At Vinted, our mobile engineers are developing an app used by millions of people across 20+ countries. Whether it’s enabling seamless second-hand shopping or creating intuitive tools to manage listings and deliveries, mobile is at the heart of how members experience Vinted.So what’s it like to work behind the screen of one of Europe’s most-loved apps? To find out, we sat down with two of our mobile engineering leaders: Sam Vesali, iOS Staff Engineer, and Andrius Semionovas, Android Staff Engineer. They shared what makes our mobile domain special, how our teams work, and what it takes to thrive in this environment.<h3>What’s Special About Mobile at Vinted?</h3>Mobile is not a separate lane—it’s a central one. Our mobile engineers are not just implementers. They’re co-creators, collaborating closely with Product Managers, Designers, QAs, and Backend Engineers to build features that solve real-world problems for our members. &nbsp;

Mobile teams contribute to all areas of Vinted’s business, from member experience to logistics. That means working at scale, building for multiple markets and millions of users, and constantly evolving our architecture to stay ahead.We also maintain open communication across platforms. Android and iOS engineers regularly align to ensure feature parity and consistency, while still keeping pace with platform-specific innovations.<h3>Our Tech Stack &amp; How We Work</h3>We maintain a strong engineering culture that focuses on scalable architecture, modular codebases, and cross-platform consistency. Here's how we break it down:

<figure class="table" style="height:100%;width:100%;"><table class="ck-table-resized" style="border-collapse:collapse;" border="1"><colgroup><col style="width:10.46%;"><col style="width:42.1%;"><col style="width:47.44%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="padding:8px;text-align:left;vertical-align:top;">&nbsp;</th><th style="padding:8px;text-align:left;vertical-align:top;">iOS</th><th style="padding:8px;text-align:left;vertical-align:top;">Android</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#EDF9F9;padding:8px;vertical-align:top;">Language &nbsp;.&nbsp;</td><td style="background-color:#EDF9F9;padding:8px;vertical-align:top;">Swift</td><td style="background-color:#EDF9F9;padding:8px;vertical-align:top;">Kotlin (fully migrated since 2018)</td></tr><tr><td style="padding:8px;vertical-align:top;">Architecture &nbsp;.&nbsp;</td><td style="padding:8px;vertical-align:top;">Modular Clean Swift, contract / implementation layering</td><td style="padding:8px;vertical-align:top;">MVVM, modular pluggable system</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color:#EDF9F9;padding:8px;vertical-align:top;">Tools</td><td style="background-color:#EDF9F9;padding:8px;vertical-align:top;">Tuist, Fastlane, GitHub Actions, Firebase Crashlytics</td><td style="background-color:#EDF9F9;padding:8px;vertical-align:top;">Gradle, Jenkins, OpenAPI for shared contracts, Jetpack Compose</td></tr><tr><td style="padding:8px;vertical-align:top;">Testing</td><td style="padding:8px;vertical-align:top;">Unit tests, snapshot, and integration tests</td><td style="padding:8px;vertical-align:top;">Unit tests, integration tests, static analysis, A/B testing</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

These tools and frameworks are just part of the story. Working at Vinted means solving technical challenges at scale—from modularising our architecture while avoiding tight coupling, to gradually adopting modern technologies like SwiftUI and Jetpack Compose. Across both platforms, engineers focus on secure, scalable, and privacy-first solutions that support independent team workflows and meet evolving business needs.<h3>Cross-Platform Collaboration</h3>Consistency matters, especially when millions rely on us daily. Our iOS and Android teams coordinate closely through shared specs, regular syncs, and aligned release strategies. From shared backend APIs to unified feature flags, both platforms deliver updates in tandem, ensuring every member has the same great experience, no matter their device.

<h3>Day-to-Day in Mobile Engineering</h3>A typical day includes stand-ups, cross-team planning sessions, deep focus time for development, and collaborative reviews. Mobile engineers lead discussions on architecture, run experiments, and share feedback across various disciplines. Mentorship and pair programming are encouraged, especially for junior engineers joining through our <a href="https://careers.vinted.com/engineering-academy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Engineering Academy</a>. &nbsp;

The scale is energising. You ship something in the morning and see real-world impact by the evening. However, scaling brings complexity—tight architectural discipline, legacy code migration, and the challenge of meeting diverse market needs across devices and platforms.<h3>Advice for Future Mobile Engineers at Vinted</h3>We value engineers who see beyond their code — think holistically about user experience, technical debt, and collaboration.&nbsp;

From day one, our engineers are trusted and supported. You’ll learn fast, receive regular feedback, and grow into broader responsibilities—whether it’s leading architectural efforts, mentoring others, or shaping product direction. Your own career growth depends on you. The path can lead towards Staff or Principal roles, switching tracks entirely (e.g. from iOS to Backend), or challenging yourself with a technical leadership position! There's plenty of room to evolve.

<h3>Ready to Build Mobile Products Used by Millions?</h3>If you love clean architecture, solving tough problems, and you're excited to make an impact by building high-quality mobile products with a passionate, experienced team—check out our <a href="https://careers.vinted.com/jobs?departments%5B0%5D=Engineering%20Academy&amp;gh_src=4dae07a2teu&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">open roles</a> or apply to the <a href="https://careers.vinted.com/engineering-academy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Vinted Engineering Academy</a>.

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Engineering at Your Fingertips: Life in Mobile at Vinted

Successfully rebuilding a career from scratch in a completely different field with no formal education or work experience is tough. But Tom Slaytor managed to defy all odds and successfully become a Backend Engineer, despite starting from a very different line of work. Read on to find out more about Tom’s remarkable journey into Vinted via our Engineering Academy, and discover how we at Vinted welcome and support our thriving career changers into our teams.<h2>Meet Tom Slaytor</h2> After working as a professional drummer for several years, followed by a role in sales, Tom Slaytor decided to pursue a new career path that ignited his passion. After developing an interest in engineering by chance, Tom stumbled upon an advert for the Vinted Engineering Academy and decided to apply (spoiler alert – he got the job). But switching careers is never easy – particularly without formal education or training. In his own words, let’s find out how Tom got on with this mammoth transition from professional drummer to Backend Engineer at Vinted, and hear the advice he’d give to people thinking of applying for the Engineering Academy. &nbsp;<h2>It all started with an app</h2> My work experience is pretty varied. After studying music at University, I worked as a professional drummer for several years. Following that, I had a job in sales within the finance sector. A career in engineering was never a consideration. Until one day I had a sudden idea for a training app for drummers. Without having any technical knowledge of engineering, I asked a developer friend to help me create it. As I worked alongside him, I watched him work on the code. I was immediately drawn to it, and found myself quickly getting to grips with what he was doing. The problem-solving element was particularly appealing, but without any experience or training in the field, it never occurred to me that this could be something I could do for myself. &nbsp;

