In this Arc Developer interview, we chat with\u00a0Gaston Gorosterrazu\u00a0about the benefits of a 30-second commute, why communication skills are so important when working remotely, and why you need to “be in people’s faces.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking for top talent fast? See how <\/em>Arc<\/a> can help you:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u26a1\ufe0f Find developers, designers, marketers, and more Hire top talent with Arc risk-free \u2192<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n I started very young, programming small systems for clients at the computer store I worked as a technician. When I wasn\u2019t working, I was also developing stuff for fun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I guess I\u2019m one of those lucky individuals that discover what they want to do early. In my case, I was eight; and as my family was very poor, I was only able to buy my first computer four years later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because it was hard for me, therefore: fun! The back-end needs knowledge, and then once you have this knowledge, you can do it almost without thinking. The front-end is more about choices, interacting with non-technical stakeholders, and dealing with an ample set of combined technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: Tomas Radvansky on His Career Journey from MD to Remote Developer<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n On choosing front-end? No. I\u2019m happy in the place I am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 30-second commute! Haha, It changes everything and requires training. When the place you live is the same place where you work, without boundaries it is easy to fall into either overwork or underwork. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When I started, remote work wasn\u2019t even a thing; a few years ago it was \u201cthe future\u201d, and now that future is upon us<\/a>. I foresee that in the mid-term, most companies will accept and embrace it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did I mention the commute? What I love about working remotely<\/a> is that I can choose when to be extremely efficient in my work so I can spend extra time with my family, or just work as usual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest challenge when working remotely is being really accepted as part of the team. Many companies tend to hire remotely to cover second-tier needs. I think that\u2019s the challenge for every company thinking about hiring remotely<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: Equipboard: Connecting Musicians & Instrument Brands With Arc\u2019s Help<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n In my case, over-communicate and be present all the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m more of a people person. I\u2019ve seen so many technologies come and go that I\u2019ve reached the point where I understand the tool will change, but effective communication is key<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Being able to read the other person by whatever channel of communication you have available is the sharpest tool I\u2019ve got in my drawer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s just me and my Mac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: Bridging the Gap Between Blue-Collar Workers and Tech with Arc<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n A catalog software for a local community library; I made it in GW-BASIC for a 2.5MHz computer. No database, no fancy stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n B2Agro. A client-server system built on Javascript, HTML, PHP, and MySQL back in 1999. It would work with an encapsulated IE4 application that would auto-update, work-offline, and sync with the server whenever there was a connection available. This is all before the Gmail era, so nobody used Javascript for applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I would love to mention Aptugo as well! A RAD system that builds applications in any programming language, any device, and hundreds of times faster than traditional programming \u2014 it doesn\u2019t get more exciting than that, for sure!<\/p>\n\n\n\n No taking any shortcuts. My passion is to develop stuff, so there was natural growth on the technical side. I\u2019m also good with people, plus I\u2019ve a broad view thanks to many years of experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: Good Developers Don\u2019t Always Make Good *Freelance* Developers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s no magic. Scrum meetings<\/a>, sprints. Everything is laid out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Funny thing is, most companies try to \u201cmotivate\u201d their teams by making a set of rules for that. The truth is that everyone is motivated on the first day of work, and then they start losing motivation because of those rules. E.g., a \u201ccasual Friday\u201d just exposes that they\u2019re telling you what to wear the other four days of the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every individual finds motivation in different ways; just ask! Then keep asking. Respect the individual as an individual, and you\u2019re set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hiring is one of the most important factors. I\u2019ve rejected excellent technicians that would break culture while accepting some individuals mostly for their cultural fit (knowing skills can be developed.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: How to Create a Remote Work Culture That\u2019s Supportive, Positive & Fun<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n As with motivation: no rule here. Everyone has something, and as a manager, my job is to discover it. A 9-to-5er can help bring diversity to a team full of workaholics and benefit the team in the mid-term. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I reckon it would be easier to look for personality traits that get along with my preferences, but I\u2019m not the kind of person that looks for easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perfectly! When my first daughter was born, I would work as a manager, which meant that sometimes I would leave for work and return a few days after, missing a lot of \u201cfirst times\u201d (her first words, first walk, etc.). <\/p>\n\n\n\n So I switched to working remotely. Now I can take a break during the day and go and play with them, or plan a trip. I\u2019ve visited five different countries in 2019!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I dedicate at least one hour every day to reading. I seek out emerging technologies<\/a>, get involved in what DevOps is doing, etc. It is easy if you\u2019re not a TV fan!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: How to Create a Software Development Workflow for Freelance Hires<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n While he said it in another context, Dereck Goodwin once told me: \u201cBe in their faces.\u201d I think that\u2019s the best advice a remote developer can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is going to happen, so, the earlier you make the jump into it, the better. Then prepare a place for you to work, and respect your own schedule. If you play with your phone, set times for it. If you smoke, take smoke breaks just like at the office. Set a good schedule and get used to complying with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most probably exactly the same thing I\u2019m doing now. My last month involved (besides programming) greeting a CEO at the airport, searching for new office space, talking with lawyers, interviewing people, and meeting a high-profile individual. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I have built this over the last 25 years, I\u2019m exactly at the point I wanted to be, and I know this isn\u2019t the point I will be in 5 years. For me, that\u2019s my motivation; money is just to pay bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks for chatting with us,\u00a0Gaston!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re interested in becoming a remote developer with Arc, click\u00a0here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And, if you’re looking for the best devs to hire:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also try <\/em>Arc<\/a>, your<\/em> shortcut to the world’s best remote talent:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u26a1\ufe0f Access 450,000 top developers, designers, and marketers <\/a>Try Arc and hire top talent now \u2192<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We interviewed Arc Developer Gaston Gorosterrazu to hear his career journey story and why communication is everything.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":339,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-337","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-case-studies"],"yoast_head":"\n
\u26a1\ufe0f Freelance or full-time remote + fully vetted<\/em>
\u26a1\ufe0f Save up to 80% with global hires<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nHow did you start your career?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why did you choose to specialize in front-end instead of back-end languages?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Do you have any regrets? If so, what are they?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is working remotely different from working on-site?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What do you love most about working remotely?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What is the biggest challenge you face while working remotely?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How do you communicate with your teammates as a remote developer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What are your favorite technologies or tools for remote work, and why?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What objects, tools, and peripherals do you love to use while working remotely?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What is the first software\/application you ever built?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What are the most exciting projects that you\u2019ve worked on?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did you evolve from a junior developer to a CTO?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How do you work with your team members as a CTO?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How do you inspire your team members and keep them motivated?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How do you build your team culture?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Which personality traits do you look for when recruiting new team members?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How do you balance your life when it comes to work, family, and leisure?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How do you stay up-to-date with technologies and best practices?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What is the best advice you\u2019ve ever received?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What advice would you give to a developer wanting to make the leap to remote?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What would you do if you didn\u2019t have to work for money?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u26a1\ufe0f Vetted and ready to interview<\/em>
\u26a1\ufe0f Freelance or full-time<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n