What is it like to start your career in tech when AI is changing the way software gets built, the job market is becoming increasingly unpredictable, and the world seems to be moving faster than ever? We sat down with Lotte, our youngest developer at Hatch, to talk about finding your way, growing up with technology, and why Gen Z might not be all that different after all.

Lotte officially joined Hatch in September, although she's been a familiar face around the office for quite a while now. After completing her internship with us earlier this year, she returned as a full-time software developer, making her the youngest member of our team.

And while we could have asked her about her first weeks on the job, the projects she's working on or what she's learned so far, we were actually more interested in something else.

At Hatch, we spend a considerable amount of time trying to understand where technology is heading, which developments are worth paying attention to and how they might change the way we work. But while we're busy keeping up with everything that's happening, there's an entire generation entering the workforce that has grown up with a rather different relationship to technology than most of us.

So we figured it might be interesting to ask someone who's actually part of that generation.

What does the future look like when you're only just starting your career? What excites you about technology, and what worries you? And how do you navigate a world in which everything seems to be changing before you've even had the chance to figure out where you want to go?

We had a chat with Lotte about all of that, and quite a few other things along the way.

An unexpected route into software development

One of the first things we learned about Lotte is that becoming a developer wasn't exactly part of her original plan. In fact, she initially enrolled in teacher training, which might seem like a rather unusual starting point for someone who now spends her days writing software.

"I studied Human Sciences in secondary school, and becoming a teacher had always been something I considered. When I had to choose what to study, it just seemed like the logical next step, although looking back, I don't think I questioned that decision enough."

It didn't take particularly long for her to realise that something wasn't quite right. Whether it was the programme itself, the internships or the prospect of teaching as a profession, she couldn't really pinpoint what was missing, but she knew she wanted to explore something else.

Around that time, she got to know a few people studying Applied Computer Science, and what they were learning turned out to be considerably more interesting than she'd expected.

"I started looking into what they were doing and thought, actually, that looks really cool. I'd always enjoyed the computer science classes we had in secondary school, especially the logical thinking involved. You learn how something works, apply those rules and immediately see the result. That's something I find really satisfying about software development too."

What initially looked like a complete change of direction turned out to have quite a few similarities with her original choice, particularly when it comes to creativity, communication and working with people.

"People don't always associate creativity with IT, but I think there's a lot of it involved. Coming up with ideas for applications, finding solutions to problems, figuring out how to make something work... That's all creative thinking. And the social aspect is important too."

During her studies, there was a strong emphasis on developing soft skills alongside technical knowledge, something Lotte now considers particularly valuable. Being able to communicate, collaborate and understand other people's perspectives might not be the first things that come to mind when you think about software development, but they're certainly useful when you're building products with a team.

And perhaps that makes the jump between teaching and technology a little less surprising after all.

A rather different time to be a junior developer

Of course, choosing to study software development is one thing. Actually entering the industry is another, particularly when the industry itself is going through some pretty fundamental changes.

When we ask Lotte whether there are any technological developments that genuinely worry her, she doesn't have to think particularly long.

"AI, definitely. And especially what it means when you're just starting out."

It's an interesting answer, because while most of the conversations we have about AI at Hatch revolve around productivity, new opportunities and how developers can use these tools to work more efficiently, Lotte experiences that same evolution through a slightly different lens.

"I feel really lucky that I got the opportunity to start working here, because I have classmates who are still looking for their first job. And these are capable people who did well during their studies, but they're having a really difficult time finding something."

For those of us who've been around the industry a little longer, that's quite a contrast with the situation we remember. There was a time when companies were practically competing to get junior developers through the door, whereas Lotte now sees friends and former classmates struggling to find their first opportunity.

She doesn't claim that AI is the sole reason behind that shift, but it's certainly part of the uncertainty she experiences as a young developer.

"There's this feeling of being replaceable, and I think everyone experiences that to some extent. But when you're a junior, you don't have years of experience to fall back on. You have your basic knowledge, but you're still figuring everything out, which makes you feel a little more vulnerable."

Interestingly, this brings us back to a conversation we recently had with Elon, our Technical Product Lead, about vibe coding and the changing role of experienced developers.

Elon argued that while AI can generate increasingly large amounts of code, experienced engineers remain essential because they understand what they're building, recognise potential problems and know how to evaluate the output of these tools.

Lotte agrees with that reasoning, but she points out something that tends to get overlooked when we talk about the future of software development.

"I agree that experienced developers have that knowledge. But you still have to get to that point."

And that's a rather interesting dilemma. If the value of an experienced developer increasingly lies in their ability to critically evaluate what AI produces, how do younger developers build the experience they need to develop that judgement in the first place?

For Lotte, it's something she encounters in her everyday work.

"On the one hand, I want to work efficiently and keep up with everything that's happening. But at the same time, I want to make sure I'm actually learning, and that sometimes takes more time. It's about finding that balance."

She admits that some of that pressure comes from herself, rather than from the people around her.

"Wim often tells me to take it easy. He's very calm about it, which I appreciate. I think I sometimes put that pressure on myself."

It's a tension we suspect quite a few junior developers will recognise. Having access to tools that can help you complete a task in minutes is incredibly useful, but understanding why something works, what could go wrong and how you might approach it differently is still something you develop through practice.

And perhaps learning when not to take the shortcut is becoming a skill in itself.

Growing up with a lot on your mind

Technology isn't the only thing occupying Lotte's thoughts, though. When we broaden the conversation to what her generation worries about, climate change is one of the first things she mentions.

"My mum always encouraged me to pay attention to the environment, so it's something I've grown up with. And I don't think I'm the only one in my generation who feels that way."

