Meet the Bolster Buddies: Eibhlin (Front-end Developer)
We launched the Bolster Buddies initiative last year, successfully pairing applicants with our team to chit-chat about all things digital, design, content and web development over coffee. We’re keeping the program alive via Zoom, so if you’re feeling a little lost during this pandemic, we’d love to hear from you.
Before you apply to jump onto a zoom call with a stranger, we’re spilling the (virtual) tea on our departments so you can see what it is we do and how our Buddies’ expertise might apply to you.
Next up is our front-end web developer Eibhlin McGeady, who has worked across projects such as Linktree, Splendour in the Grass and the massive Elton John AU/NZ tour. She’s now based in her home-country of Ireland (miss u Eib!) so is an actual pro at working remotely.
What do you do at Bolster in a sentence?
I build the frontend of the Linktree web application and music festival websites for clients.
How did you get to where you are at Bolster?
I studied Computer Science at uni in Ireland, and then worked as a Software Engineer in Dublin for 2 years before moving to Australia — and landing a job at Bolster!
Favourite project that you’ve worked on?
The Linktree Blog website was super fun to work on. I worked alongside some really sick designers and copywriters and it’s really exciting to see thousands of people signing up to the mailing list and using the software I built.
Most surprising thing about your role that people might not know?
It’s super sociable. The media usually portrays software engineers as socially awkward dudes who work in isolation hacking away at a computer. It’s this prejudice that discourages women going into the tech industry. In reality, I work closely with design and marketing teams and with other people on the development team every day. Building software as part of a team is a hugely collaborative process where we all have shared ownership in, and responsibility for our product, so there is a huge sense of being a part of a team with a common goal rather than working in solitude.
Best career advice you’ve ever gotten?
It was probably from my mum after I expressed concern I was only getting job offers because of my gender. She said that women have literally been oppressed for thousands of years.
If there is finally a situation where it can be used to your advantage, own it! Do it for all the women who fought for society to get to this stage.
What are your top remote (really remote) working tips?
– Make a to-do list but keep yourself accountable. Create a Slack channel (or similar) with your team where you can update each other with your list each morning, and what you accomplished at the end of the day so you feel more assured that your work has been noted.
– If you can, divide your living/working spaces so when you’re done working from the day you can physically and mentally distance yourself
– Get out of your PJs
– If you’re struggling with procrastination (we all know it’s easy to get stuck in a 2 hour YouTube hole) set yourself a timer like Harvest to make sure you’re doing a full work day of actual work.
– Try to create a workspace with natural light. You’re spending a lot of time there and sitting in the dark all day isn’t conducive to a healthy mindset, which is extra important during this time. Oh and get some plants!
How do you take your coffee?
Long & black
Apply for Bolster Buddies here
