Next up in our series of interviews with the Hazlnut team, we sat down with Bhuvan, a Software Developer for Hazlnut:
Thanks for joining us, Bhuvan.
Good to be here!
What did you do before working for Hazlnut?
I grew up in India and I’ve always been interested in tech and programming. For me, it had to be either a sport or Computer Science as a career path. I completed my Engineering degree in Computer Science and worked for two startup companies prior to coming to the United States, which had always been a goal of mine. In Spring 2020, I graduated with a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Florida (Go Gators!!). Completing my graduate degree at UF was an amazing and unforgettable experience as Gainesville truly felt like home and I’m grateful for all the memories and friends that I made. Post-graduation was a difficult period as the pandemic worsened making interview opportunities difficult to come by. Thankfully, a professor at UF whom I’d worked with during my summer internship offered me a volunteer research assistant position.
That’s great! How did you start working for Hazlnut?
As I mentioned, I worked for two startups before and I’ve always loved the startup culture. Especially since I get more responsibilities and a chance to work on things from the ground-up all the way to production on the latest technologies. So I was definitely leaning more towards startups and stumbled upon Hazlnut on a job board. The technologies I was interested in aligned with what Hazlnut was looking for, and the work environment they described was just what I was looking for. So, I applied! The hiring process was the kind I excel at, involving the development of a small project. Everything worked out and I’m grateful to Dick and Steven for giving me an opportunity to work with this team.
So, we know you lived in India before coming to America. What was the transition like and what were some of the biggest challenges in adjusting to a new culture?
I have always been a fan of American culture, sports, music, etc. I had visited the United States twice before, in 2008 and in 2010 which only heightened my interest in coming here. In some situations, all that has been helpful. Adjusting to a different culture does take a bit of time and getting used to. Two years of school definitely helped me getting used to the new culture. Making friends and connections has helped me feel more comfortable. You do miss your family and friends back home, of course, especially on big or important occasions. I know they’re always there for me and rooting for me!
Thank you for sharing, we are happy to be on your team and we’ll be your home away from home. Tell us, what does your role at Hazlnut look like?
I work across the stack, front-end and back-end. I get to work on anything from adding/prototyping new features and functionalities, updating existing ones, and solving bugs. There is an impact from everything you do on the final products.
What do you like to do in your personal time to decompress after a long day at work?
Playing any kind of sports or games such as badminton, basketball, pool, volleyball, running, and more. I like watching sports and being on top of what’s happening by watching movies and tv shows. I often hang out with my friends on the weekends and play Poker with them. I’m very passionate about music too.
What’s your favorite thing about working for Hazlnut?
I always struggle to pick a single favorite in anything. My favorite things are making software that improves people’s lives, working with the amazing team, and sharing crucial responsibilities. Oh, and not to forget our mini-basketball sessions! They’re a fun way of taking a break and relaxing for a bit during the day.
Thanks again for your time today, Bhuvan! Good luck and happy holidays!
