Serafima Madan

Serafima graduated in economics from the Orel State University in Russia and built a steady career as an HR director for a chain of medical clinics. However, she always realised that neither economics nor HR were her ultimate dream.

“Five years ago, I decided to make a career switch from HR to web development,” Serafima says. “I’d always been in interested in apps and new technologies and can’t imagine a day without them. Plus I’d been working closely together with the medical company’s IT department, which sparked my fascination even more. I felt it would be really interesting to be part of such a team!”

First programming steps

“I took my first programming steps through self-study. In the same period, I decided to move to the Netherlands, as the standard of living and the political situation in Russia were deteriorating rapidly. I wanted a better life and a new future for myself.”

Hundreds of hours of coding

“That decision meant I had to start from zero, which was daunting but exciting at the same time. After several self-study programming courses and hundreds of hours of coding, I started working as a freelancer and volunteer for a few Dutch NGOs, mainly in website administration and support.”

Setting sights higher

“In 2020, I got the chance to participate in the HackYourFuture (HYF) programme. This was the opportunity for me to set my sights even higher. All the self-learning and work experience had given me some skills and knowledge. HYF allowed me to bring it all together and improve technical and soft skills much more. The programme wasn’t only focused on the tech side, but also on topics like teamwork, the scrum/agile methodologies, how to find and apply for jobs… The 8-month training programme gave me more confidence and enabled me to secure this traineeship at ING.”

Proud of our achievements

“Working as a trainee at ING gives me the chance to develop and grow as a developer. I learn something every day from my team members, and I think it’s fair to say they learn from me as well. I am quite a strong communicator and don’t simply accept ideas and solutions without question. That critical thinking is appreciated by the team. I am proud of what we achieve together, especially when I see the results of our efforts: products that help to make the users’ work easier.”

“Whatever the future may hold, this experience at ING has enriched my life and my career, and has once again confirmed that I made the right choices. I really am in a good place, happy as a developer and looking forward to the future with lots of confidence.”