Getting Started in Software Development

Josh Cheng lived at St Catherine’s from 2019 to 2021 and studied a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Mathematics and Statistics and Computer Science. He recently joined Rio Tinto as part of their graduate program.

What is your current role at Rio Tinto?

I am a Junior Software Developer and currently learning to create applications and the software development process. In addition, I get to work on pieces of software that they currently use on-site, which is such an amazing experience. Getting the opportunity to make a difference to production software and improving the quality of life of people on site is so valuable.

What has your experience been like so far?

I’m three weeks into the program at the moment. I’ve really enjoyed the culture of the company and how friendly everyone is since starting in early March. I’m most excited to move to Brisbane to commence working with my team there. Being so supported in the relocation process has been amazing, and I’m stoked to see what Brisbane has to offer.

What advice do you have for anyone pursuing a graduate position?

My advice would be to create a cover letter and do your research! There’s nothing worse than getting a question in an interview about the company values and not knowing what they are. In addition, UWA has a tool called BigInterview, which is amazing for interview training and helping people get more confident, which I would highly recommend. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get an interview, or ultimately don’t get the position, just keep producing quality applications, and you’ll get in eventually!