Despite having no previous technical experience or qualifications, she spent time after school learning on Code Academy and competing in cyber competitions, which ignited an interest in tech.
During Sixth Form there was a lot of emphasis on going to University and Humairaa knew early on that it wasn’t something she wanted to do, preferring instead to learn on the job and get hands on experience where she could apply what she’d learned.
When I first considered doing an apprenticeship, I was worried about what support there would be, but my team and career manager have been really supportive throughout the scheme and provided lots of encouragement. Everyone is always willing to help.Humairaa Saleh
Humairaa had actually originally wanted to go into cyber security and hadn’t considered software engineering until she saw an advert for BAE Systems, which was near to home.
I was attracted to the scheme by the work the business does in national security which helps to make the UK safer and more prosperous. I ended up falling in love with software engineering and knew quite quickly it was the place for me. One of the highlights since joining the business has been getting the chance to give back to my local community and get involved in volunteering through outreach projects. I’ve had the opportunity to visit the schools I once attended and talk to students about STEM careers, alternative routes into tech, share insights into my journey and how great apprenticeships are to dispel any myths.Humairaa Saleh
Humairaa has had the chance to take on more responsibilities to lead teams since starting and has enjoyed some of the more unexpected opportunities that have arisen. She is now keen to progress her development as a software engineer and gain experience with different projects, languages and eventually move into a senior engineer role. She hopes in the future she can lead a team while still being hands on when it comes to software development as she loves the problem solving aspect of the role!
For others in a similar situation she recommends spending some of your free time doing things in your free time that relate to your aspirations.
I spent some of my free time learning with Immersive Labs, code academy and I competed in cyber competitions at school, which gave me the first-hand experience that inspired me to pursue a career in technology which was well received in interviews. Lastly, never stop networking and building your connections, meet as many people as you can. Not only to make friends, but to give you exposure to the wider business.Humairaa Saleh
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