We sat down with Daniel O’Dea, Site Reliability Engineer at Atlassian, to learn more about his career journey.
What has your early career journey looked like so far?
Daniel: My first-ever job was at West Elm, a furniture store in Chatswood. It was a Christmas job I got when I was around 14 years old. I spent my time peeling stickers off sheets and placing them on furniture in the stockroom. It was an interesting experience, to say the least. I worked there for a few months during the Christmas season. After that, my first job related to my desired career path in software was through Hatch with J.P. Morgan.
I remember browsing the Hatch marketplace and liking that it offered various relevant opportunities in one place. It was quite an interesting opportunity because I was the 100th student to get hired through Hatch and they celebrated it by coming to the J.P. Morgan office with me, where I was interning, and presented me with some goodies. It felt like winning a prize.
How did you feel about being ready for your internship at Hatch given that you were an entry-level applicant?
Daniel: I was quite fortunate during my interview because the questions they asked were remarkably similar to what I had encountered in an exam I'd taken just a week before. For example, I was asked about an SQL cross-join, which, to be honest, I couldn't explain fully now, but I had just studied it recently for the exam.
So, it felt a bit like imposter syndrome– I didn't really feel like I deserved to answer those questions correctly. However, I was definitely open to learning and was ready to take on whatever work came my way during the internship. In the beginning, I focused on tasks like adding tests, which is considered more entry-level work, but it's essential to have a solid understanding of it as it's crucial in software engineering.
Can you tell us about your experience with Thorial, the startup you co-founded?
Daniel: Thorial was a startup that went through various phases during its existence. We initially focused on solving the onboarding process for new employees in organisations. We identified onboarding as a problem worth addressing, even though it can often be overlooked by companies, particularly because it doesn't happen frequently. New employees often don't speak up about a poor onboarding experience, and companies may not prioritise improving it.
We tested our solution in about ten different businesses, including a bar, a hospitality venue, and office companies. While people were willing to pay for our service to some extent, it wasn't a massive problem for them, and there were other companies in the same space. So we pivoted to a creative community space in Canberra, where we received a grant to run creative events and workshops in an underutilised office building.
I've since moved on from Thorial to focus on my full-time work because it became challenging to balance both, especially as my responsibilities at Atlassian became more senior. My co-founder took the community aspect further, and it's now his own venture.
How do you think your experiences outside of your formal education and internships have contributed to your career?
Daniel: Extracurricular activities, like debating and running the University of Sydney Piano Society, have had a significant impact on my professional growth. Debating, in particular, improved my ability to communicate effectively, articulate my thoughts, and develop confidence in expressing ideas. These skills are invaluable in the corporate world, especially at a company like Atlassian, where communication is a key part of the job.
Additionally, the experience of running a society helped me develop management and stakeholder engagement skills. While playing a musical instrument may not have had a direct impact on my job, it was a great stress reliever and allowed me to balance my professional and personal life effectively.
What's been the most significant challenge you've faced in your early career, and how did you overcome it?
Daniel: Task prioritisation and time management are extremely common early-career hurdles that I've learnt to navigate.
The most effective solution I've found for this is to place yourself in an environment where you genuinely want to work. You have to have the motivation to be there and to get the job done. Additionally, it's crucial to learn to say no to tasks. I now judiciously choose my commitments. It's painfully easy to overcommit, especially if you have an entrepreneurial spirit and enjoy problem-solving.
Lastly, I've realised that it's important to communicate trade-offs and prioritise tasks based on their importance and impact. Sometimes, it's necessary to let things expire or disappoint some people to make others happy, but open communication with your manager or stakeholders can help navigate these challenges effectively.
How have your extracurricular projects influenced your ability to secure a role at a prestigious company like Atlassian?
Daniel: Extracurricular experiences have played a crucial role in my ability to succeed at a company like Atlassian. For instance, my debating experience significantly improved my communication skills, which are highly valued in a corporate setting. Effective communication is just as important, if not more so, than technical skills in many tech companies.
Running a society enhanced my ability to manage people and engage with stakeholders, which has been really valuable in my professional life. Additionally, the exposure to public speaking during my high school and university years has helped me express my ideas coherently and confidently. These skills have undoubtedly contributed to my career at Atlassian and my ability to succeed in a corporate setting.
What advice do you have for those looking to break into prestigious companies like Atlassian?
Daniel: One of the most critical pieces of advice I can offer is to be yourself during interviews and throughout your career journey. Don't try to fit into a specific mould or be someone you're not to impress interviewers or meet perceived expectations. Being genuine and expressing your true self is not only more interesting but also more memorable.
It's also important to focus on effective communication, as it's a skill that holds immense value, often on par with technical abilities. Finally, when it comes to workload and task prioritisation, remember that you can say no to some tasks and that it's crucial to manage your commitments judiciously. Open and honest communication with your manager or stakeholders about trade-offs can help navigate challenges effectively.
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