My knowledge of multiple computer languages
proved very useful in 1999, when I secured a contract with a
Toronto-based company. From 1999-2001, I was contracted as a
software developer for Carlson Online, a private financial advising
company. I designed and maintained custom back-end applications to
process financial data without interfering with the firm’s customer
interface. I worked with PERL and C computer languages, as well as a
MySQL database to create customized solutions based on clients’
needs. I was also responsible for Unix administration on multiple
servers to maintain system uptime and
availability.
This project was especially challenging because it involved working
with financial data
feeds from outside sources that seemed to be in a constant state of
change. The system also had to run with minimal disruption and
maximum accuracy.
My knowledge of perl and C programming was very useful for this
project.
The owner of the company changed professions in 2001 and the company
was closed, however, this first real test of my programming skills
in a professional environment taught me a lot about problem-solving,
working as part of a team and about the fact that programming
involves constant learning.