Fast Enterprises: Software Engineer position
In the spring of 2008, while seeking potential summer internships using the Center for Career Opportunities’ search engine, I stumbled upon Fast Enterprises. The company was founded in 1997 “with a vision to introduce packaged software to the integrated tax processing market.” FAST, as the company is often referred to as, is considered to be a premier provider of software and consulting services to governmental tax and revenue agencies across the United States and Canada. According to the website, FAST employs more than 275 professionals and is continually growing.
In my search for potential employment, I have very few criteria that must be met in order to pursue the position. Atop this list is geographical location and for that reason, Fast Enterprises immediately caught my attention. FAST is headquartered in Greenwood Village, CO, which is only a few miles outside of Denver. It has always been my preference to live in Colorado, preferably in or close to Denver which is precisely where FAST operates out of. Furthermore, whereas many individuals are concerned with starting salary, included benefits, or the possibility for advancement, I differ; primarily because these attributes are inherently appealing in any web development position. Aside from geographical region, the only other criterion of mine that must be met is job title, here that being web developer. This is only necessary as the title represents a specific occupation with specific requirements, which voids the question of what exactly I will be expected to do and know.
The position I will be applying for at Fast Enterprises is for a Software Engineer specializing in client-specific and core application development. I’ve spent nearly 3 years studying and working with computer and information technology and have come to realize that it is my desire to become a web developer, more specifically, coding in C# .NET. I presently exceed the minimum requirements for this position, excluding the demand for a bachelor’s degree, and will have more than sufficient on-the-job experience come graduation. I’ve elected to pursue this particular opening as it aligns flawlessly with my skills, experience, and interests. For example, this job demands prior exposure to database administration, general application and web development, the Microsoft .NET languages and frameworks, various web standards and the assortment of technologies that we learn while at Purdue and proceed to apply in real-world situations.
Although I fulfill the aforementioned requirements, I know this does not suggest I am thoroughly qualified for the position. After reviewing the job duties outlined on Fast Enterprises’ website, I anticipate that I will encounter some obstacles in the event that I am accepted onto the team. For instance, one of the duties involves communicating and collaborating with internal and external product architects, clients and various specialists to analyze and optimize system and business requirements, as well as development and performance reporting and collecting end-user feedback. These tasks may prove challenging, at least at first, as I’ve not gathered that level of experience in the enterprise environment. These represent a small portion of the expectations for a new hire, the rest of which I foresee posing no difficulty, including design, documentation, analysis, debugging, testing, and implementation.
I believe I would excel in this position and, if given the opportunity, would prove to be an asset to Fast Enterprises. Furthermore, I feel both parties involved have something gain. Regarding FAST, that would include the knowledge and experience I bring to the table that will increase efficiency and collaboration as well as improving overall product quality and performance. And regarding myself, I will not only gain the experience of working in a premier enterprise technology firm but will expand on the skills and abilities I currently possess. Overall, I am confident that the Software Engineer position within Fast Enterprises will prove to be both a challenging and enjoyable career opportunity.
Instructor Feedback
This a very well done analysis. In particular, I appreciate how you have already begun making the case for yourself by anticipating their expectations. For instance, when you write
I think highlighting related experiences might be a way of addressing these. Identify other times when you have collaborated (even if not in this particular context). In addition, the examples you offer here give you a solid menu of content to select from as you write your job application letter. Picking concrete examples that demonstrate all three of the things you wish to highlight is your next step. In particular, you will want to avoid simply saying your qualified. Meeting all of the requirements means they will consider you - not hire you. You need to highlight what makes you a better bet than everyone else who meets the requirements.
In the letter you will want to develop this with more specific details about a particular instance. For instance, describe a complicated class project where you employed some of these skills or technologies. And pick an example that fits the most with what they require/expect.