Keith - 2007/2008 GIFT Associate

I found the training program here excellent. We basically started from the beginning with a Java refresher course before moving into intermediate and advanced JEE web application technologies. This module was followed by numerous other courses such as XML, SQL/PL-SQL, UML, JUNIT and many of the common development frameworks. For all the courses, the instructor started from the very beginning and worked through to the more advanced features.

After the training I started into the ten week group project. We worked on modifying RssOwl to allow it to securely retrieve Account and Alert information. I really enjoyed working as part of a team and really learned a lot during this time. Moving on from this we started into a much more significent five month business project. Our group worked on redesigning and improving a key Fidelity system responsible for storing and distributing all Fidelity people information. It was really good to be working on such an important system so early after training and I found that I was constantly learning from both other team members and from working with the Customer.

Course material aside the working environment here is fantastic. Everyone is always nervous about starting a new job but it was nothing like I expected. The first couple of days were all about getting to know everyone. Galway is a great city to go out in, the group is very close and we go out all the time.