<h2>Time for a change</h2> My job in sales came to an end, but I soon realised I didn’t want to pursue another role in this field. It didn’t spark my interest, so I began looking for another job that I felt more passionate about. I had some time and savings to fall back on, which gave me the opportunity to pursue something else. I took on some freelance work in the meantime, and set myself a deadline to begin applying for jobs, or start getting into a different field within a year. This was the springboard that allowed me to take the idea of programming more seriously, and further develop my skills in that area. As time started running out, the more I realised I really didn’t want to go back into sales. I always liked the idea of working for Vinted – it looked like a good company to join. But I didn’t feel like I had the skills, confidence, or experience to apply for a regular engineering role. I almost jumped out of my seat when I saw the advert for the <a href="https://careers.vinted.com/blog/engineering-academy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Engineering Academy</a>, which requires no experience to join. I applied straight away.<h2> Making the cut</h2> The selection process was pretty relaxed. We were asked to share examples of some projects we’ve previously worked on, but there was no strict specification. We just had to showcase the extent of our skills and experience. After that, I had to do some tests and scenario-based questions designed to find out if I would be a good fit within the company’s values and culture, making sure that I had the right soft skills to thrive here. The next stage in the whittling down process was technical. We had to complete a homework assignment in our own time. It was quite challenging, but interesting. I learned a lot from it, and I took it as a good sign that if I found the assignment interesting, I’d find the job interesting as well. Finally, there was the interview with a couple of future team members. It wasn’t as daunting as I expected, and felt like a discussion. Half the questions were centred around my values and how I would react in certain situations or overcome challenges, and the other half were about the technical &nbsp;decisions and choices I made during the homework assignment. &nbsp;

<h2>Finding my way</h2> After successfully making it through the selection process, I was hired. On my very first day at Vinted I learned that there’s a structured onboarding process for academy participants. This came in two parts: technical onboarding, which really focussed on the academy, and general company onboarding. For the first week of technical onboarding, we joined a lot of workshops, and got to grips with the basics. It was all very structured, and we had the opportunity to learn more about how things work, the different workflows, and the programming languages used at Vinted that we were unfamiliar with. After that was Vweek – company onboarding for all new joiners (not just academy participants). We were introduced to different departments and had the opportunity to get to know colleagues in different teams from all over the world. It was a great introduction to what the company is all about – it’s like a big community.<h2> Expectations vs. reality</h2> It sounds cheesy, but working at Vinted is even better that I thought it would be. I’m genuinely excited to wake up every morning and come to the office to work. I was expecting loads of pressure to achieve more or do more in the Academy, but that’s not the case. We push ourselves because we want to. Even with lack of experience, in an unfamiliar system, with languages we’ve never used before, we’re never made to feel not good enough. Many of us haven’t worked in an environment like this before. It’s very comfortable and stress-free. From the people you’re working with, to the projects we’re working on, managers’ expectations, and the way everybody within the company helps each other, the atmosphere is really positive. I’ve quickly bonded with people both inside and outside of the Academy. Everyone is really supportive and accepting of one another. The people and the company culture really make this a fantastic workplace to be in.<h2> Want to join the Engineering Academy? Here’s my advice</h2> Engineering skills are important. But they aren’t the be-all and end-all. To be successful in any company you have to feel like you belong, and that your values align. Stay curious, and keep solving problems. Get ready to tackle new challenges. If that means having to learn a new language, or familiarise yourself with a new paradigm, just dive in and have a go, even if you’re unsure. Take it step-by-step, and eventually you’ll find the answer. If you’re on the fence about applying, I’d say go for it, even if you’re not sure you’re ready. I wasn’t sure I was ready either, but here I am. What’s there to lose? Are you looking for a new career challenge in engineering like Tom? Find out more about the <a href="https://careers.vinted.com/blog/engineering-academy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Vinted Engineering Academy</a>, or <a href="https://careers.vinted.com/jobs?gh_src=4dae07a2teu&amp;utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">apply here.&nbsp;</a> &nbsp;

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From Drums to Development: Tom’s Journey to Backend Engineering

Engineering environment is a dynamic and constantly evolving domain, and the learning culture is deeply rooted at Vinted. To help you navigate through and thrive in your journey, here’s a list of descriptions and recommendations for you that align with your unique interests and aspirations within the engineering discipline.About Git &amp; GitHub:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://eu.udacity.com/course/how-to-use-git-and-github--ud775">How to Use Git and GitHub</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.udemy.com/course/github-ultimate/">GitHub Ultimate: Master Git and GitHub - Beginner to Expert</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://nvie.com/posts/a-successful-git-branching-model/">A successful Git branching model</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="http://engineering.vinted.com/2015/01/02/proper-git/">Proper Git</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Getting-Started-About-Version-Control">What is version control?</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="http://engineering-principles.onejl.uk/">Software Engineering principles</a></li></ul>

