I remember the first time I visited the Wizeline office in Guadalajara. It was the summer of 2018, and I was attending a meetup about front-end development. Even though I didn’t know much about it, I decided to come after I was invited by a friend. I quickly fell in love with the place and the people there. Everyone was so kind and welcoming, which made me feel at home and made me want to work at Wizeline, even though I didn’t know much about their work or their business model yet.

Years later, during the pandemic, I managed to finally make it in. I was so happy and excited about beginning my new professional journey here, but I still did not fully grasp how things worked. After a month-long internal bootcamp, I was moved to “the beach” (or at least that’s what they called it then). 

The beach, or “the bench” as it is called now, is the place where you go when you are not assigned to a project yet. The problem was that I had never before been in a place like that. I was used to working on 2-3 projects at the same time, so imagine how shocking it was when I found myself with “nothing to do” (or so I thought at the beginning).

If you, like me, find yourself in this situation, or you don’t know what to expect after saying “yes” to a new job opportunity, please let me share with you some tips that I wish I had known from the beginning that would have made this professional transition easier for me.

Before diving deeper, I have to say that in my personal experience at Wizeline, I’ve had a lot of luck in the form of great support from my teammates and leaders, who’ve advised me to follow these simple but life-saving practices. 

But it’s not just luck – Wizeline especially is a company that is committed to its people development and invests in having top performers. They provide newcomers with different opportunities and tools to work on while waiting for their first project assignment, and it’s up to them to make the most of these.

Without further ado, let’s get started.

Prepare Yourself for Imminent Client Interviews

Okay, so you’ve made it to your dream job at a service-focused firm. Now what? Unless you were hired for a specific project or client, chances are you will go directly to “the bench.” But worry not, because surely you will get client interview requests ASAP. 

I know what you may be thinking: “Another interview? I just completed 2-3 different challenges to get here!” But the fact that you have the skills to work for a company like Wizeline doesn’t mean you will be a fit for every single client or project’s needs. In this case, my recommendation is to keep studying as if you were still looking for a job, because in some ways you are. 

Seek out groups that can help you prepare for a client interview and provide you with tools to help seal the deal. Commonly, we have the skills and abilities to work on a specific project, but we get nervous during the interrogation. These types of groups give us tips and tricks to nail the interview, and they can also provide valuable feedback on ways to keep improving. This way, when the time comes, you’ll be more than ready to make a good impression with the client.  

While you’re at it, take advantage of the foreign language lessons some places offer, even if it’s just to strengthen your knowledge. Remember that you will likely work with multidisciplinary and multicultural groups in many scenarios.

Make the Most of Your Time 

Whatever your role is (software engineer, QA, PM, UX/UI designer, or something else), surely there is a certification out there that will help you boost your career. If it’s a free certification, all you need to do is prepare and apply. But if it’s not free to everyone, don’t worry – almost certainly there is a way that the company sponsors it, or at least part of it, so long as it’s related to your current role and it will enhance your abilities.

In my case, for example, I had been pursuing an ISTQB certification for a while, but between my job and other parts of life, I hadn’t made the time to prepare myself to take it. So, when someone posted asking if anyone was interested in taking the preparation course for free, I immediately enrolled in it. 

You don’t have to wait for someone to offer it to you, though – be proactive! Reach out to your discipline’s community and ask for current internal and external resources available to workers. If there is still nothing available, don’t be shy and invite other people to be part of the study group – chances are, there will be other people interested.

Enroll Yourself in Internal Company Projects

Whether it’s something directly related to your current role or it pertains to another opportunity you wish to explore, internal projects will surely benefit from your help. Sometimes these projects are ideas that came to life because someone had a lot of time (like people who are on the bench), but as people are assigned to their billable projects, spots become available. Don’t be afraid to ask if you can get on board to help sharpen your skills. If you want to try something new, these types of projects are also ideal – and extra hands are almost always welcome!

By working on internal projects, you’ll also get to know people from other disciplines, and you know what that means… networking! You could even be working with your future teammate. So, you’ll get a chance to learn, collaborate, and make professional connections while making good use of your time. What more could you want to accelerate your professional development?

Stick with It

Last but not least, be patient with yourself. It is very common not to be a perfect match on your first client interview. It may just be the case that your specific skills are not what the client is looking for. But don’t be discouraged if this happens; instead, try to do some research about what is most in demand in the industry (specifically among Wizeline clients) and use that information to your advantage. In case you ever feel alone or lost, reach out to your discipline teammates and/or your leads. Remember that nobody is an island – we are here for you! 

Speaking of reaching out to other people, don’t forget that at Wizeline, we have a lot of internal (not always related to work) communities, and we always love to welcome new members! We have a community for almost everything, but in case you don’t find the specific group you are looking for, don’t be shy – start it yourself! You will be surprised by how many people are fond of that activity you are interested in.

Become Part of Our Talented Team

If you are looking for an incredible opportunity and a great company, Wizeline may be the perfect place for you. I invite you to follow us on LinkedIn Wizeline and WizelineAcademy to find information about upcoming bootcamps for IT professionals who want to keep expanding their skills. Also, why not allow yourself to become a Wizeliner? We have open roles for engineers in Colombia, Mexico, Vietnam, and Spain. Apply here today if you’re interested in joining our global team.