Jobs in Singapore: “How I went from building apps in the classroom to software development at a global IT firm”

Chua Wen Huat is a Full Stack Developer at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). Headquartered in Mumbai, India, TCS is one of the world’s largest IT services companies. In 1985, it established its first office in Asia Pacific in Singapore, which has since grown into a diverse network of subsidiaries, including Singapore’s AI-Powered Research and Innovation Centre. The new centre will help companies accelerate enterprise AI adoption across industries to boost their competitiveness. It will also connect businesses with local startups, academia, and government agencies to co-develop AI solutions for real-world challenges, while offering traineeships for local graduates to grow Singapore's pool of tech talent. Wen Huat holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

 

1) Tell us about what you do at TCS

TCS is a subsidiary of the Tata Group, which is a private conglomerate that operates in over 100 countries around the world. As the digital transformation and technology partner of choice for industry-leading organisations worldwide, we focus on creating long-term value for our clients, investors, and employees with our IT services.

In the past 40 years of growth and expansion within Singapore, TCS has become synonymous with digital transformation. As a Full Stack Developer in the Travel, Transportation & Hospitality (TTH) domain, I design and develop end-to-end web solutions, integrating user-friendly frontend frameworks with scalable backend services. My work aligns closely with TCS’s mission of providing technology-driven business solutions, particularly in enhancing customer experiences through modern web architecture and digital platforms.

2) You studied electrical and electronics engineering and are currently working in software development. Tell us more about your educational journey and how you landed your current role at TCS.

My formative years in ITE, where I studied electrical engineering, really shaped who I am today because that was where I learnt the importance of hard work and perseverance. ITE built my foundation in understanding how systems work, whether in terms of hardware or software. I then went on to study electrical and electronics engineering, first at Singapore Polytechnic, and then later at NTU.

I’d always been fascinated by how different software systems work together, but the real spark came when my teammates and I built a mobile app for a project in NTU. Even though my skills weren’t strong enough at the time, I found it incredibly exciting. This motivated me to keep improving beyond the classroom — building small web apps, automating tasks, and experimenting with Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). I also turned to online learning, open-source projects, and plenty of hands-on practice to further fine-tune my skills.

Job-hunting in the tech industry wasn’t easy as I was competing with computer science and computer engineering graduates with my electrical and electronics engineering degree. But I knew I wanted to build a career in software development, so I focused on looking for roles that would let me work on the full lifecycle of digital products — from backend to frontend — rather than just one layer of development.

The TCS traineeship programme gave me a great opportunity to grow as a software developer by strengthening my technical foundation and allowing me to gain hands-on experience with real-world projects. This eventually allowed me to transition into my current full stack developer role. I also realised that my engineering background can still come in handy, as it’s trained me to think analytically and approach problems in a structured way, whether it’s debugging performance issues or optimising code for scalability. In fact, during my studies, one of the modules I took was Microcontrollers, which actually deepened my understanding of how software interacts with hardware, making it easier for me to grasp programming concepts like Java more deeply later on.

3) What are some lessons you've learnt in your time working at TCS?

Working in a global company like TCS exposes me to a mix of cultures, communication styles, and problem-solving approaches. Collaborating across different time zones and skill sets has also taught me to be adaptable and empathetic. I’ve learnt that diversity drives innovation — depending on their backgrounds, people bring unique perspectives that often lead to better design and user experience solutions.

Beyond my usual software development work, one of the more memorable projects I worked on was being involved in a tech sales event for three days. This experience gave me a valuable customer-facing perspective, and made me realise that while technical problem-solving is often direct, understanding customer needs and designing the right solutions require empathy, communication, and a broader way of thinking.

I’ve also gotten the opportunity to work on enterprise-level systems using modern frameworks like React, Spring Boot, and Amazon Web Services. Exploring how technology connects business and customer needs has deepened both my technical and problem-solving skills. In addition, I get to learn from more experienced and senior technical leads — not just on the technical side, but also in how they communicate, plan ahead, and approach problem-solving strategically, which I try to apply in my own work.

4) You're also a trainer in the company's Advanced Java training programmes. What inspired you to step up as a trainer, and what advice would you give to young professionals embarking on a career in tech?

Mentors are important. My educational path wasn’t a straightforward one, but at each stage, I’ve always had mentors or peers to provide guidance and encouragement and teach me the value of perseverance. Their support made a huge difference in shaping who I am today. Now, as a trainer in the Advanced Java training programme, I not only emphasise the importance of having technical skills, but also a culture of curiosity, persistence, and a growth mindset, because real growth comes from continuous learning and supporting one another along the way.

Though my journey has been longer than most, I’ve learnt that it doesn’t matter where you start — what truly matters is consistency, curiosity, and the willingness to learn. This mindset continues to guide me today, especially when I face challenges in my career. To all young professionals just starting to embark on your chosen careers in tech, start small but stay consistent. Learn by doing — build projects, even if they are simple. Don’t fear failure; every debugging session teaches you something new. And most importantly, stay adaptable — tech evolves fast, but problem-solving skills and curiosity will always remain relevant.