From Student to Software Engineer at SAP: My Journey

Introduction

"Degree unlocked. Mental stability still loading…"

After years of deadlines, caffeine, questionable decisions, and pretending I understood what was happening, I finally made it. In this post, I want to share my journey from being a computer science student to working as a Software Engineer at SAP.

The Beginning: Technical University of Košice

I started my journey at Technical University of Košice in 2021, diving deep into:

C++ and Java fundamentals
Object-oriented programming concepts
Database design and data processing
Algorithm design and optimization

Early Challenges

The transition from theory to practice was rough. I remember spending hours debugging segmentation faults in C++ and wondering if I was cut out for this.

The key lesson? Everyone struggles. The difference is persistence.

Building Practical Skills

While university taught me fundamentals, I knew I needed hands-on experience:

Side Projects

I started building small projects:

A URL shortener (May 2025)
A React Native number guessing game
Various web applications to experiment with new technologies

Each project taught me something new:

Git & GitHub for version control
Modern JavaScript/TypeScript ecosystems
Testing and debugging strategies
User interface design principles

Open Source & Learning

I became obsessed with learning:

Completed 27+ certifications in AI, Machine Learning, TypeScript, and cloud technologies
Contributed to understanding modern development practices
Joined developer communities and learned from others

// From my early projects - simple but it taught me a lot
interface URLMapping {
  shortCode: string;
  originalURL: string;
  createdAt: Date;
  clicks: number;
}

class URLShortener {
  private mappings: Map<string, URLMapping> = new Map();

  shorten(url: string): string {
    const shortCode = this.generateCode();
    this.mappings.set(shortCode, {
      shortCode,
      originalURL: url,
      createdAt: new Date(),
      clicks: 0,
    });
    return shortCode;
  }

  private generateCode(): string {
    // Simple random code generation
    return Math.random().toString(36).substring(2, 8);
  }
}

The S&S Creation Chapter

In May 2024, I co-founded S&S Creation and took on the role of CEO and Software Developer. This was transformative because:

Leadership Experience

Managing a small team taught me:

Project planning and timeline estimation
Stakeholder communication
Resource allocation decisions
Technical debt management

Technical Growth

Building the smart mirror project pushed me to learn:

IoT hardware integration with Raspberry Pi
Real-time data processing with Python
Cloud architecture design
AI/ML integration for wellness insights

Business Acumen

Being CEO meant understanding:

Product-market fit
Customer feedback loops
MVP vs. feature creep
Sustainable development practices

Landing the SAP Role

In August 2025, I joined SAP as a Software Engineer. The interview process taught me a lot:

Technical Interviews

Algorithm & data structures - those university courses paid off!
System design - designing scalable microservices
Coding challenges - TypeScript and problem-solving under pressure
Behavioral questions - STAR method for past experiences

What Helped Me Stand Out

Practical projects - S&S Creation showed I could build real products
Continuous learning - my certifications showed commitment to growth
Technical blog (this one!) - demonstrated communication skills
Open source contributions - showed I could work in teams

Life at SAP

The Technology Stack

Working with:

TypeScript & Node.js for microservices
Cloud infrastructure at scale
Big data processing and analytics
Modern DevOps practices (CI/CD, containerization)

The Team Environment

International collaboration - working across time zones
Code reviews - learning from experienced engineers
Agile methodologies - sprint planning, retrospectives
Mentorship - both receiving and giving guidance

Daily Work

// Example of the kind of code I work with at SAP
interface DataProcessingJob {
  id: string;
  type: 'BATCH' | 'STREAM';
  priority: 'HIGH' | 'MEDIUM' | 'LOW';
  payload: unknown;
}

class JobProcessor {
  async process(job: DataProcessingJob): Promise<void> {
    // Validate and sanitize input
    const validated = await this.validator.validate(job);

    // Process based on type
    if (job.type === 'STREAM') {
      await this.streamProcessor.handle(validated);
    } else {
      await this.batchProcessor.handle(validated);
    }

    // Update metrics
    await this.metrics.recordJobCompletion(job.id);
  }
}

Key Lessons Learned

1. Theory + Practice = Success

University fundamentals are crucial, but practical experience is what gets you hired.

2. Build Things

Your GitHub is your portfolio. Build projects that showcase your skills and solve real problems.

3. Communication Matters

Being able to explain technical concepts clearly is as important as coding skills.

4. Never Stop Learning

The tech industry moves fast. Continuous learning isn't optional - it's required.

5. Networking is Important

Many opportunities come through connections. Engage with the developer community.

6. Imposter Syndrome is Real

Everyone feels it. The key is to keep going despite it.

Skills That Matter Most

Technical Skills

TypeScript/JavaScript - Most web development roles
Python - Data processing, AI/ML, automation
Cloud platforms - AWS, Azure, GCP
Version control - Git is non-negotiable
Testing - Unit, integration, E2E testing

Soft Skills

Problem-solving - Breaking down complex problems
Communication - Explaining technical concepts
Collaboration - Working effectively in teams
Time management - Balancing multiple priorities
Adaptability - Learning new technologies quickly

Advice for Aspiring Developers

For Students

Don't just study for exams - build real projects
Contribute to open source - learn from real codebases
Join coding communities - Discord, Reddit, local meetups
Do internships - practical experience is invaluable
Build a portfolio - showcase your best work

For Career Switchers

Focus on fundamentals - data structures, algorithms, design patterns
Pick one stack - become proficient before branching out
Network actively - attend meetups, conferences, webinars
Create side projects - demonstrate your skills
Be patient - it takes time, but it's worth it

For Everyone

Write about your learnings - start a blog or Twitter
Learn in public - share your journey
Ask for help - the community is supportive
Review others' code - you learn by teaching
Take care of your health - burnout is real

The Road Ahead

My journey is far from over. I'm excited about:

Deepening my expertise in cloud architecture
Exploring AI/ML applications in software engineering
Mentoring junior developers
Contributing to open source more actively
Building products that solve real problems

Emotional Honesty

Was it easy? No. Did I doubt myself? Daily. Was it worth it? Absolutely.

The diploma is real. The sleep schedule is still fictional. The emotional damage? Professionally formatted.

But I'm exactly where I want to be, doing what I love, and that makes all the late nights and caffeine-fueled debugging sessions worth it.

Conclusion

From student at Technical University of Košice to Software Engineer at SAP - it's been a wild ride of learning, building, failing, and growing.

If you're on this journey too, remember: every senior developer was once a confused beginner. Keep learning, keep building, and keep pushing forward.

The tech industry needs diverse perspectives and fresh ideas. Your background, your story, your unique approach - that's what makes you valuable.

Are you on a similar journey? I'd love to hear your story. Connect with me on LinkedIn and let's support each other!