Ryburn Alumni Interview: Web Developer
We recently spoke to Bradley King, one of our Ryburn Alumni. Bradley told us all about his amazing career as a web developer and credits his teachers for inspiring him to get to where he is now. Read on for the full interview.
Tell us a bit about yourself, what’s your name and job title?
My name is Bradley. I am a former student of Ryburn Valley High School and I work as a back-end web developer.
What encouraged you to pursue a career in web development?
A few things really. During my time at Ryburn, I did GCSE Computing. That involved lessons where you would dismantle a computer and put it back together again. That led me to create my own server and start experimenting with different technologies, operating systems, and software packages. This led me down the web route and I developed an interest in coding and building websites.
Following Ryburn, I went to college and started creating websites for other projects and expanding my knowledge with JavaScript and HP and things like that.
After Year 11, what pathway did you take to get into your chosen career?
After Year 11 I went to college to complete my A-Levels. Following on from that I went to the University of Huddersfield to do a degree in Web Technologies. During my time at University, I got a job as a junior web developer. That gave me the benefit of learning the profession of web development both in a work environment and as an academic.
What is a typical working day like?
When I get to work, I usually start any new developments in the morning because I feel fresher. This consists of ongoing projects such as systems and websites. During the day there is plenty of coffee and a lot of banter. We do have fun at work; at lunchtime, we play pool and have competitions. In the afternoon I focus on website change requests and bug fixes.
What would you say you enjoy the most about your job… apart from pool and coffee?
Learning something new. In every project, you think about different concepts and technologies to embrace them, which I enjoy doing. Most of all I enjoy automating a workflow for someone. You end up making that person’s life easier.
What would you say is one of the biggest challenges in your job?
Fixing bugs is one of the hardest things in my job. A simple bug can lead to very complex situations. You can investigate a lot of back-end procedures and process flows, and sometimes even the user’s interaction with the website can cause these issues. You kind of have to have your investigatory skills there when you’re doing these things.
What was your favourite lesson at Ryburn, and why?
I’ve always been interested in technology, so Computing was one of my favourites. In every lesson, I learnt something new which was great. I loved Music as well and I used to play guitar in the soul band. The department had a great social aspect to it. I played in the band for the school productions. I remember doing Wizard of Oz and High School Musical.
Is there anyone at Ryburn who inspired and encouraged you to get to where you are now?
All of the teachers were great and some did it in different ways. Mr Clarke gave very good speeches in the assemblies. Without some of the fun lessons with Mr Cleary, I don’t think that I would be doing my job now.
If you could give a piece of advice to students, either about pursuing a career in web development or how they could go about following their dream career, what would it be?
I think with any area it always comes down to time and practice. You need to not let obstacles affect you. Find a way over them and keep working at it.
To get into web development I would say look at online tutorials because there are a lot of free resources out there. Try and put that learning into practice. Make a website for someone. For example, a small café. They wouldn’t have a big budget, but they would benefit from it. That way you are able to learn the full project development from planning to building it, instead of just focussing on the code.
If you studied at Ryburn we would love to hear from you and find out what you’re doing now! Get in touch at publish@rvhschool.co.uk.