Through our graduate schemes, apprenticeships and work placements, we’re proud to see early-career professionals not only kickstart their journeys but also shape the way we think about technology, collaboration and innovation.

This month, we’re celebrating 12 months with .NET Developer Arjun Krishnan and Web Developer Chaudhary Zaka-Ud-Din, who joined Propel Tech as graduates and have since become vital parts of our development teams.

Curiosity that builds careers

Both Arjun and Chaudhary discovered their love for software early on.

For Arjun, it started with building websites and automation tools as a teenager.

“The process of discovering features and learning how to implement them felt rewarding, it’s what made me want to build software professionally.”

For Chaudhary, it was more of a family affair.

“My dad was a computer science lecturer, so computers were always around. Writing my first lines of Python code in Year 9 was when I realised I wanted to create programs that solve problems.”

That curiosity has evolved into careers defined by creativity, problem-solving and continuous learning.

Adapting from classroom to codebase

The first year in tech often comes with a steep learning curve, something both developers embraced.

“I quickly learned that writing good code isn’t about making it work, it’s about making it clean, readable and maintainable,” says Arjun.
“You have to think not just about solving a problem, but how your code will live and evolve.”

Chaudhary echoes the same sentiment:

“University gives you the theory, but the real world is different. In the workplace, you’re part of a full development and deployment lifecycle - connecting systems, tools and people.”

Both credit their mentors and teammates for supporting them along the way.

“No one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes,” says Chaudhary. “The important thing is learning from them and moving forward.”
“The best advice I’ve had is simple,” adds Arjun. “Keep building. Every line of code teaches you something new.”

A fresh perspective on technology

Growing up surrounded by technology gives today’s developers a unique advantage, one rooted in openness and collaboration.

“I approach technology with a default to open-source,” says Arjun. “It’s about building on community knowledge to deliver scalable, high-quality systems faster.”

Chaudhary adds:

“We’ve seen tech evolve through so many phases. That gives us perspective, we question change rather than accept it blindly, and that helps us build smarter.”

AI: an assistant, not a replacement

AI is transforming the way developers code, learn and innovate. Both Arjun and Chaudhary see it as a powerful but double-edged tool.

“AI is exciting, but it shouldn’t do 100% of the work,” says Chaudhary. “It’s best used as an assistant, not a replacement.”
“It’s improved massively,” adds Arjun, “but if used without understanding, it could impact how junior developers learn or lead to code quality issues.”

Looking ahead: building for the future

Both developers are now turning their attention to the cloud. Arjun is preparing for AWS certification, while Chaudhary is exploring how cloud infrastructure and third-party integrations power modern applications.

Their mindset reflects a broader truth at Propel Tech, that learning never stops.

Sharing knowledge, shaping the future

At Propel Tech, we believe knowledge-sharing is at the heart of sustainable software development. It’s not just about passing on experience - it’s about learning together across generations.

Our developers, whether just starting out or years into their careers, all contribute to a shared culture of growth, curiosity and innovation.

You can read more about our approach to mentoring and knowledge-sharing here: Passing on Knowledge to the Next Generation of IT Talent

“At Propel Tech, we’re helping the next generation of developers grow - and they’re helping us grow too.”