Farah, Software Developer Dental Insurance
Farah joined CHECK24 in Hamburg as a software developer in InsurTech, right after completing her computer science degree. In the interview, she shares how she was able to acquire in-depth knowledge in Android development and what she particularly values about teamwork.
Hello Farah, please introduce yourself briefly.
Farah:
Hi, I'm Farah, 26 years old, and I've been working as an Android app developer at CHECK24 in Hamburg for two years. My main focus is on the dental insurance comparison feature. Before that, I completed my Bachelor's degree in Computer Science at the University of Hamburg. I joined CHECK24 right after graduating. Although I had little prior experience in Android development, I was able to quickly acquire new skills thanks to the support of our team and was promoted from Junior to Professional Developer at the beginning of this year.
What are your tasks in software development?
Farah:
One of my main responsibilities is developing new features for the CHECK24 app that benefit our customers. As developers, we receive tasks, or "tickets," from our product managers, which are usually broken down into manageable pieces that can be completed in a day. Larger and more complex topics are implemented as projects within so-called "epics," which can take several weeks to complete. I was very proud when I got to implement my first own epic. A developer's daily work also includes maintaining and continuously improving existing code, fixing bugs, and reviewing colleagues' code.
How was your start at CHECK24?
Farah:
In the beginning, I was assigned my own small starter project to help me get familiar with our codebase. It was a simplified version of our latest project, where I rebuilt some features from our real app. Each week, I received support from a different mentor on our team. This was incredibly helpful because I always had a direct contact person when questions arose. After a few weeks, I started working on our real app. From the very beginning, my voice mattered—my feedback on my colleagues' code was taken just as seriously as that of a senior developer.
Why CHECK24?
I appreciate the open and collegial work atmosphere at CHECK24, where we collaboratively and constructively work on solutions, and every opinion is valued. Questions and issues can be addressed at any time, making work both pleasant and effective.
Farah, Software Developer Dental Insurance
What makes your team special? How do you experience the collaboration?
Farah:
What I value most is the relaxed working atmosphere. I feel like I can approach my colleagues at any time if any questions or issues come up. It's enjoyable to discuss the best solutions together because we all aim for the best outcomes, and no one takes it personally if someone else comes up with a better idea. Every argument is heard equally. It's also great to end a workday with the team and a cold drink on our rooftop terrace.
What qualities should an ideal team member have?
Farah:
Cake! Just kidding. As an ideal colleague, you should fit well into our team, be open to new ideas, and always strive to write the best possible code. It's also important to have a willingness to continuously learn and share your knowledge with the team.
And finally: What was the best team event you’ve been on so far?
Farah:
That’s a tough question! Before our team events, we usually have a vote where everyone can share their ideas, which means we’ve tried a lot of cool activities. My favorite was probably the event where we went archery shooting. I had never tried it before, and it was so much fun competing against my teammates! Afterward, we wrapped up the evening with a relaxed pizza dinner.