In an industry that seems to be growing by the second, starting a career in technology can be daunting. For a software engineer – specifically in the realm of JavaScript, JS react, big data and data science – it’s more important than ever to stay up to date with industry trends. Led by a mission to help enhance the careers of aspiring software engineers, EPAM’s Emerging Engineers Lab does just that.

EPAM’s Emerging Engineers Lab is a 10-week paid training program based in the US where participants work alongside industry experts and receive an education tailored to their career interests. At the end of the program, participants go through a review with their mentor, project lead and a client review to become full time employees.

Meet Ryan Farney of EPAM’s Emerging Engineers Lab

We sat down with Ryan Farney, Junior Software Engineer at EPAM and Emerging Engineers Lab participant, to get the scoop on how he began his journey as a software engineer. Here’s what he had to say:

How did you begin your career journey as a software engineer? 

Since I was a kid, I loved the idea of web development. Knowing this, a friend at the engineering school at my college told me about coding boot camps, which is why I decided to join Flatiron’s Immersive Web Development Program. In the program, an EPAM recruiter reached out to me with the opportunity to interview for their Emerging Engineers Lab. After connecting with the recruiter, I saw the potential value in this new program and it immediately jumped to the top of my list. At the time, I was interviewing with other employers and had a few good offers. Ultimately, I turned them down because I felt that the Emerging Engineers Lab was the best next step for me becoming a better engineer. I knew I would have a mentor, follow a curriculum tailored to my specific interests, receive a job offer at the end and get paid while doing so.

What stood out to you most about the Emerging Engineers Lab?

For me, the mentorship aspect of the program was awesome. No matter what, I was always able to jump on a call with my mentor who supported me and answered any questions. If a problem came up, my mentor would give me the resources and encouragement to solve it on my own, which was an amazing learning experience. I was able to visit two EPAM client campuses to meet some of their team, which was a fantastic networking opportunity. All these events were incredibly insightful and answered the questions I had regarding the business structure at EPAM as well as the different clients and projects. Everybody was kind, understanding and willing to help every step of the way.

How has EPAM’s Emerging Engineers Program helped you transition into a full-time role with your respective client?

The Emerging Engineers Lab helped in just about every way. I got to experience first-hand what it was like to be a software engineer and was assigned tasks that are now standard in my day-to-day. I worked on a team where I could talk technically with employees who were at or above my skill level, ask them questions and work alongside industry experts. Lastly, the Emerging Engineers Lab gave me so much more in-depth knowledge of the framework I was most interested in and would end up using in the client project I was assigned.

How has the diverse workload during your time in the Emerging Engineer Program helped in developing your skillset?

The diverse workload certainly helped me become a better problem solver. Being put through different tests and exposed to all different types of challenges, I was forced to adapt and strategize around obstacles. This is one of the most important parts of being a developer!

Lastly, what does being an EPAMer mean to you?

To me, being an EPAMer means working with diversity every day. While I understand how large the company is, EPAM does a great job of making it feel small by connecting employees from around the globe. EPAM has given me the opportunities I needed to diversify my skill set and experience different cultures. I’m looking forward to being an EPAMer for a long time!