Success Story: Titus at Substorm
Meet our former student, Titus Hora. In 2020, he excelled throughout the program and landed his first job in Sweden, as a consultant at Substorm, as a Machine Learning Developer. Recently he got his contract converted to a permanent direct hire by Substorm. In this interview, Titus shares his thoughts of Software Academy Development and his journey as a newcomer in Sweden among others. Johan Rudström, Digital business developer & HR at Substorm, is also sharing his thoughts on having Titus in the team and about what he thinks of diversity recruitment.
Titus Hora
What did you use to do before you moved to Sweden and was hired at Substorm?
I was a broadcast designer and a 3D specialist for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Toronto, Canada. Finding a job was not easy. I have been looking for work right after moving to Sweden, so it took me almost a year and a half to find one.
How did Novare Potential help you?
I feel fortunate and I am grateful for having been accepted to the Software Development Academy, organized by Novare Potential together with KTH. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody at Novare Potential for helping me in multiple ways, from organizing meetings and setting up interviews with potential employers to advising me before and after being hired at Substorm.
Please tell us a bit more about your job.
I started working at Substorm almost a year ago. For the first two months, I followed an online course from Stanford about the basics of AI and Machine Learning. The first two projects I worked on were in the area of NLP (natural language processing). I worked on a chatbot which turned out quite smart. The project was very interesting and also fun. Actually, all the projects I have been working on were quite complex and very interesting for me.
What does this job mean to you?
I wouldn’t call it a job because for me it is so much more than that. It is the beginning of a new career in AI and Machine Learning. I have learned a lot in the past year, and I continue learning new things every day. Every case is different and each one requires creativity and thinking outside of the box. I enjoy working with my colleagues and being able to contribute is a reward in itself.
Was it hard for you to get used to the Swedish way of working?
It was easy for me to integrate at Substorm. Everybody is friendly and kind and I have received all the support I needed. I was welcomed from the start and trusted to figure out new approaches to the problems we were trying to solve. My ideas were well received. In the past, I worked in a different environment, with different requirements, and different approaches to projects, however, it was easy for me to adapt to the Swedish way of working.
Do you have any advice for beginners working from home?
Treat working from home with the same respect as you would treat working at the office. Be in touch with your colleagues and supervisors. Make it easy for them to find you when you are not in front of the computer. Participate and be pro-active.
What kind of advice would you give to newcomers?
For newcomers to this country, I think it is important to understand and respect the Swedish way of life, to trust the system, to learn new skills in order to become employable, and to be grateful.
What are you planning to do in the future?
I am planning to stay in Sweden, to work at Substorm, and to continue learning about the fascinating and challenging fields of AI and Machine Learning. This is my way of integrating and of becoming a contributing member within the Swedish society.
Johan Rudström Digital business developer & HR at Substorm
Why did you decide to collaborate with Novare Potential and are you happy with the outcome?
We wanted to expand our organization and to find more fantastic colleagues. In that process we were contacted, by chance, by Novare Potential to attend one of their candidate-company events. We saw that as an exciting opportunity to grow our knowledge and to be able to quickly find amazing recruitment candidates. Given the speed with which we were able to find Titus and the support Novare Potential has given during the introduction period, we are more than happy with the outcome.
What was it that Titus did or said to make you think he is the right fit for the job?
Titus struck us immediately as a warm, intelligent, and social person with a drive and a curiosity to learn which is so important in our business (in any business, really). He came from an interesting background with lots of different experiences, from the 3D and Broadcasting industries, among others. And as he was, and still is, so interested in the Intelligent Automation field, we found him a perfect fit for us and the job.
What would you say to companies who are considering recruiting from a more diverse candidate pool?
Don’t hesitate! You grow as an individual and as a company. By meeting and working with people from various backgrounds, different competencies, a diverse set of perspectives, you have a great opportunity for assembling a dynamic and engaged team. It will make your professional discussions better and create a value-driven and, not to forget, a fun work environment.
