{"id":10064,"date":"2025-03-03T12:33:44","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T11:33:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.automatify.ch\/?p=10064"},"modified":"2025-03-04T07:14:59","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T06:14:59","slug":"from-volunteer-to-rpa-developer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.automatify.ch\/en\/from-volunteer-to-rpa-developer\/","title":{"rendered":"From Volunteer to RPA Developer"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n\r\n
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\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\tTo article overview<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t \r\n\t \r\n\t \t \r\n\t\r\n\t \r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n\n\n\n\n\n
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From Volunteer to RPA Developer<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Grab a cup of coffee or tea, maybe a few snacks, and enjoy this article as one of our colleagues shares his personal journey: from childhood memories to becoming a self-sufficient RPA Developer<\/em>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t <\/div> \t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t \n\t \n \n \n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Early Years<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Ever since I was a kid, it was clear that I had a passion for computers and technology. While most kids my age preferred playing with toys, I found computers increasingly fascinating. Even though he didn\u2019t know much about them, my father tried to teach me how to use one. However, as the years passed, the student eventually surpassed the master. I was simply curious and always asked questions that I had to look up online because my dad did not know how to answer them anymore. Questions like: \u201cWhy won\u2019t game X work?<\/em>\u201d or \u201cWhy is program Y running so slowly?<\/em>\u201d. I remember the first time I was asked, \u201cWhat do you want to be when you grow up?<\/em>\u201d I said I wanted to be a judge or a lawyer. But in seventh grade, looking back, I realized that IT was a true passion, something I could see myself doing forever.<\/p>\n

My curiosity used to be fueled mostly by video games, but from that moment on, my focus shifted to programming, knowing that I had to master it at a high level to get into a top university. Through hard work and perseverance, I achieved my goal: being admitted to the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at Babe\u0219-Bolyai University, specializing in computer science.<\/p>\n

I had heard all sorts of stories about student life, most of them painting a positive experience. I remember high school, when college students were visiting us and saying things like \u201cIt\u2019s so cool to have classes in the evening because you can sleep more<\/em>\u201d or \u201cThere\u2019s no homework in college.<\/em>\u201d. I started university with these ideas in mind, but reality hit me harder than I could have ever imagined. Looking back and talking with former classmates from college, I\u2019ve realized that university was a very different experience for each one of us. Some loved it, others were indifferent and found it easy, but for me, it was a rollercoaster ride. When it came to education, I was never indifferent, but due to those preconceived ideas, I thought I could take it easier than in high school. As a result, I ended my first exam session with two failed exams and one missed due to COVID. I passed them all in the retake session, but that so-called \u201cvacation<\/em>\u201d week was filled with stress, frustration, and sadness.<\/p>\n

That was when I learned an important lesson: if you want to be good at what you do, you must be consistent. The moment you let your guard down, you fall behind. This realization pushed me to get back on track, to be more diligent, and from then on, my exam sessions mostly went smoothly. However, a part of me still feels a slight regret when I hear how others, even from my own faculty, went to all sorts of parties and events while I spent hours on assignments, projects, or studying. I feel that my social side wanted to develop more during that period, but it didn\u2019t get the chance.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t <\/div> \t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t \n\t \n \n \n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Life in Hermes<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Many people say they had fun and met new people during university, but for me, it seemed increasingly clear that this wouldn\u2019t happen. That was until I started hearing the word \u201cHermes\u201d more and more around me. I remember being in my first year when I first heard about it and learned that it was our faculty\u2019s volunteer organization. I wanted to join right away, but since my first semester was online, I hesitated. I knew I\u2019d miss out on the real volunteer experience I wanted to discover. Discover, because I had never been part of a volunteer organization before, even though I knew such experiences would help me in the future.<\/p>\n

I joined Hermes in my second year, feeling a little nervous about managing my free time and studies, but I handled it well. I managed to attend meetings, learned how the organization worked, and in December of that year, I participated in my first event as a volunteer: \u201cDestresiunea\u201d. \u201cDestresiunea\u201d is an event dedicated to first-year students, helping them prepare for their first exam session by offering advice and guidance (something I really could have used a year earlier). It was an unforgettable experience where I got to interact with and help many students while also having fun and relaxing. This experience motivated me to get even more involved, leading me to participate in more events like \u201cCareers in IT\u201d and \u201cSSMI\u201d (where I accidentally became an unofficial bartender).<\/p>\n

Without realizing it, volunteering at Hermes became a refuge where I could make up for the social life and fun I felt I was missing due to university. At Hermes, I met a lot of people, made new friends, and at the same time, by participating in different events, I felt that I was helping others while also growing personally. I learned to work in a team, communicate more effectively, and socialize more easily.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t <\/div> \t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t \n\t \n \n \n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Step into the Automatify World<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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At my first \u201cCareers in IT\u201d event as a volunteer, I heard about Automatify for the first time. I thought the little robot they had at their booth was really cool, but I didn\u2019t have enough time to work on my own robot to apply for their internship. By my third year, things had changed. I was about to graduate and knew that by the end of university, I needed to find a job. So, I wanted to make the most of the event and check out every internship opportunity available.<\/p>\n

Automatify seemed like a great fit for me by offering an attractive summer internship, which aimed at retaining all their interns (something I really appreciated, considering that more and more internships were becoming competitive), and it started right after I finished my thesis. I already knew they worked in RPA, though I wasn\u2019t entirely sure what that meant, but this time I finally got to see what UiPath looked like, and which I got to think at first that it resembled a \u201cweird Word interface.\u201d However, after talking with them at the booth, RPA started to sound pretty good. It seemed like an interesting way of programming and a field worth exploring once. They mentioned that the recruitment process would begin in two or three days, so, that very evening, I applied. After a test that challenged my thinking and a reasonably difficult interview, I joined the team.<\/p>\n

