Between Algorithms and Innovation: Everyday Work in Cluj
Claudiu shares exciting insights
Claudiu has been working as a leading frontend specialist in the development of complex websites at the Romanian location in Cluj since 2018 . With his 13 years of expertise in web development and his passion for technology, he is significantly involved in the design and implementation of user interfaces in many web projects. His focus is on the TYPO3 CMS, Pimcore and various JavaScript frameworks.
His degree in Business Administration and Management from Babes-Boylai University and his previous management experience predestined him recently also for the role of General Manager for the Cluj branch.
We spoke to Claudiu about how he prioritizes his day-to-day developer life, what his professional passions are and how he masters the great team spirit in times of changing situations in the home office and in the office.
(1) How does a typical working day start for you?
A regular day for me always starts with a good coffee and then, while enjoying the coffee, I check my emails and notifications, this helps me stay informed and at the same time find out if there are any changes or new information that I need to be aware of.
How does a typical working day start for you?
A normal day for me always starts with a good coffee. While I'm enjoying my coffee, I check my emails and notifications - it helps me to stay up to date and find out if there are any changes or new information that I need to be aware of.
(2) How do you structure your working day?
The calendar is one of my top five most frequently used production tools, as I rely on it heavily to keep track of my appointments and calls for the day.
By reviewing my schedule in the morning, I can check how busy the day will be and prioritize accordingly. On busier days, I remain focused on following my agenda and fulfilling my scheduled appointments. On slower days, I start by checking emails, attending meetings, and planning my work. Overall, my workday is a mix of development, collaboration, and problem-solving, though the order of my tasks varies depending on my schedule.
(3) Are there tasks that you particularly like or dislike? What do you typically tackle first?
I enjoy most of the tasks I am assigned, but I have a particular passion for developing new features and designing user interfaces. These tasks allow me to be creative and apply my problem-solving skills to provide users with a seamless experience. On the other hand, I find bug fixing to be challenging, but I also appreciate the opportunity to learn and grow through this process.
In terms of what I tackle first, I usually prioritize the most urgent and critical tasks that need to be completed in a timely manner. Once those are taken care of, I move on to the tasks that require more time or are less pressing. I find this approach helps me manage my workload effectively and ensures that I can deliver high-quality work within the given timelines.
(4) How are the teams structured? Who works in the teams?
This depends on the project, but usually when we are working on Sprints, most of the time we are two frontend developers, two backend developers and the design team. The team has also a consultant, one scrum master and PO.
(5) How does communication take place in the team in view of home office and cooperation across national borders?
In today's increasingly digital workplace, effective communication is critical to ensure seamless collaboration among team members who work from home or across different cities or even countries. Virtual meetings and with the help of project management tools, we’re having an open and constant communication, daily meetings provide an opportunity for team members to discuss ongoing projects tasks, share updates, and collaborate on solutions.
The collaboration among team members from different countries is crucial, and we have learned to prioritize clear communication, avoiding idioms or slang that may not be familiar to all team members, and respecting diverse cultural norms and practices. Our commitment to clear communication and multi cultural respect has resulted in a welcoming and inclusive environment that we are proud to be a part of.
In summary, effective communication in a team can take many forms and requires a combination of tools and strategies. Clear communication, regular updates, and respect for language and cultural differences are key to ensuring effective collaboration in our remote and cross-cultural team environment.
How are the teams structured? Who works in the teams?
It depends on the project, but usually when we work on sprints, most of the time we are two frontend developers, two backend developers and the design team. The team also has a consultant, a scrum master and PO.
How does communication take place within the team, given that you work from home and collaborate across national borders?
In today's increasingly digital world of work, effective communication is crucial to ensure seamless collaboration between team members working from home or across different cities or even countries. Virtual meetings and with the help of project management tools, we have open and constant communication. Daily meetings give team members the opportunity to discuss ongoing project tasks, share updates and work together on solutions.
Collaboration between team members from different countries is crucial and we have learnt to prioritise clear communication, avoid idioms or slang that may not be familiar to all team members and respect different cultural norms and practices. Our commitment to clear communication and multicultural respect has resulted in an open and inclusive environment that we are proud of.
What do you appreciate most about your team?
While I appreciate many things about my team, what I value the most is mutual support and their collaborative spirit. It really feels like we are working together for the same goals. Regardless of the challenges we face, every team member is always willing to assist another, share expertise, and collaborate towards our common objectives. This team ethos fosters a positive and nurturing work environment, which enables everyone to excel and grow professionally. I find it truly inspiring and gratifying to work alongside such a dedicated team.
(7) Your favorite project in 3 words?
Collaborative, Innovative and Impactful.
(8) What was the biggest challenge?
One of the biggest challenges I faced was balancing the need for creativity and innovation with practical considerations like performance, accessibility, and usability. It required a lot of collaboration with designers, developers, and stakeholders to find the right balance and ensure that we delivered a high-quality product. This required a lot of adaptability and flexibility to adjust my work accordingly and ensure that it aligned with the overall goals of the project.
(9) What was the most fun?
One of the most fun projects I worked on was building a responsive web application from scratch using Pimcore as CMS and VueJs for frontend framework. It was challenging but also rewarding to see the end result come together and work seamlessly on different devices.
Your favourite project in 3 words?
Collaborative, innovative and effective.
What was the biggest challenge?
One of the biggest challenges for me was balancing the need for creativity and innovation with practical considerations such as performance, accessibility and usability. We needed to liaise closely with designers, developers and stakeholders to find the right balance and ensure we delivered a high quality product. I had to bring a high degree of flexibility to adapt my work accordingly to the overall goals of the project.
What was the most fun?
One of the most fun projects I've worked on was building a responsive web application using Pimcore as the CMS and VueJs for the front-end framework. It was challenging, but also rewarding to see how the end result came together and worked seamlessly on different devices.
(10) How do you feel about your professional development?
„A company where you can grow.“
„We are always up to date with the latest trends.“
(11) How do you meet your colleagues outside of work?
We often organize team building activities and social events such as lunches and dinners. It's a great way to get to know each other better and build stronger relationships. We’re also having a yearly hiking team building event as well as an annual highlight where the whole team from Cluj and Munich comes together for a few days. I consider these experiences can help build trust and foster a sense of camaraderie among colleagues and improve collaboration and communication back in the office.
What do you do to meet up as a team outside of work?
We often organise team-building activities and joint events, such as lunches and dinners. It's a great way to get to know each other better and build stronger relationships. We also organise an annual hiking event as well as a multi-day annual highlight where the whole team from Cluj and Munich get together. I think these experiences can help build trust, foster a sense of camaraderie among colleagues and improve collaboration and communication in the office.