I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I love solving problems, and every new task is something to figure out. It’s also a great feeling when something I’ve built goes into production and I can see the impact it has for users.
What are you most looking forward to working on next?
I’m not planning on moving roles any time soon! At my current company, I’m excited about helping rebuild the application I currently work on. Using everything I’ve learned so far to create something new is really exciting.
Would you recommend Sparta to other graduates and if so – why?
I’d definitely recommend Sparta. The training was fantastic and helped me get my foot in the door. Without Sparta, I can’t imagine I’d be working for a company like the one I am today.