<h2 class="p1">Backend Engineering</h2>&nbsp;To experiment with Ruby, you can use:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://github.com/abdelrahman-hsn/ruby-ebooks/blob/master/Ruby%20on%20Rails%20Tutorial.pdf">20 books or even more (free) on GitHub</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://repl.it/languages/ruby">A very good place to start&nbsp;</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://guides.rubyonrails.org/getting_started.html">Another great place to start</a>&nbsp;</li></ul>&nbsp;Syntax:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dji9ALCgfpM">Video</a> on Ruby Programming and a <a href="https://guides.rubyonrails.org/getting_started.html">Document on getting started with Rails&nbsp;</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.ruby-lang.org/en/documentation/quickstart/">Ruby in 20 minutes</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://medium.com/@noordean/understanding-ruby-blocks-3a45d16891f1">Understanding Ruby Blocks</a> on medium.com<a href="https://medium.com/@noordean/understanding-ruby-blocks-3a45d16891f1">&nbsp;</a></li><li class="li1"><a href="https://ruby-doc.org/core-2.6.1/Enumerable.html">Enumerable</a>, where the most important are - map, each, each_with_object, find, filter, select</li><li class="li3"><a href="http://www.pragtob.info/rails-beginner-cheatsheet/#ruby">Cheatsheet on pragtob.info</a></li></ul>&nbsp;Ruby on Rails (RoR):We recommend not to spend much effort on understanding how to build HTML using RoR. We will use RoR in API only mode, which means we will be building JSON responses only<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://skillcrush.com/2015/01/29/13-ruby-rails/">What is RoR</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.sitepoint.com/model-view-controller-mvc-architecture-rails/">MVC in RoR</a></li><li class="li1"><a href="http://www.pragtob.info/rails-beginner-cheatsheet/#rails-folder-structure">RoR folder structure cheat sheet</a> (folder structure, commands)</li><li class="li3"><a href="https://medium.com/@gianpaul.r/ruby-on-rails-generators-and-how-to-undo-them-30a53ac8dfb3">Generators</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://guides.rubyonrails.org/v3.2/migrations.html">Migrations</a></li></ul>&nbsp;HTTP:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.w3schools.com/whatis/whatis_http.asp">What is HTTP</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Methods">Request methods</a></li></ul>&nbsp;RESTful API’s:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/343877/what-is-an-api/">What is an API</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://restfulapi.net/">What is REST</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://restfulapi.net/resource-naming/">Resource naming guide</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.w3schools.com/whatis/whatis_json.asp">JSON</a></li><li class="li1">Extra: Ruby on Rails comes with API only option. <a href="https://guides.rubyonrails.org/api_app.html">Official documentation</a></li></ul>&nbsp;SQL:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://searchdatamanagement.techtarget.com/definition/relational-database">What is a relational database</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://tutorialzine.com/2016/01/learn-sql-in-20-minutes">SQL In 20 minutes</a></li></ul>&nbsp;Testing:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://dev.to/milandhar/unit-testing-in-rails-4oke">Unit testing</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://culttt.com/2016/07/06/writing-integration-tests-ruby-rails">Integration testing</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://medium.com/@piraveenaparalogarajah/what-is-mocking-in-testing-d4b0f2dbe20a">Mocking</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://rspec.info/">Introduction to RSpec</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://medium.com/@mariacristina.simoes/my-introduction-to-factory-bot-88949467a7e9">Introduction to FactoryBot</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://devhints.io/rspec">RSpec cheatsheet</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://devhints.io/factory_bot">FactoryBot cheat sheet</a></li></ul>

<h2 class="p1">Web Engineering</h2>&nbsp;<ul class="ul1"><li class="li1">To experiment with React, you can <a href="https://jsfiddle.net/">check out here</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.codecademy.com/learn/learn-html">HTML5</a></li><li class="li1"><a href="https://www.codecademy.com/learn/learn-css">CSS</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="http://getbem.com/introduction">CSS BEM</a></li><li class="li1"><a href="https://sass-lang.com/guide">SASS - focus on SCSS syntax.</a> Make sure you nail mixins, functions, variables, partials</li><li class="li1"><a href="https://javascript.info/">JavaScript fundamentals</a> - don't spend too much time with things like proxies, Symbols. Focus on fundamentals, such as event loop, as well as ES6 features</li></ul>&nbsp;React:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li1">We prefer functional components with hooks.</li><li class="li1">If you're into <a href="https://egghead.io/courses/the-beginner-s-guide-to-react">video courses</a></li><li class="li1"><a href="https://reactwithhooks.netlify.app/tutorial/tutorial.html">React docs, rewritten with hooks</a>. Take away as much as you can. Make sure you're comfortable with refs, lifecycle, hooks, JSX<a href="https://reactwithhooks.netlify.app/tutorial/tutorial.html">&nbsp;</a></li></ul>&nbsp;Clean code:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li1">We definitely recommend the<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Code-Handbook-Software-Craftsmanship/dp/0132350882"> book by Uncle Bob</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://github.com/ryanmcdermott/clean-code-javascript#table-of-contents">JavaScript clean code principles</a></li></ul>&nbsp;Testing:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://reactjs.org/community/testing.html">Testing overview</a></li><li class="li1"><a href="https://testing-library.com/docs/react-testing-library/intro/">We use react-testing-library and Jest.</a> Make sure you're able to write basic tests with those technologies</li><li class="li3"><a href="https://kentcdodds.com/blog/common-mistakes-with-react-testing-library">Common Mistakes with Rect Testing Library</a></li><li class="li1">Strive to understand <a href="https://jestjs.io/docs/getting-started">fundamental concepts, </a>such as mocking, spying</li></ul>&nbsp;TypeScript:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li1">Make sure you get the basics and can write React with TypeScript comfortably. TypeScript is quite big, so there's no need to go too deep.</li><li class="li3"><a href="https://github.com/typescript-cheatsheets/react">Cheatsheet</a></li><li class="li1"><a href="https://www.typescriptlang.org/docs/handbook/2/basic-types.html">Official documents</a> and the basics</li></ul>&nbsp;Redux:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li1">It’s not a given that you will use Redux throughout the Engineering Academy, but we use it at Vinted, so the fundamental understanding is important</li><li class="li3"><a href="https://redux.js.org/tutorials/essentials/part-1-overview-concepts">Redux Essentials</a></li></ul>

<h2 class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Android Engineering</h2>&nbsp;<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.udacity.com/course/kotlin-bootcamp-for-programmers--ud9011">Introduction to Kotlin</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.udacity.com/course/developing-android-apps-with-kotlin--ud9012">Introduction to Android development with Kotlin</a></li></ul>&nbsp;Dagger:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li1"><a href="https://codingwithmitch.com/courses/dagger22-android/">Dagger2.2+ on Android</a> on CodingWithMitch.com</li><li class="li3"><a href="https://developer.android.com/codelabs/android-dagger?index=..%2F..index#0">Using Dagger in your Android app - Kotlin&nbsp;</a></li></ul>&nbsp;Kotlin coroutines:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://codelabs.developers.google.com/codelabs/kotlin-coroutines/#0">Use Kotlin Coroutines in your Android App&nbsp;</a></li></ul>&nbsp;Kotlin StateFlow, SharedFlow and Flow:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://developer.android.com/codelabs/advanced-kotlin-coroutines#0">Learn advanced coroutines with Kotlin Flow and LiveData</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://developer.android.com/kotlin/flow">Kotlin flows on Android</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://developer.android.com/kotlin/flow/stateflow-and-sharedflow">StateFlow and SharedFlow</a></li></ul>&nbsp;Application architecture guidelines:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://developer.android.com/jetpack/guide?authuser=1">Guide to app architecture</a></li></ul>&nbsp;Additional Android learnings:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.udacity.com/course/advanced-android-with-kotlin--ud940">Advanced Android with Kotlin</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://developer.android.com/courses/kotlin-android-advanced/toc">Kotlin Andrid Advanced</a></li></ul>&nbsp;If you know most of the above technologies, you can try doing codelabs from this list:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://codelabs.developers.google.com/?cat=Android">https://codelabs.developers.google.com/?cat=Android</a></li></ul>&nbsp;If you want more challenges and you know most of the technologies above, you can try to contribute to our open source libraries on GitHub:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://github.com/vinted/coper">vinted/preferx&nbsp;</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://github.com/vinted/actioncable-client-kotlin">vinted/actioncable-client-kotlin</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://github.com/vinted/coper">vinted/coper</a></li></ul>

