Family Meal: Employee Spotlight with Ben Hajduk

Welcome to Family Meal, our blog series spotlighting our incredible Roomies. This month, we’re excited to feature Ben Hajduk, a UK-based Staff Software Engineer solving complex technical challenges and driving innovation across our engineering team.

Tell us a little about yourself.

Ben: Hi, I'm Ben Hajduk. I'm a Staff Software Engineer here at SevenRooms on the Consumer Mobile team, and I started in May 2024.

What do you love most about working at SevenRooms?

Ben: The best part of working at SevenRooms is seeing the consumer reach of our products and the impact they have on the venues that use them. It’s amazing when a friend or family member recognises SevenRooms from our reservation tools, or when we hear about a venue scaling to the next level thanks to our products. It really makes you feel like the work here has a tangible impact!

What's the most impactful lesson you've learned in your career?

Ben: The most impactful lesson I’ve learned is that it’s better to ship an imperfect product early than to ship a perfect product too late. There’s nothing like getting real users on a product and learning what they like and dislike about it. It’s tempting to be overly critical and delay release until everything feels perfect, but that can lead to shipping a perfect solution to the wrong problem. Be action-oriented: ship early and often!

What’s your favorite activity outside of work?

Ben: My favourite activity outside of work is hiking around the Greek islands. I've been doing it with my family since I was a child, and now my wife and I continue to do so as adults. There's an amazing diversity of aquatic life for snorkelling enthusiasts, and authentic Greek food is easily my favourite cuisine.

Describe for us your favorite dining experience.

Ben: I think the best dining experience really depends on what you're looking for. If you're looking for fine dining, the best I’ve had in the UK is at The Samling in Windermere. It’s a hotel-restaurant with stunning views and incredible, beautifully presented food. But if you’re looking for fast food, there’s an amazing place called Victoria Grill in Putney that serves the spiciest chicken you’ll ever eat.

What's one thing you can't live without?

Ben: I live in rural England, where the weather alternates between rain, freezing temperatures, and both at once. My most essential item is my Oodie wearable blanket. Yes, it makes me look like a preposterous yeti, but it keeps me from turning into an icicle at my desk.

Can you share a fun fact about yourself?

Ben: After three dismal years of trying to teach my dog anything, I’ve only managed to teach him four tricks: 1. High-five, 2. Shake, 3. Sleep on his back like a human (because it’s funny), and 4. Be cradled like a baby (also funny). I’ve concluded I’m better with computers than animals.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Interested in working with Ben and our other Roomies? Check out our open roles!