What do the career path and the day-in-the-life look like for a Development Manager at SmartBear?
We connected with Krzysztof Moscichowski to find out!
Interested in learning more about SmartBear and their job openings? Make sure to check out their company page on VentureFizz!
Where did you grow up? What did your parents do for work?
I was born and raised in Opole, Poland. My parents rarely changed work – same place for 15-20+ years. My mother used to work in the State Forests, and my father at the new power plant as a shift manager.
With family at “Targi Rzeczy Ładnych” - “Fair of nice things – Polish design”
Where did you go to college? What did you study and what were some of your initial jobs out of school?
I graduated from two universities. The engineering studies at the Opole University of Technology in the field of Computer Science. During my studies, I took up various additional jobs: I was an interviewer, a cinema usher, and an office worker at TP S.A. In my youth, I had much more energy - I left home at 8 a.m., went to the university, then went to work and returned home by the last bus at 10 p.m. I believe that working, even part-time, while studying is a good start to looking for a permanent job. Getting to know different environments and different types of work broadens your horizons. The topic of my engineering thesis was "CMS in PHP", and that helped me find my first job in the Opcom interactive agency. There I was responsible for developing the company's CMS. I graduated from the second university, the Jagiellonian University – with a master's degree, while working full-time.
Vacation at Nort Sea - Denmark
Can you tell us about your career journey at SmartBear? What has attributed to your success thus far and has helped propel you to the position you have now?
I was hired at SmartBear as a Senior Software Engineer over three years ago. Previously, I worked as a developer and team leader in various projects and companies for 15+ years. The entire BitBar project at SmartBear was initially run independently by director Tomasz Stelmach who was hired a month before me. I have always tried to actively participate in teamwork and meetings. This allows me to influence possible improvements at work. Tomasz once asked me during a 1:1 if I wanted to develop further as a manager. At first, I was a little hesitant to make the decision, but eventually I concluded that this was an opportunity I had to take. Then, more and more often, I conducted demos and facilitated planning meetings. In this case, the process of becoming a development manager was gradual and painless. I took up my new position fully one and a half years ago, and I have never regretted this decision. Sure, the work of a manager is very different from that of a developer. However, my previous experience allows me to understand the needs of the developers I work with. I believe that working in this position leads to personal and professional growth.
Any tips for someone considering a career in your field?
Take up challenges and give your best when the opportunity arises. Be active and show that you care.
Day in the Life
Coffee, tea, or nothing?
Why not both? Tea for breakfast and coffee for second breakfast.
What time do you start working?
I usually start work around 8 – 8:30, after taking the children to school.
Every day is different, but can you outline what a typical day looks like for you?
Meetings, emails, slack, meetings. Did I mention meetings?
What time do you typically wrap up the workday?
I start work relatively early and finish early, around 4-4:30 p.m. Sometimes there is a late meeting, though.
Do you log back in at night or do you shut it down completely?
I try to separate work from my private life. I try to keep my afternoons and evenings for my family, rest, and hobbies.
Any productivity hacks?
If something takes five minutes, do it right away.
What are the 3 apps that you can’t live without?
Spotify, Google Maps, Nebo
What professional accomplishment are you proudest of?
Taking on challenges and being open to opportunities.
Who do you admire or call upon for professional advice?
People I work with every day, from whom I can still learn a lot about how to effectively lead people and projects.
Biggest guilty pleasure song and/or artist?
I don't follow any top artists or singers, but my Spotify playlist has 1,000+ songs and 70+ hours of electronic music. My biggest guilty pleasure is for sure playing games from the early 90s again and again.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I’m a big LEGO fan – I have more sets that shelves I could put it on. For over three years I tend to a fresh water aquarium full of plants. Because my wife is also a gamer we tend to spend evenings together playing rather than watching movies.
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