<h2 class="p1">iOS Engineering</h2>&nbsp;<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/">Human interface guidelines</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/referencelibrary/GettingStarted/DevelopiOSAppsSwift/">Start Developing iOS Apps (Swift)</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.appcoda.com/iOS-programming-course/">Learn iOS Programming</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.udemy.com/course/ios-13-app-development-bootcamp/">iOS 13 &amp; Swift 5 - The Complete iOS App Development Bootcamp</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://medium.com/ios-os-x-development/ios-architecture-patterns-ecba4c38de52">iOS Architecture Patterns</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.raywenderlich.com/6004856-building-an-app-with-only-code-using-auto-layout">Programmatic UI</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://clean-swift.com/">Get Started with Clean Swift</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://swift.org/documentation/#the-swift-programming-language">Swift Guide</a></li></ul>

<h2 class="p1">Site Reliability Engineering</h2>&nbsp;Tools:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://learn.chef.io/">Chef</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://prometheus.io/docs/introduction/overview/">Prometheus</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://learn.hashicorp.com/collections/terraform/aws-get-started">Terraform</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://terragrunt.gruntwork.io/docs/#getting-started">Terragrunt</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.runatlantis.io/guide/">Atlantis</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://kubernetes.io/docs/tutorials/">Kubernetes</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://docs.docker.com/get-started/">Docker</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.tutorialspoint.com/unix/index.htm">Linux</a></li><li class="li4"><a href="https://go.dev/doc/tutorial/getting-started">Go</a></li></ul>&nbsp;Blogs:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://sre.google/">Google Site Reliability Engineering</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://increment.com/">Increment</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.robustperception.io/blog">Robust Perception</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://blog.cloudflare.com/">Cloudflare Engineering Blog</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://engineering.fb.com/">Engineering at Meta / Facebook</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://vinted.engineering/">Vinted Engineering Blog</a></li></ul>&nbsp;Other:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://roadmap.sh/devops">DevOps Roadmap</a></li></ul>

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List of useful resources for aspiring Engineers

Data science and analytics at Vinted are fields that are constantly evolving. To excel in this ever-changing landscape, it's imperative to stay informed about the latest trends and tools.Within Data Science &amp; Analytics (DSA) we have three distinct roles. To understand your potential role within DSA context better, here are brief descriptions of each role we have in the department:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li1">Analytics Engineers are responsible for data curation – translating data needs from stakeholders into architecting, building and maintaining efficient &amp; reliable data models and pipelines. &nbsp;</li><li class="li1">Decision Scientists are responsible for actionable insights, identifying and seizing opportunities, and automated tools that increase the quality of product and business decisions by applying statistical methods and data-driven decision making. &nbsp;</li><li class="li1">Data Scientists are responsible for identification of algorithmic opportunities, ensuring those opportunities are addressed in an optimal fashion and design, development and maintenance of production-grade statistical and machine learning algorithms.</li></ul>

Here's a diverse range of recommendations that can help you navigate this journey, but be sure to customize your choices to match your individual interests and objectives within the realm of data science and analytics.&nbsp;&nbsp;About Git &amp; GitHub:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/git-and-github-learning-resources" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Use Git and GitHub</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.udemy.com/course/github-ultimate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GitHub Ultimate: Master Git and GitHub - Beginner to Expert</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://nvie.com/posts/a-successful-git-branching-model/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">A successful Git branching model</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="http://engineering.vinted.com/2015/01/02/proper-git/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Proper Git</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Getting-Started-About-Version-Control" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What is version control?</a></li></ul>&nbsp;Useful Courses:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://scikit-learn.org/stable/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Scikit learn</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://pytorch.org/tutorials/beginner/basics/intro.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pytorch basics</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://course.fast.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Practical Deep Learning</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://mode.com/sql-tutorial/introduction-to-sql/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Introduction to SQL</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.bradyneal.com/causal-inference-course" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Introduction to causal analysis</a></li></ul>&nbsp;Books:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51635906-trustworthy-online-controlled-experiments" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trustworthy Online Controlled Experiments: A Practical Guide to A/B Testing</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://d2l.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dive into Deep Learning</a>&nbsp;</li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/building-machine-learning/9781492045106/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Building Machine Learning Powered Applications </a>by Emmanuel Ameisen</li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Code-Handbook-Software-Craftsmanship/dp/0132350882" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship</a> by by Robert C. Martin</li><li class="li1"><a href="https://www.deeplearningbook.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Deep Learning</a> by Ian Goodfellow, Yoshua Bengio and Aaron Courville</li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/python-for-data/9781449323592/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Python for Data Analysis</a> / Oreilly</li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/thinking-with-data/9781491949757/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Thinking with data</a> / Oreilly</li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Storytelling-Data-Visualization-Business-Professionals/dp/1119002257?pd_rd_w=GOBtn&amp;content-id=amzn1.sym.7f0cf323-50c6-49e3-b3f9-63546bb79c92&amp;pf_rd_p=7f0cf323-50c6-49e3-b3f9-63546bb79c92&amp;pf_rd_r=PRDGPBNW9STWB7TQTHQW&amp;pd_rd_wg=v8uFy&amp;pd_rd_r=024055bd-f103-4273-9e7f-100ca4cb5886&amp;pd_rd_i=1119002257&amp;psc=1&amp;linkCode=sl1&amp;tag=swdbooks-20&amp;linkId=309f73640a0cb64e3b676e26561d07a0&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Storytelling with Data: A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals</a></li></ul>&nbsp;Blogs:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://huyenchip.com/blog/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chip Huyen’s</a> blog</li><li class="li3"><a href="https://eugeneyan.com/writing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eugenayan.com</a></li><li class="li3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZOu6yXnpL_duYixQKsXTMEH_sAe4JDKT/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Scientific Method &amp; ML Engineering</a></li><li class="li1"><a href="https://www.kaggle.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kaggle</a> - the repository of community-published models, data &amp; code</li></ul>&nbsp;

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List of useful resources for joining Data Science and Analytics at Vinted

At Vinted, Product Manager (PM) is responsible for Team’s Total Outcome management:&nbsp;<ul class="ul1"><li class="li1">Defining the outcome that the team tries to achieve;&nbsp;</li><li class="li1">Understanding if the team’s output leads to the defined outcome.&nbsp;</li></ul>If it’s not the case, a PM should adjust by pivoting, cutting scope, or in other ways amending the expected outcome. We find that there are 2 key aspects that are important for someone to thrive in the field.

