Over 10 years we help companies reach their financial and branding goals. Engitech is a values-driven technology agency dedicated.

Gallery

Contacts

411 University St, Seattle, USA

engitech@oceanthemes.net

+1 -800-456-478-23

The Collective

KJR Collective Catch Ups: Jonathan Hall

The Collective

A couple of times a month, we like to get to know members of the KJR Collective a little better. Today we catch up with Jonathan Hall. 

Years in the industry: 18 

Started at KJR: In January 2004 

Based in: Brisbane 

Currently working with: Jonathan has recently finished work on a project for the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women (CSYW). 

What Jonathan loves most about his job…

“I don’t think there’s a typical day at work”. With each new client comes a new project and teamcreating unique landscapes for Jonathan to explore. “Even though I work with a lot of different organisations, I enjoy the variety that comes with helping them deliver the best possible product”. Jonathan’s role in quality assurance (QA) gives him perspective from every aspect of the project, very much pleasing to his “enquiring mind”. As well as the rapid change of pace with each new clienthe loves getting up to speed and into the depths of how he can apply his own understanding with what the company is trying to achieve. “I love being able to look at an application and ask, ‘does this solve the problem?’”.  

How Jonathan got into this industry…

At KJR we realised very quickly what an asset Jonathan would be to the Collective and offered him a graduate role soon after he finished up studying. It’s been a long journey, but a pleasant one that’s kept him here for over 16 years (and counting!) 

When he was 7 years old, Jonathan’s parents bought a Commodore 64… and just like that, his love of computing was ignitedRealising his passion, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Software Engineering at Griffith University. During this time Jonathan was able to continue pursuing his love of breaking things and understanding them” in a computer-centric environmentPost-graduation he was initially hired at our Gold Coast headquarters (yep, that’s where it all started), but soon became one of the first members in the Brisbane office as we set up camp in the lovely city. Although he’s been at KJR all this time, Jonathan has no regrets. “I’ve technically been at one employer, but I’ve done so many different projects for different organisations and have had so much exposure to different areas, it feels refreshing”. 

What Jonathan thinks about the future of tech…

While tech and AI continues to become more capable, Jonathan isn’t concerned about its impact on his role in QA. “There’s always going to be a need for someone with a fresh set of eyes to evaluate and look over things.” What he does think is important, however, is that people continue to keep trying to understand how new tech works. “A lot of people treat tech like magic, like they’re scared it will create an explosion if they press a wrong button”. Experimenting is important to Jonathan, and he encourages everyone he knows to keep digging into the different parts of tech so we can understand it and achieve greater things with it. Jonathan doesn’t consider himself an “early adopter” of new tech so you won’t find him first in line for a new gadget, but he loves to see its new advancements. “I only just upgraded my six-year-old iPhone! 

He also does other things…

Keeping away from tech outside the office”, Jonathan enjoys catching up and socialising with friends when he’s not at work. From going on craft-beer meet ups to playing strategic board games, you can bet Jonathan will be willing to join in the fun. “My favourite type of board games are definitely cooperative ones, where you can work with friends and other people the whole way through”. As well as catching up with friends, Jonathan loves to binge TV shows and YouTube videos in his down time. When watching YouTube, he finds it easy to fall into a binge. “It’s great to see someone teaching me about their passions. Even if I’ll never use the skill, I’m sure I’ll learn something…” 

Jonathan’s final word of advice…

“Don’t forget: it’s possible to improve quality before you’ve even written a line of code.”