Last month, Matrix Internet published the first part of our interview with web developer Iñaki Castellet, where he shared how he got into web development. In this second instalment, we dive into Iñaki’s first days at Matrix and explore how he adapted to both a new workplace and a new country. It’s been over two and a half years since Iñaki moved to Ireland from his hometown just outside of Bilbao, in the Basque Country.
Now well-accustomed to Irish life—as the accompanying photo demonstrates—he’s become something of a regular in Dublin’s pubs (just ask the local barmen). But back when he first started at Matrix, things weren’t so smooth, as he discovered on his first St. Patrick’s Day…
Your first day at Matrix Internet—what was it like as an intern?
My first day was unforgettable—but not for the reasons you might think! I thought I was supposed to start the week after St. Patrick’s Day, so I came to Dublin on March 7th, 2013, for a one-week English course. What I didn’t realize was that Monday was a public holiday because St. Patrick’s Day had fallen on a Sunday that year.
I had already visited the office complex the previous Friday just to get a feel for the place. I entered through the car gate and took a look around. But when I went to leave, I found both the car gate and the pedestrian gate closed. I couldn’t figure out how to open either of them, so I ended up climbing over the fence to get out! As you can imagine, things didn’t get much easier on my actual first day.
When I finally showed up for work, the office was divided into two sections. I was following Jeff, our Managing Director, up the stairs, and I could tell by his look that he was wondering, “Who’s this guy?” Suddenly, he remembered I was starting that day. Unfortunately, there were no free computers, so the start was far from ideal.
For my first month, I had to work on a tiny notebook with a 10-inch screen. Trying to develop websites on that thing was terrifying—like building a website on a tablet! Thankfully, those days are long behind me, and now I work with three screens.
How much did you know about web development at that point?
Not much, to be honest. One of the first things Jeff asked me was, “Do you know how to use WordPress?” When I told him I hadn’t a clue, he just said, “Well, you’re going to need to learn!” So I spent the entire day reading WordPress documentation.
At the end of that day, my colleague Manuel came over and asked if I could help him with something. I managed to complete the task in five minutes, and after that, people started sending me all the tasks they didn’t want to do themselves. As I took on more responsibilities, I learned a lot and quickly moved on to more challenging tasks.
Soon after, I started working on things I’d never dealt with before—like control panels, hosting, and other technical stuff. Jeff told me I needed to understand everything, including emails, domain names, and so on.
[Pauses] I enjoy reflecting on this. It’s easy for me because I have a good memory. If you were to ask Tomas, though, he probably wouldn’t remember a thing!
Considering your learning process, what should young developers know when entering the industry?
Honestly, I don’t think they need to know a lot going in—I certainly didn’t! The two things I expect from someone starting here are the ability to solve their own problems and a willingness to learn. If you’re curious and eager to improve, you’ll do fine. Just don’t ask the same question twice!
One thing I always tell people is, “Use Google!” Most questions have already been asked and answered by others, so chances are, the solution is out there if you look.
When I first started, I tried asking my colleague Tomas for help, but he didn’t like answering questions—still doesn’t, actually! I ended up avoiding him for almost three months out of fear. Looking back, those were probably the best three months of my life! Laughs Now we talk all the time, and everything’s gone downhill since!
Did avoiding questions help you become more self-sufficient?
Definitely. Once you start relying on others for answers, you’ll never stop. Learning to solve my own problems taught me independence and accountability.
What blogs or industry sites do you like to follow?
Aside from the Matrix blog? Laughs I usually read Spanish blogs, but I also check Joe.ie every day.
For work, I keep up with the content on GenbetaDev. Since things like web development and SEO change rapidly, it’s essential to stay updated. I also regularly visit hipertextual.com and microsiervos.com for interesting articles on tech and world events.
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By Matrix Internet
By Jeff Sheridan
By Iñaki Castellet Hernández