Kakao Releases Post-Onboarding Interviews for New Developers

Kakao's Technical Planning Team released interviews with three new developers—Albus, David, and Tate—who participated in the 2020 new developer onboarding program. They work in different departments, including KakaoTalk, Melon, and monitoring solutions, and reflected on their adaptation process over the past two months.

Key Features of the Onboarding Program

During the onboarding period, new developers quickly adapted to the organization through a Jeju Island orientation and team projects. In particular, the Jeju Island itinerary played a crucial role in building camaraderie among peers, and the autonomous atmosphere without evaluations allowed for active participation.

Enhancing Practical Skills and Collaboration Experience

The project period was cited as a key stage for improving development skills. Participants learned new languages such as Kotlin, designed code structures under mentor guidance, and learned collaboration methods. David developed an Android app with the help of team members, while Tate acquired knowledge related to Kakao's internal infrastructure and APM services.

Advice for Aspiring Developers

Participants emphasized the importance of fundamentals in algorithms and data structures during Kakao's hiring process. They also advised that being honest and demonstrating potential and growth possibilities during interviews is advantageous. They described the onboarding period as a fulfilling experience that felt short, and expressed their expectation of growing as developers at Kakao in the future.