"The high school course that helped me most was math... math teaches people how to logically think through a problem." –Kathy, Software Engineer
What do you do in your position?
I am a Software Engineer. I write programs people use to make their jobs more efficient. I support the business area, so I write programs for materials, purchasing, and other groups. My job includes sitting down with my customers, finding out what they want and how I can make their job easier, and then writing programs that they are requesting. It takes a lot of communication between my customers and myself to make sure I am on the right track. I get to learn a lot about other areas in Micron and how they do business, and I get to work with many interesting people.
How or why did you decide to enter a technical career?
I took advanced classes when I was in the 5th grade and learned a programming language and all about computers. That's when I knew for sure that I wanted to program computers for my career. I have always enjoyed figuring out how to make things work, especially where computers are concerned. I was 10 when I made this decision and have never regretted it for a single minute!
What do you like about your job? Give an example of an interesting project or opportunity.
The part of my job I love the most is writing programs and figuring out how to make a computer do what my customer needs. I also love working with all sorts of people in interesting careers, but I mostly enjoy sitting in front of my computer writing code.
An interesting project I worked on last year was for our Micron web site. Micron wanted to give the world a way to see what jobs we have open and let people search for a job based on things like career type, experience level, and location in the world. I started with a database full of job posting information and was able to turn it into a system that allows anybody in the world to see what jobs are available at Micron according to their skills. In addition, the person can also submit their resumé for that position, inquire about the position, or just find out the skills Micron requires.
What high school courses helped you prepare for your job or
college program?
The high school course that helped me most was math—plain and simple. I realize that we don't get out into the real world and have a need for geometry equations, but math teaches people how to logically think through a problem. Learning math is learning how to logically solve problems. I also took every computer class my high school had available, but that was minimal because I went to a small school.
What post-high school education did you pursue?
Right after graduating from high school, I started college seeking a bachelor degree in computer science. It took me five years, which is nothing compared to spending my future doing exactly what I love to do.
What advice would you give a student interested in pursuing a technical career?
If at all possible, you should find a mentor who can help guide you and keep you motivated and on track. School can be frustrating, but it's well worth all the effort you give it. A technical career is immensely rewarding and gives you so many advantages in the real world. You have lots of choices once you have the technical training and background. The world is your open door!
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I love working out and playing sports. I like to stay really active and participate in all sorts of social activities.
Education: Software Engineer
Degrees typically sought for this position are a Bachelor of Science in computer science or computer engineering.
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