Product sense.&nbsp;The skill of consistently being able to craft products (or make changes to existing products) that have the intended impact on their users. Product sense relies on 2 things:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li1">Empathy to discover meaningful user needs</li><li class="li1">Creativity to develop solutions that effectively address those needs</li></ul>Analytical thinking. An ability to prioritize, identify the correct tradeoffs and set your team up for success. As well as the ability to have a structured approach to problem solving.&nbsp;A Product manager should excel or have the potential to become very proficient at:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li1">Setting goals&nbsp;</li><li class="li1">Tracking Goals using measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)&nbsp;</li><li class="li1">Debugging to identify root causes if something goes sideways&nbsp;</li><li class="li1">Navigating a complex trade-off between a fast, cheap, good Product development triangle.</li></ul>

Here are some helpful resources for growth in the Product Management discipline.1. Books for…&nbsp;Product Management Craft<ul class="ul1"><li class="li2"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35249663-inspired">Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love</a>, by Marty Cagan</li><li class="li1">One of the main Vinted PM working principles:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53138083-working-backwards">Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon</a> by Colin Bryar, Bill Carr</li><li class="li2">On becoming a better manager:<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38821039-the-making-of-a-manager"> The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You by</a> Julie Zhuo</li></ul>Business acumen:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li2"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2615.The_Innovator_s_Dilemma?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=iUn5HfmIGU&amp;rank=1">The Innovator's Dilemma: The Revolutionary Book that Will Change the Way You Do Business</a> by Clayton M. Christensen</li><li class="li2"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34536488-principles?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=GjVrWn1JrI&amp;rank=1">Principles: Life and Work</a> by Ray Dalio</li><li class="li2"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18050143-zero-to-one?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=wlNip4k5ac&amp;rank=1">Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future</a> by Peter Thiel, Blake Masters</li></ul>Analytical acumen:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li2"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26844398-superforecasting">Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction</a> by Philip E. Tetlock, Dan Gardner</li></ul>Engineering acumen<ul class="ul1"><li class="li2"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44135420-team-topologies?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=Devgrywyml&amp;rank=1">Team Topologies: Organizing Business and Technology Teams for Fast Flow</a> by Matthew Skelton, Manuel Pais</li></ul>Leadership:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li2"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23848190-extreme-ownership">Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win</a> by Jocko Willink, Leif Babin</li><li class="li2"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29939161-radical-candor">Radical Candor: Be a Kickass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity</a>&nbsp;by&nbsp;Kim Malone Scott</li><li class="li2"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26156469-never-split-the-difference">Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It</a>&nbsp;by&nbsp;Chris Voss,&nbsp;Tahl Raz</li></ul>&nbsp;2. Newsletters:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li2"><a href="https://cutlefish.substack.com/">The Beautiful Mess | John Cutler | Substack</a></li><li class="li2"><a href="https://www.lennyrachitsky.com/newsletter">Newsletter — Lenny Rachitsky</a></li><li class="li2"><a href="https://stratechery.com/">Stratechery by Ben Thompson</a></li></ul>&nbsp;3. Courses:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li2"><a href="https://www.udemy.com/course/become-a-product-manager-learn-the-skills-get-a-job/">Become a Product Manager: Learn Skills by Training for the Job</a></li><li class="li2"><a href="https://www.reforge.com/">Reforge</a></li></ul>&nbsp;4. Videos<ul class="ul1"><li class="li1">Product Management in Agile Methodology:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=502ILHjX9EE">&nbsp;Agile Product Ownership in a Nutshell</a></li><li class="li2">On Product Strategy:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EQzoXBsktI">&nbsp;Intro to Product Strategy w/ Gibson Biddle, former VP of Product at Netflix</a></li></ul>&nbsp;5. Articles<ul class="ul1"><li class="li2">What is Product Management:<a href="https://www.atlassian.com/agile/product-management/product-manager">&nbsp;Product Manager: The role and best practices for beginners</a></li><li class="li2">On the key PM principles:<a href="https://blackboxofpm.com/the-first-principles-of-product-management-ea0e2f2a018c">&nbsp;The First Principles of Product Management</a></li><li class="li2">On how do PMs thinking:<a href="https://future.a16z.com/product-thinking/">&nbsp;The Power of Product Thinking</a></li></ul>&nbsp;6. TV Series, more fun to familiarize with the tech world:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li1"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2575988/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Silicon Valley</a>&nbsp;</li><li class="li2"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12005128/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WeCrashed</a>&nbsp;</li><li class="li2"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11173006/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Super Pumped&nbsp;</a></li></ul>

