Application Guide

How to Apply for Junior PHP Back-End Developer - AFS Energy

at AFS Energy

🏢 About AFS Energy

AFS Energy helps organizations navigate renewable energy markets and sustainability solutions, positioning them at the forefront of the green energy transition. Working here means contributing to meaningful projects that directly impact how businesses adopt sustainable practices, offering a unique opportunity to blend technology with environmental impact.

About This Role

This Junior PHP Back-End Developer role involves building and maintaining the company's renewable energy trading platform and administration tool, focusing on complex business logic and financial market applications. You'll split time between two legacy repositories (3 and 8 years old) and a new project starting in 2027, making this role impactful by directly supporting the infrastructure that drives renewable energy trading.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve collaborating with the team to enhance features on the renewable energy trading platform, debugging issues in the 8-year-old repository, and planning for the new project starting in 2027. You'll spend time writing PHP code, applying OOP principles to develop complex business logic, and possibly learning Symfony to modernize parts of the codebase.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who AFS Energy Is Looking For

  • Has foundational OOP knowledge and PHP experience, with a demonstrated eagerness to learn Symfony (mention any self-study or small projects using it).
  • Shows aptitude for understanding business logic, ideally with examples of translating complex requirements into code (e.g., financial calculations or workflow automation).
  • Is legally entitled to work in the Netherlands and resides there, with strong English communication skills for team collaboration.
  • Bonus: Experience with Java, Kotlin, or Node.js, indicating versatility in back-end development beyond PHP.

📝 Tips for Applying to AFS Energy

1

Highlight any experience with financial or trading applications, even if small-scale, to show you can handle the business logic mentioned in the job description.

2

Mention specific PHP projects where you worked with legacy code (3+ years old) to demonstrate you're prepared for the existing repositories at AFS Energy.

3

If you have experience with Symfony or have started learning it, include a brief example (e.g., a personal project or coursework) to show initiative.

4

Emphasize your location in the Netherlands and work eligibility upfront in your resume or cover letter to address a key requirement.

5

Tailor your portfolio or GitHub to include PHP code samples that showcase OOP principles and clean, maintainable code, as this role involves working on multiple projects.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Express genuine interest in renewable energy and sustainability, linking it to AFS Energy's mission to guide organizations in this space.", "Detail your PHP experience and how you've applied OOP principles in past projects, especially if related to business logic or financial applications.", 'Explain your eagerness to learn Symfony and how you plan to contribute to both legacy and new projects (mention the 2027 start date).', "Highlight any experience with Java, Kotlin, or Node.js if applicable, to show versatility and alignment with the 'nice to have' skills."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Look into AFS Energy's specific services in renewable energy trading and sustainability solutions to understand their market niche.
  • → Research the renewable energy sector in the Netherlands, including key trends or regulations that might impact their platform.
  • → Explore common technologies in energy trading platforms (e.g., real-time data processing, security concerns) to show industry awareness.
  • → Check if AFS Energy has any public case studies or client testimonials to gauge their project impact and company culture.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Discuss your approach to working with legacy code (e.g., how you'd refactor or maintain a 3- or 8-year-old PHP repository).
2 Explain a time you translated complex business requirements into code, focusing on financial or trading logic if possible.
3 Describe your experience with PHP frameworks, especially if you've used Symfony or similar tools, and how you'd adapt to learning it on the job.
4 Talk about your interest in renewable energy markets and how you see technology supporting sustainability solutions.
5 Walk through a coding challenge involving OOP in PHP, possibly related to a trading platform feature or data processing.
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying without addressing the Netherlands residency and work eligibility requirement—this is a hard requirement, so omit it at your peril.
  • Focusing only on PHP without showing an understanding of business logic or interest in renewable energy, which are core to the role.
  • Submitting generic application materials that don't mention AFS Energy's mission or the specific projects (legacy and new) outlined in the job description.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to AFS Energy!

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