Self-Taught Software Engineer: How I work at Lexis Nexis

Curious about what it's like to be a woman working in tech for a global provider of legal and regulatory intelligence that's all about making a positive impact on society? Well, buckle up because we've got the inside scoop from the one and only Maria-Teodora, Software Engineer at Lexis Nexis. From falling head-over-heels for coding to kicking imposter syndrome to the curb to Lexis Nexis tech stack, we've got all the details below.

How I stumbled upon my passion for tech...

Since high school, I’ve always really enjoyed Computer Science. I loved playing about with C# and getting to grips with algorithms. However, even though it felt like I was solving puzzles all day long, I wasn't sure if I wanted to pursue it as a career, so I ventured into chemical engineering.

After a break and a few random jobs, I found myself constantly searching for programming information online. Eventually, I realised that programming was my true calling and I put together a portfolio with my projects and some online certifications. A web development company took a chance on me as an Apprentice Developer, and I soaked up so much knowledge.

Then, the pandemic hit. But that didn't stop my journey.  A former colleague let me know that Lexis Nexis was interviewing and I decided to give it a go. I've been here for over a year now and couldn't be happier. Moral of the story: always follow your passions!

Levelling up my coding skills and beating imposter syndrome: the self-taught way

Imposter syndrome is a tough nut to crack. But guess what? Tackling it head-on is the way to go.

As a self-taught developer, it's not always easy to feel like you belong. When I first started here I felt imposter syndrome, despite nailing the interview. Luckily, my colleagues are super supportive and reaffirmed my work and skills, so I no longer feel this way. Plus, I’ve been exposed to a lot of progression opportunities that prove it's all about skills, not stereotypes.

How we wow our customers and the tech we use to do it

Lexus Plus is more than just an online platform, it's a legal and tax document wonderland. Our expert team is here to give customers the lowdown on how to use our features to create their own legal documents. We've got a Table of Contents which helps navigate through our massive database, and our comparison tool is like no other. You can even compare legal documents from 50 years ago to see if they're still relevant today.

How do we do this? Well, we use a mix of .NET (C#), TypeScript, MySQL, and Kubernetes. I’ve learned a lot working here, there’s always an opportunity to keep learning.

Why Lexis Nexis's supportive work environment is so special

Lexis Nexis is all about giving us the freedom to work in a way that suits us best. On average most teams try to meet once a week, and we're always planning social events to keep the good times rolling. Plus, our Agile methodology is on point - no matter what level you're at, you're guaranteed to work on challenging projects that make you feel valued and appreciated.

How Lexis Nexis empowers women in tech and my top 2 tips to accelerate your own progress!

I've had my fair share of non-tech jobs where I felt like a square peg in a round hole. But now, I'm part of a company that actually cares about inclusion - cue the mentoring program! RELX (LexisNexis' mother company) is hooking us up with mentors and mentees, and I can't wait to meet mine soon. So, my advice to all my tech women out there is this: don't let anyone tell you what you're worth. We belong in this industry just as much as anyone else. Don't let your self-doubt hold you back from crushing that interview, and always keep an open mind while speaking up for what you believe in.

Interested in joining the team?

If you’d like to join the team Lexis Nexis, then create a profile on the hackajob platform, where they’re currently hiring for a variety of roles or log in to your profile here. You can also keep updated with Lexis Nexis on LinkedIn and Lexis Nexis Jobs.

Like what you've read or want more like this? Let us know! Email us here or DM us: Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook, we'd love to hear from you.

And that's it!

If you’d like to join the team Lexis Nexis, then create a profile on the hackajob platform, where they’re currently hiring for a variety of roles or log in to your profile here. You can also keep updated with Version 1 on LinkedIn and Lexis Nexis Jobs.

Like what you've read or want more like this? Let us know! Email us here or DM us: Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook, we'd love to hear from you.