Mastering the art of Product Management: key skills and resources for success

Product design is an ever-evolving field, so it is important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and tools. This is a broad list of recommendations, so make sure to choose resources specific to your interests in the field.1. Some of the classics to read:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li4"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/18197267">"Don't Make Me Think"</a> by Steve Krug</li><li class="li4"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/840.The_Design_of_Everyday_Things?from_search=true&amp;from_srp=true&amp;qid=lUvY3FFx7U&amp;rank=1">"The Design of Everyday Things"</a> by Don Norman</li><li class="li4"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22668729-hooked?from_search=true&amp;from_srp=true&amp;qid=4ahr0m3tC5&amp;rank=1">"Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products"</a> by Nir Eyal</li><li class="li4"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10127019-the-lean-startup?from_search=true&amp;from_srp=true&amp;qid=7FJqoNNPSH&amp;rank=1">"The Lean Startup"</a> by Eric Ries</li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25814544-sprint?from_search=true&amp;from_srp=true&amp;qid=KQk6rt4Fyx&amp;rank=1">"Design Sprint"</a> by Jake Knapp</li><li class="li4"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25520974-articulating-design-decisions?from_search=true&amp;from_srp=true&amp;qid=CkuECbfDwn&amp;rank=1">“Articulating Design Decisions”</a> by Tom Greever</li></ul>&nbsp;2. If you are more of a YouTube type of person, check:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/UXDesignInstitute">"UX Design Institute"</a> for video tutorials and insights</li><li class="li4">"<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AJSmart">AJ&amp;Smart"&nbsp;</a></li></ul>&nbsp;3. Consider pursuing certifications like:&nbsp;<ul class="ul1"><li class="li4"><a href="https://www.ibm.com/design/thinking/">Enterprise Design thinking certification</a> from IBM&nbsp;</li><li class="li4"><a href="https://www.nngroup.com/ux-certification/">Nielsen Norman Group UX </a>Certification&nbsp;</li><li class="li4"><a href="https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/google-ux-design">Google UX Design Professional Certificate </a>on Coursera</li><li class="li4"><a href="https://hfi.training/na/certifications/cua">HFI Certified Usability Analyst (</a>CUA)</li><li class="li4"><a href="https://hfi.training/eu/certifications/cxa">HFI Certified User Experience Analyst</a></li><li class="li4"><a href="https://hfi.training/eu/certifications/cdpa">HFI Certified Digital Persuasion Analyst</a></li></ul>&nbsp;4. Stay updated with design guidelines. Two of the most important to keep an eye:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li4"><a href="https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines">Apple’s Human Interface</a> guidelines&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li class="li4"><a href="https://m2.material.io/design/guidelines-overview">Google’s Material Design guidelines&nbsp;</a></li></ul>These are continuously refined and expanded, so make sure to come back to these resources continuously.&nbsp;5. Join online design communities and seek mentorship:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3"><a href="https://adplist.org/">ADPList</a>: A platform that offers free mentorship from experienced designers for free</li><li class="li3"><a href="https://www.behance.net/">Behance</a> &amp; <a href="https://dribbble.com/">Dribble</a>:&nbsp; platforms to showcase your work, as well as discover others'</li><li class="li3"><a href="https://mobbin.com/">Mobbin</a> is a hand-picked collection of the latest design patterns from mobile apps that reflect the best in design</li></ul>&nbsp;6. Get inspired and network by attending meetups and conferences:<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3">Look out for local UX and design meetups in your area</li><li class="li3">Participate in design conferences focused on UX/UI, iInteraction, information architecture, etc.</li><li class="li3">Consider joining these networks as a volunteer</li></ul>&nbsp;7. Practice the craft:The most important - the more you design and work on real projects, the better you'll become. Consider:&nbsp;<ul class="ul1"><li class="li3">Volunteering for nonprofit organisations</li><li class="li3">Take internships</li><li class="li3">Participate in hackathons</li></ul>&nbsp;In the ever-evolving field of product design, this comprehensive list of resources equips you to nurture your passion and grow as a designer. Embrace hands-on experience, connect with fellow designers, and stay curious to thrive in this dynamic landscape of product design.

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List of useful resources for aspiring Product Designers

The first part of any job hunting journey is submitting an application. Easier said than done, right? As an applicant, you’ve got to know what to write, while emphasising the parts most relevant to the job role. Your application will be read by talent acquisition specialists and hiring managers, who know exactly what they’re looking for in a CV. Do you want your application to stand out? Our hiring team at Vinted has put together 10 tops tips for preparing your CV. Find out more about what our talent acquisition specialists look for in an exceptional application, and learn what you can do to increase your chances of getting invited for an interview.&nbsp;&nbsp;1. Send your CV in the same language as the job description is written&nbsp;This is one of the most common mistakes we see while working at Vinted. Being an international company, hiring in many different countries, we see that sometimes candidates provide their applications in their local language. While it might feel natural, we recommend avoiding it, as you never know which talent acquisition specialist or hiring manager will be reading your application. Better to prepare it in the language used in the application (unless specified otherwise), so that the hiring managers and recruiters will be able to understand it.&nbsp;2. Don’t forget your contact information&nbsp;It might sound completely obvious in this day and age, but it’s a common mistake that people make. Don’t forget to tell us how to contact you – preferably by email and phone number. Also, be sure to select the correct time zone in your application, particularly if you’re setting your availability on an online calendar or platform. We’ve learned this one the hard way – by having to reschedule interviews because they were set in conflicting time zones.&nbsp;&nbsp;3. Put your CV in reverse chronological orderOur recruiters often see people using chronological order in their CV. What they’d really love to see is your most recent experience first. So if you were studying between 2019–2022, and working in 2023, the work experience should be higher up on your CV. Why does it matter? Because it’s easier for recruiters to get an accurate picture of your most recent experience this way. Don’t worry if some of your recent experience is in a different field – tell us what transferable skills you’ve gained from working there, which you could use in the role you’re applying for.&nbsp;4. Personal photographs are optionalThere is no expectation from us to see a picture on a CV, it’s completely your decision, depending on your personal preferences. Whether you decide to include a photo of yourself or not, it won’t make a difference to the selection process.&nbsp;&nbsp;5. Personal information is optionalOur hiring decision is not affected by any personal information that you tell us. If you want to share information about yourself (such as age, location, marital status and hobbies) because you think it’s relevant to the position and demonstrates why it would make you a good fit, then go ahead. If you would prefer not to mention any of this, then that is also completely fine, and won’t make a difference to your application.&nbsp;6. Tailor your CV to the job requirements&nbsp;Rather than sending out a generic CV every time, create a different version for each job you’re applying for. Look through the job description and highlight the reasons why you would be a good fit for the role. Be sure to tell us about any skills and experiences that align with the job requirements. Try to avoid simply bullet-pointing your skills in a long list. Instead try to provide concrete examples that demonstrate these skills&nbsp;E.g. “Analytical - Analysed 2019 financial forecast and lowered costs on cookie purchases by 30%”. If you don’t meet all of the job requirements, don’t let that put you off – just try to demonstrate to us why you’re a good potential fit for the job. Lastly, have a think about what transferable skills you could bring to the role. These don’t necessarily have to be skills that you’ve picked up at work – you can count on life experience as well.&nbsp;7. Good use of space and format&nbsp;Keep your CV structured and easy to read, so that recruiters can easily find the information they’re looking for. For example, you can put information about your education, experience and skills in different sections or lists. If you can, try to keep it to one or two pages, with the most recent&nbsp; information (experiences, skills, etc.) on the first page. There are plenty of free CV templates online which you can use if you need inspiration. When it comes to format, try to send your CV as a PDF if you can, as this format works across all devices and is universally compatible, meaning that it can be read from almost anywhere.&nbsp;8. Update all your information&nbsp;If you’ve included links in your CV to other material, such as your LinkedIn profile, online portfolio, or gitHub, make sure that these platforms are up to date with your latest information or most recent work. It will strengthen your chances of being considered for the position.&nbsp;9. Answers from the heartWe value genuine personal answers at Vinted. If the application requires additional questions (for example,&nbsp; “why would you like to work here?”), respond to this question from a personal angle. Looking within will not only help you with your application, it will also allow you to personally reflect on the real reasons why you want to work there.&nbsp;10. Spellcheck&nbsp;It can be so disappointing to encounter an otherwise fantastic CV that hasn’t been properly proofread. As obvious as it sounds, running a spellcheck is one of the most forgotten last touches before sending applications out. Check, check, then check again. It’s a crucial part of writing a successful CV, especially if one of the requirements of the job description is “attention to detail”.&nbsp;&nbsp;We hope you found these 10 tips for a successful application from our team useful. Want to give them a go? If you’re interested in working at Vinted, <a href="https://careers.vinted.com/jobs">check out our open positions</a>.&nbsp;