What strikes us during the conversation is that Lotte doesn't necessarily describe herself as pessimistic about the future, but she does seem very aware of the challenges that lie ahead.

There's climate change, the uncertainty surrounding technology and employment, and a whole range of other developments that are difficult to ignore when information about practically everything happening in the world is available at any given moment.

"I sometimes feel like people from my parents' generation didn't necessarily have to think about certain things at my age. And that's a shame, because I also just want to be young, work and enjoy life."

It's a remarkably simple observation, but one that says quite a lot about the circumstances in which young people are finding their way today.

We also wonder whether being so aware of everything that's happening makes it harder to remain optimistic. After all, it's relatively easy to get overwhelmed when every problem, crisis or worrying development is only a few taps away.

Lotte doesn't think the outlook is necessarily that black and white, though. While she recognises that there are significant challenges ahead, she's also interested in the technological developments that might help us address them.

During her studies, for example, she attended a few lectures about quantum computing, which introduced her to some of its potential applications.

"I haven't explored it in great detail, but I found it really interesting to learn about the possibilities, particularly when it comes to things like energy efficiency. There are risks involved too, obviously, but it's encouraging to hear about developments that could potentially make a positive difference."

It's a small example, perhaps, but it illustrates something that comes up throughout our conversation: Lotte is curious about what technology can make possible, even if she's not entirely comfortable with every consequence of how quickly it's evolving.

Ambitious, but not necessarily in the traditional sense

With all of that uncertainty in mind, we eventually arrive at a question that seems particularly relevant when you're at the beginning of your career: what does success actually look like?

For a long time, career progression was often associated with a fairly recognisable trajectory. You started somewhere, worked your way up and, if you were sufficiently ambitious, eventually found yourself managing other people.

We ask Lotte whether that's something she aspires to, or whether her generation looks at professional growth a little differently.

"I definitely have ambitions, but maybe in a different way. I want to discover what I really enjoy doing and keep growing in that direction. I like learning new things and developing myself, but at the same time, I want to have a life outside of work."

She doesn't dismiss the idea of taking on more responsibility or growing professionally, but neither does she seem particularly concerned with reaching a specific title or position.

For her, the interesting part is finding something she genuinely enjoys doing and becoming increasingly good at it, while leaving enough room for everything else that makes life enjoyable.

And that brings us to another characteristic often associated with Gen Z: a willingness to question existing structures, including the traditional relationship between employees and their managers.

"I do think we're quite critical as a generation. But I also think that's partly because of how we grew up. At school, we were taught to question information, recognise fake news and not automatically believe everything we see online."

For Lotte, questioning things isn't necessarily about challenging authority for the sake of it. It's simply something she's been encouraged to do throughout her education, and a habit that extends into how she approaches the world around her.

Which, when you think about it, isn't a particularly bad quality to bring into a software development team.

Somewhere between playing outside and growing up online

One thing that becomes increasingly clear as we talk about generational differences is that Lotte doesn't entirely recognise herself in the image of Gen Z that's often portrayed online.

While her generation is frequently described as having grown up with a smartphone permanently attached to one hand, her own childhood was a little more nuanced.

"I feel like we were still part of that generation that experienced both. We played outside a lot, but we also grew up while the internet was becoming increasingly important. I'm actually quite grateful for that."

Her first mobile phone, for example, was hardly the kind of device you'd spend hours scrolling through.

"I had one of those old brick phones in primary school, but that was really just so I could send messages to my mum."

It's funny, because we tend to associate that experience with our own generation, having grown up before smartphones became part of everyday life. Apparently, the difference isn't quite as dramatic as we'd imagined.

That doesn't mean Lotte is oblivious to the impact of screens, particularly on younger children.

"I sometimes find it a little worrying when I see how much time young children spend in front of screens. But I also notice it in myself. When you're bored for a moment, it's so easy to pick up your phone without really thinking about it."

And while she recognises that smartphones can become a distraction, she doesn't necessarily believe that the relationship between young people and technology is inherently problematic. A lot depends on the person, the circumstances and how consciously they use it.

Which naturally brings us to a subject we couldn't resist asking about, given that we're having this conversation with our youngest colleague.

And finally, a few things you probably didn't know about Lotte

By this point, we've covered quite a lot of ground, including the future of software development, climate change, and career ambitions. But there's still one rather important thing missing: getting to know Lotte herself!

So we finish with a little speed round, asking her to answer whatever comes to mind first.

Her favourite movie? Harry Potter.

Favourite food? Spaghetti bolognese.

Next country to visit? Scotland.

Favourite app? Pinterest.

Outside of work, she spends time volunteering in youth activities and dancing, and if she were allowed to organise the next Hatch theme party, apparently we'd all be dressing up for something involving a chicken coop. We're not entirely sure what that would look like, but we're curious enough to find out.

And if she ever found herself stranded on a deserted island, she'd bring her ukulele, her dog and another human being, although her phone did briefly make the shortlist.

Which brings us to one final observation.

Throughout our conversation, we've talked quite a bit about the differences between generations, and while Lotte certainly has her own perspective on technology, work and the future, she doesn't think the gap between Gen Z and millennials is quite as enormous as the internet sometimes suggests.

Apparently, there's even an ongoing debate about it on TikTok, with both generations regularly making fun of each other's habits.

But after spending some time talking to Lotte, we're inclined to think we have rather more in common than those videos would have us believe.

We might have grown up with different technology and entered the workforce under different circumstances, but the underlying questions about finding your way, doing work you enjoy and figuring out what matters to you are surprisingly familiar.

And when we ask Lotte whether she has any final words to share, she offers a rather straightforward conclusion.

"I think it's really cool here."

Well, we're glad to hear that, Lotte. And we're happy to have you on board.