I remember showing up to my interview looking presentable and healthy. But on my first day of the internship, I was still presentable, but sick and with a broken hand from football. Still, I didn\u2019t let that stop me. I was more determined than ever to prove what I could do, what I knew, but more importantly, how much I was willing to learn. The internship focused heavily on learning and development, emphasizing \u201chow much you want to know\u201d rather than \u201chow much you already know.\u201d. Probably my biggest mistake at the time was comparing myself to the other interns when it came to how quickly I was going through the study materials. I\u2019ve always been someone who pays close attention to details, but because of that, I tend to be slower. Seeing others move through the material so fast made me feel like I was falling behind. However, in the end, I realized that this approach worked out better for me – I completed my tasks on time and was even given new challenges along the way.<\/p>\n

At the end of the internship, I was offered the opportunity to stay, and I took it. I made this decision after seeing the attitude of my colleagues and mentors, who were always supportive and helpful. I felt that people respected us and genuinely wanted us there, encouraging us to learn so we could join them. Personally, the most important thing for me is to be allowed to work in my own style and to be respected, and here, I truly felt that. Automatify\u2019s ideologies also played a role, with \u201cWorking in a stress-free environment\u201d being another key aspect for me, and the informal events organized by the team further reinforced this idea. At the same time, during the internship, I recognized the potential of this technology and felt that this was a field of programming in which I would like to continue developing.<\/p>\n

Any downside to working at Automatify? I lose a lot at ping-pong. The competitive spirit at the table is intense, but just like I learned programming, I\u2019ll learn to play better.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t <\/div> \t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t \n\t \n \n \n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Building a Career<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Continuous development is one of Automatify\u2019s strengths. From the very first days after the internship, we were shown how important it is not to stop there – to keep learning and improving.
\nWe were given multiple perspectives, both from management and development, to understand the responsibilities involved in different roles, such as consultant or lead developer, and what we need to know to reach those positions. Those moments made me realize that Automatify is a place where I can keep growing, and the work I put in along the way will take me even further.<\/p>\n

I believe that Automatify invests in continuous learning, providing us with access to various courses, certifications, and workshops that help improve both technical and leadership skills. The respect and support continued even after the internship. More experienced colleagues are always open to questions and willing to help. My consultant is not an arrogant boss but a friend, a role model, and a leader who gives me confidence and constant feedback to help me develop.<\/p>\n

The projects we work on vary in complexity, but they always come with new challenges, which means new things to learn. I feel like my mind is constantly engaged, and that makes me feel that by the end of each project, I am better than before, especially in fields as dynamic as IT and RPA.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t <\/div> \t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t \n\t \n \n \n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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RPA vs Traditional Programming<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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RPA is a fascinating branch of programming. For those who didn\u2019t know what RPA meant before diving into this field, just like I did, RPA stands for Robot Process Automation. In practice, it automates repetitive, rule-based tasks by mimicking human actions within digital systems. A good example of a process that can be automated with RPA would be the daily task of an accountant who needs to enter invoice data into a system or database. A robot can perform these steps quicker and more securely, while the accountant can focus on other, more productive tasks. The development of RPA bots doesn\u2019t rely on traditional programming languages but rather on low-code technologies (drag and drop). Although RPA and low-code technologies may seem limiting at first glance, the integration of modern languages such as Java, .NET, and Python in UiPath allows you to stay connected to traditional programming. More than that, not only does it not distance you from it, but it allows you to use it more efficiently and faster than in traditional software development.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve frequently used the words fast, quick and dynamic, and that\u2019s because these characteristics define RPA in comparison to traditional programming. RPA projects are usually short-term, with some being implemented in less than a week. Hence, teamwork takes a different shape compared to traditional programming. In less complex projects, you often work more independently, without the usual collaboration through Git, but regardless of complexity, interaction with people is often even greater than in traditional programming, communicating with numerous colleagues working with similar technologies as well as directly with clients.<\/p>\n

Another advantage of RPA is the closer interaction between the developer and the client, which is usually more direct than in traditional programming. You often find yourself communicating directly with clients to clarify issues or questions related to the process you are automating and the systems the robot uses, and their feedback is received much more easily and directly. When you manage to satisfy them, you simply feel a deep sense of accomplishment.<\/p>\n

Traditional programming involves writing code to develop customized applications and software systems. Applications built this way are scalable, optimized for performance, and offer full control over functionalities. Although RPA may seem less flexible than traditional programming, since it directly depends on the applications and systems it interacts with, the integration of modern technologies and AI is constantly expanding its capabilities.<\/p>\n

In conclusion, both RPA and traditional programming offer distinct advantages that complement each other. RPA brings flexibility and speed to process automation, facilitating the integration of modern technologies and fostering a direct, constructive interaction with clients. On the other hand, traditional programming remains essential for developing robust, customized solutions that can be adapted to complex needs. Working in both fields hence permits for the best practices from each to be leveraged, combining the efficiency of automated processes with the depth and control offered by traditional development.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t <\/div> \t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t \n\t \n \n \n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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To sum up<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Looking back at my journey, all the things I\u2019ve done since I was a child, the university I chose, and my involvement in Hermes, everything has prepared me to fulfill my dream of a career in IT. And in Automatify, I found a strong starting point that gives me the opportunity to continue growing, both as a developer and as a person.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t <\/div> \t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t \n\t \n \n \n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n