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How to prepare a CV? Recruiters’ edition 

Changing careers is never easy, and often involves requalifying, battling feelings of self-doubt, and rebuilding self-confidence. Despite the challenges faced, Justina Šiaulytė, has done just that. In this article, we sat down with Justina to find out more about her remarkable story of transitioning from a video creator to an iOS developer at Vinted. Read on to discover how she adapted and used her resilience in the face of this formidable challenge, and learn more about how we at Vinted welcome career changers into our dynamic teams.

Meet Justina ŠiaulytėJustina Šiaulytė is an ex-video operator turned iOS developer. After making the brave decision to switch career paths in her 30s, and pursue her dream career as a software developer, she arrived at Vinted via our Engineering Academy –&nbsp; our entry program and technical induction designed to support junior engineers during the first leg of their career journey at Vinted. How did she get on? In her words, we’ll find out more about her career-change journey, and what the transition from learning at home alone to becoming a team member in a global tech unicorn was really like.The Career Shift DecisionBefore becoming an iOS developer, I’d been working as a video operator in a drama theatre for almost a decade. I enjoyed my job, and the feeling of holding a camera in my hand and filming, but also yearned to do something more creative and less physical. I wanted to learn something new, so I went back to the drawing board.I remembered how much I’d enjoyed programming at school and decided that there was no reason why I couldn’t go back and pursue this. My friend suggested I try iOS development, because he thought it was the easiest to learn by yourself. He lent me a book on the subject, but I found it really hard to follow. Then I stumbled upon a video course on Udemy for €12 and I decided that it was worth giving it a go.&nbsp;Self-Taught JourneyBefore making the switch, I started teaching myself about iOS development at home in my free time after work. I never went to any live courses, and I only watched online courses. I would spend almost all of my spare time creating apps for myself. Looking back, it feels like a dream to be working on a real product now.&nbsp;

Overcoming Self-DoubtMy career transition was gradual. After I turned 30, I decided that I wanted to learn something new, and it evolved from there. It wasn’t a decision that I took lightly. Making such a big life change and moving from a totally different field, with no background (not even studies) in the tech industry was terrifying. I was scared that I’d chosen the wrong career to start over in, or that I wouldn’t be very good at it. I wasn't actually sure if anyone would take me on, and dedicate the time to teaching me.&nbsp;&nbsp;When you start a new career, that feeling of “I know what I'm doing and I feel confident about my career” is non-existent. In the beginning, I felt like I knew nothing – like the rug had been pulled out from under me. Even now, some days it still feels like I don’t know anything, but I always willingly battle through the challenges. It’s a bumpy ride. Whenever I experience a setback, I have to pick myself up, try again, and learn more. This happens over and over again, but knowing that I can show up, push through, and rise up when I fall is empowering. The fact that I really enjoy programming makes the struggle even more bearable. It’s interesting, it's challenging, and it's really satisfying when you overcome even the smallest of hurdles. The whole process is really rewarding, and for me the constant perseverance has paid off.Toughest Part About Changing CareersThe hardest part about changing careers was not knowing when I was ready. Being self-taught, I had no idea if my technical knowledge and skills were up-to-scratch, so I didn’t know when to apply for jobs. I spent a year sending out CVs and getting stuck into a loop of learning, learning, and learning, because I wasn’t sure if I was good enough. If I saw an open position, I gave it a go, but I never managed to get past the application stage because requirements for junior positions are really high. I told myself to keep going, and that I would make it there eventually. Thankfully, the Vinted Engineering Academy was just around the corner.

Vinted Engineering AcademyThe Vinted Engineering Academy was a great way for me to enter the engineering field. There were no requirements for experience, so applying was a no-brainer.&nbsp;After my initial application, I made it through to the next stage, which meant working on some tough practical task scenarios. I found this part particularly tricky, as there were no right answers, but I managed to pass through this stage by being methodical and open with myself in my approach.The homework task was nothing like I expected, in a good way. It was challenging, but we had enough time to finish it.I actually found the final stage of the recruitment process – the interview – the most exciting part. Here was my chance to meet my possible future colleagues, and we got on really well. When we talked about code, it felt like a discussion.. All suggestions were valid, and none were considered ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. I loved this collaborative approach, and I decided then and there that I really wanted to work here with these people.From the approach, to the people, through to the tasks,&nbsp; everything that I experienced during the selection process in my daily role now. It was a good indicator of what it’s like to work here at Vinted.Joining Vinted&nbsp;I joined Vinted along with all the other Academy participants, and we went through an onboarding week first, rather than having to start working on something straight away. We started off by listening to some interesting talks from different team members on different elements of the company, its infrastructure, how things are approached, and why some programming languages are chosen. Then we took part in workshops on the design system and testing. I think this was one of the most important parts, as we found out the key information about how things are done here.What’s great about the Academy is that each person gets assigned a mentor. It’s really helpful to have a person nearby who can answer all of your questions. I was taken aback by how the company deals with management, as I’d never experienced this approach before. Our managers regularly check in one-on-one, to make sure that everything is ok, and that there’s no niggling issues or problems. I feel really heard. It’s really refreshing to be part of an organisation that listens to you and takes action when things are wrong or not going well.&nbsp;Code Review and Collaboration&nbsp;I’ve come a long way from the days of learning by myself. Now I know a bit more about iOS, and I like it even more because you can see it building in real time, and you can see how your every input changes the output. Another one of the crucial things I’d never experienced when working alone is how necessary it is to review other people’s code. If I need to write some code, I have to read a lot of other code in the process. It has been a steep learning curve, but such a great experience to see how other developers work.&nbsp;Vinted's Mission and AtmosphereWhen I think about working here at Vinted, I’m not only enthusiastic about the practical side of my day-to-day role. I also really resonate with our company mission to build something useful worldwide, not just locally. The fantastic atmosphere here is evidence of how much we care for our people, and the planet as well, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.ConclusionOnly when looking back at my career-change journey, can I fully appreciate the many hurdles and obstacles that I had to overcome to get where I am today. I faced a daily battle with my self-confidence, and being so isolated when learning in the beginning was a challenge. I’m so glad that I persevered, and had the opportunity, along with the necessary support and positive working atmosphere at Vinted to make my big career transition a positive one.

