Developer Stories: Meet Jonathon, a Web Developer at Drummond Central

Hey Jonathon, nice to meet you! Do you want to give a quick introduction to yourself and your role at Drummond Central? 😊

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I’m a Web Developer working in the Digital department at Drummond Central. I oversee the building of new websites as well as the maintenance and alterations to existing ones.

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Let’s start with your journey into tech - what was it that inspired you to become a web developer?

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I studied Computing at A-Level and found it to be a good fit. On the back of this, I chose Games Software Development at university. My degree covered all facets of computing, and so included a module on Web Development. The work was HTML, CSS, PHP, SQL and Javascript (what would be called ‘vanilla’ these days). Once I had overcome the initial learning curve, I found it to be an interesting and enjoyable area of work. When it came to the time to apply for jobs, I knew Web Development would be a great career, and looked forward to watching technology emerge.

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How’s life at Drummond Central? In your opinion, what’s the best thing about working there?

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The best thing about working here is the people and the social aspect. The other week, we went to Everyman Cinema for an organised film night. There are regular organised walks in the countryside, and we’re doing various challenges this year - raising money for Sepsis Trust - which leads to shared training journeys. Life is good, the people are always friendly.

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If you were to start your journey into tech again, would you do anything differently?

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I don’t think so. Even though I didn’t pursue a career in Games, it feels good to know what it entails, and that it isn’t a fit for me. If I had gone straight into web development, I would always have uncertainty. Years ago I had an idea to move and work abroad, so that’s an opportunity I could have seized.

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Do you have any goals for the next 5 years? How do you stay motivated to progress within your role?

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I don’t really. I’d like to learn the new tech that appears and stay on top of the game. As long as I’m happy and further forward in life, I’m happy.

I stay motivated by thinking of things I want to do with my life and watching others progress around me.

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Mental health awareness is always something to discuss. Do you have any advice/tips on how developers can stay mentally healthy? 🧠

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I’m a big believer in diet and exercise being fundamental to mental health. We aren’t designed to stay indoors and stare at artificial light.

I also believe phone time should be carefully regulated, as the quick enjoyment of checking social media can make one less inclined to work for things that provide longer-lasting enjoyment.

That, coupled with knowing where you want to be in life, and making choices that take you to where you want to be, is essential.

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