Welcome to our new series, A Day in the Life!
We couldn't think of a better way to kick things off than by featuring our Senior Developer, Alex Taylor. Alex joined Storm six months ago and works entirely remotely. In this feature, we delve into his thoughts on the advantages and challenges of being a remote developer.
Alex is a valuable member of the Storm team, and we’re proud to have him with us.
Do you have a specific morning routine that helps you get into the work mindset?
Typically, I’ll be woken up by my alarm around 7am (if my dog Trifle doesn’t get to me first...), and we’ll go out for a dog walk which helps wake me up and get me feeling ready for the day, before throwing some breakfast together.
How do you start your day as a remote senior developer? And what time do you start?
Once I’m set up and logged in by 8am, I’ll typically catch up on any unread Skype messages to ensure I stay in the loop, followed by opening up the Jira board for the project I’m currently working on to remind myself where I’m currently at and create a rough ‘plan of action’ for the day.
What does your typical workday look like? How do you structure your time? Do you have daily meetings, any personal breaks?
The structure of my workday depends on the current progress of the game I’m working on – If the game is still in its early stages, alongside doing the early stages of setting up the code base, there will be a fair amount of planning for what parts I should prioritise in development. Towards the end of a game project, I’ll generally be focused on working through QA tickets and getting the game as shiny and sleek as possible. Daily standup meetings keep the development team in tune with each other, and allow us to voice any queries or concerns that could be blocking progress.
What tools and technologies do you rely on to stay productive and connected with your team?
We typically stay in touch through Skype throughout the day, with meetings held through Teams, and occasional communication with external parties through Slack.
How do you maintain effective communication with your team members while working from home?
The communication tools we use mean that we can stay in touch effectively and efficiently from afar. If we have a question that needs answering we can throw a quick message on Skype, or if we need to go over something more in depth, we can arrange a Teams call and share our screen if needs be.
What are some of the challenges you face as a remote senior developer, and how do you overcome them?
To me, the main drawback to working from home is missing out on the social interactions of the office – There are often funny discussions and debates going on that I only see snippets of on Skype! Another challenge is keeping distractions to a minimum – Working in an office presents a lot of its own distractions, but few compare to when my dog finds one of her squeakier toys...
How do you manage to maintain a healthy work-life balance while working from home, especially in a senior role?
Getting the work/life balance right when working from home took me a while to figure out, but a key rule that has helped me is: When it’s almost the end of the day, set myself a small achievable goal within whatever I’m working on, and wrap things up once it’s done. Otherwise I can end up getting carried away wanting to finish ‘just one more thing’ and eating into my home time.
What does your home office or work environment look like? Do you have any tips for setting up a productive workspace?
When I first started working from home, I was in a small, cluttered room and didn’t give any thought towards ergonomics or posture, which didn’t do my neck or back any good...
Getting a chair with good back support, a laptop riser that keeps my hands and head in a comfortable position, and keeping my workspace as clear as I can has made a big difference in how comfortable and enjoyable working from home can be.
How do you wrap up your workday? Do you have any rituals that help you transition from work mode to personal time?
Wrapping up my workday involves checking Skype to make sure there aren’t any outstanding messages I hadn’t gotten round to replying to, as well as checking my project’s Jira board to have a rough idea of what to work on the next work day.
Once I’ve wrapped up and logged off, I like to take my dog for a walk to get out of the house and start my evening with a clear head, followed by catching up on any TV shows I’ve been watching, or starting to make dinner if I’m getting too peckish...
What’s your favourite part of being a senior developer at Storm Games, and how does the remote aspect contribute to your job satisfaction?
Being a part of Storm Games is great in many ways, but my favourite part is that I’m trusted to get on with creating quality games without unnecessary micro-management and meetings, and that everyone’s opinion is considered regarding how our games should look and run. Working remotely is also great as it removes commuting time, which isn’t a benefit to myself nor the company, from my day, improving my work-life balance.
What advice would you give to developers aspiring to work remotely or advance to a senior role in a remote setting?
Working remotely gives you a lot of autonomy, but it’s important to still try and keep contact with your coworkers and join in with discussions as much as you can, as you’re as valued as member of the team as those who go to the office. It’s nice to not feel too distant!
Do you think you’ve got what it takes to join Storm Games?
We are always on the look out for enthusiastic, hard-working and friendly employees to join our ever-growing team! Whether you are a games developer, engineer, artist, reach out.
Email over your CV to jobs@stormgt.co.uk, we look forward to hearing from you.
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