Justina Siaulyte 1

Career Shift: Video Creator to iOS Developer at Vinted

Meet Eidvilė and Agnė – our newest Product Designers – who joined Vinted after graduating from Vinted internship programme. During our talk, the alumni get into the details of their internships, the opportunities they provided, the lessons they learned, and tips for future interns.

Hi! Can you introduce yourself and tell us what your roles at Vinted are?&nbsp;Eidvilė: Hi, I’m Eidvilė, and after my internship, I joined Vinted as a Product Designer in the Monetisation domain.Agnė: Hi, I am Agnė. I joined the Design System team at Vinted as a Product Designer as well.&nbsp;So, Agnė, tell us a bit about your professional background and what led you to apply for an internship at Vinted.Sure! My background is in architecture, where I worked for eight years. My work consisted of creating functional, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing designs, which I enjoyed. But then I found out that designing products is very similar. It’s also about creating a structure that should be useful, usable and visually appealing – but in the digital world.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Eidvilė, what about you?My road to product design also wasn’t straightforward. After several years across different roles in tech marketing, communications, and visual design, I switched my career to product design. During this time, I got to know myself and figure out where my professional curiosity lies. Product design seemed to combine it all – technology, visual aesthetics, and human-centric problem-solving. I love the multidisciplinary aspect of this field, where I can put my curious explorer nature to use.&nbsp;Splendid! Let’s move on to the Vinted Academy itself. What are the most important things you’ve learned during this internship?&nbsp;A: I think I learned many valuable skills. One of them was time management. Because we had to narrow down the scope and deliver designs that developers could implement in quite a short time – we had to plan and prioritise the main features without getting lost in ideas.Another valuable skill was collaboration. It may seem simple, but in truth, it can be hard to stay open-minded and listen to different ideas and solutions all the time without getting defensive. Receiving feedback from a diverse audience was a great thing! Not to mention the design critique sessions, where we could listen to other designers' feedback and share our thoughts as well.E: I share many similar thoughts to what Agnė mentioned. What I would add is that, most importantly, I learned how to better frame problems and have a clear approach to what I am trying to tackle with the designs.Receiving and giving feedback was also a crucial piece of learning. Gathering relevant information and feedback is essential in this role, and I am happy to have had space to develop the skill to do this better.&nbsp;Eidvilė, has the mentorship you received during the internship boosted your career?It definitely did. During the Academy, mentorship was at the core of our learning. We had personal mentors who helped us address general professional growth questions. Also, we received more project-specific mentorship in the form of design critiques and such. I learned a great deal from the questions they raised to challenge us. They helped to create a solid base for our decision-making.

I also got a more realistic view of what a product designer's role means. Each of the mentors had a unique way of approaching the same problem. I found this inspiring, and it helps me when I'm looking for a way to tackle the challenges I face.&nbsp;&nbsp;Agnė, what's your outlook about the mentorship you received?I found mentorship at Vinted a valuable experience, especially at the beginning of my career. Eidvilė and I were challenged to think, find the most suitable answers and make independent decisions with the given tools, guidance, and honest feedback. That helped us to move forward and be able to navigate almost independently.In addition, I had 1:1 meetings with my mentor to talk about future growth possibilities, how I was feeling, what challenges I was facing, etc. Sometimes that helped as mental support as well.&nbsp;How were you feeling before the application? Did you have any hesitation? What finally made you apply and go for the opportunity?E: At the time, I was already well invested in switching my career to product design. It was yet another lockdown, and I’d spent my after-work hours doing upskill UX/UI courses.&nbsp;So when my sister shared a post about Vinted looking for interns, I was sure that it was the opportunity and place I’d been waiting for, so there wasn’t much hesitation, to be honest.A: Back then, I was actively looking for a start-up or company I could join to gain real on-the-job experience. So I did not hesitate and applied immediately. I had heard many good things about Vinted’s culture from a few people who work there and was thrilled to see the UX track added to the Academy that year. After a while, I received an email about proceeding with the selection process and was very excited!&nbsp;How would you describe the people who work at Vinted? What should anyone applying for an internship have in mind?E: Well, every person applying should have in mind that they will have a chance to work with many talented people. Vinted is a positive work environment where everyone seems to share the mindset that in order to reach the best result collectively, one has to be open to diverse perspectives. Generally, I feel lucky to have joined colleagues who have a sense of purpose and are excited about what they do.A: The atmosphere is quite relaxed at Vinted. People are encouraged to express themselves, be proactive, and share their opinion. I find people here very professional and would describe them as friendly, supportive, and collaborative colleagues who enjoy what they do.&nbsp;What are you currently working on within your team, and how much time at work do you spend learning new things?&nbsp;A: I work in the Design System team. We are responsible for maintaining a&nbsp;unified visual language at Vinted. Our task is to help designers and developers collaborate more efficiently and optimise their work by creating UI and UX elements they can use as a kind of LEGO blocks in their designs – made to build anything.A collaborative atmosphere&nbsp;helps immensly and prevents you from getting lost in too many technical details. I learn all the time with every task I do. It’s fun and exciting because there are always supportive colleagues who are glad to help and share their experiences or resources. Besides, at Vinted, every designer has a learning budget for books, courses, and conferences which helps you gain knowledge as well.E: During the first couple of months in my new position, I learned new things every day, including processes, tools, and the best ways to collaborate with the team across different roles. Once everything settled down, I started using another great Vinted perk for employees – the&nbsp;learning budget. Currently, I am attending a Behavioural Design course at Hyper Island. I’m happy that Vinted provides me with so many ways to grow.&nbsp;And last but not least, a question for both of you:&nbsp;are there any unsung heroes that help you in your work (perhaps people from other teams)?A: Vinted people are so collaborative, willing to share their knowledge, give feedback, and be friendly, supportive, and positive. I would say that everyone is an unsung hero at Vinted.E: Thanks to all the unsung heroes, Vinted is working smoothly across several different countries and offices. We have the best work conditions and equipment and do not have to worry about anything. What's left for the rest of us is to focus on how we can do our best work. &nbsp;

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