Disclaimer: Coding Dojo cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. The experience of this alumnus/alumna may not be representative of all students.
Pre-Dojo:
- Worked as a Paralegal
- Left his position in 2020 to travel, and knew he wanted something new for his career path
- Coding had always intrigued him and he wanted to challenge himself
After Dojo:
- Works as a Proposal Writer and Business Analyst
- Got motivation during the bootcamp and felt ready to dive in and immerse himself in coding, development, and seek out a job that could take him to the next level
- Aspires to continue growing with his company and becoming a leader within the company moving forward
Program: Online Part-Time Flex Software Development
Graduation Date: September 2022
Testimonial:
“All of the teachers I encountered were great! Real-life people looking to help out the next generation of developers. They genuinely cared about teaching and having people learn the material. Made me want to do well and continue to put myself out there.”
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Tell us a little about yourself! Age, hobbies, passions, where you grew up, where you live now, and any other fun facts!
I’m 35 years old, I love to play soccer, hike, and mountain bike. I grew up in Illinois but I currently live in an RV full-time with my wife, 6 year old son, and two golden doodles. We have been to 30 states so far and hope to finish the rest by Fall 2024!
What were you doing professionally before bootcamp?
Before the bootcamp I was working as a Paralegal for a health insurance company.
Tell us why you enrolled in Coding Dojo? Were you unhappy with your current role? Yearning for a change in career path?
I enrolled in Coding Dojo after completing a Coursera certificate in Python. I left my previous position when we first started traveling in 2020 and I knew I wanted to do something new. I had the opportunity to really assess what I wanted to do and software/coding was something that had always intrigued me! I was ready for something new to challenge me and I found that with technology!
Why did you choose Coding Dojo over other bootcamps?
They had the best schedule for myself and offered pertinent scholarships that helped! The flexibility was also very important!
What were your thoughts going into bootcamp? Were you nervous? Excited? All of the above?
I was excited. I wasn’t going in fully blind having just completed a 5 course certificate, but I was excited for a more rigorous schedule and to do “homework” again. I was finally at a place in my life where I was ready for school again so I looked forward to it!
Did you face any obstacles in bootcamp? If so, how did you overcome them?
Just some timing things. Being on the road full-time comes with its own unique challenges so fitting in homework, tests, and lectures definitely added a bit to the week-to-week planning.
What was it like during your first few weeks in bootcamp? What did you enjoy? What did you struggle with?
I didn’t really have many struggles! Getting used to the timing of things was the only new challenge to partake in. I loved getting to be in a class again with peers looking for a similar change as myself. I made friends with classmates in those first few weeks, then most people went their separate ways depending on the software track they were doing, but it was great to come back together again for the final few weeks!
What advice would you share with others considering bootcamp? What about those currently in bootcamp?
Immerse yourself in the experience! Go to the office hours, show up early to chat, engage in the discord discussions, and don’t be afraid to push yourself! We took on an ambitious group project and it turned out great and we received praise for it. Felt really good to reach for an idea and see it come to fruition!
Do you have any fun memories to share about your time in bootcamp?
All of the teachers I encountered were great! Real-life people looking to help out the next generation of developers. They genuinely cared about teaching and having people learn the material. Made me want to do well and continue to put myself out there.
What was your favorite stack, project, or module to learn? Why?
I did the MERN stack and enjoyed all of it! I really liked learning HTML/CSS as well and have continued to use that the most in my current position. Learning the full stack allows me to have knowledge and understanding of a broad variety of software which is also relevant to my needs.
As graduation approached, how confident were you in your new skill set?
Fairly! I knew there was more to continue learning so I was ready for that. Since I only took one stack, I looked for ways to bridge some of the knowledge gap created. I sought out resources to continue learning and continue developing while applying for positions.
Aside from credentials, what else did you leave bootcamp with? (soft skills, motivation, confidence, etc.)
I left with motivation! I felt ready to dive in and immerse myself in coding, development, and seek out a job that could take me to the next level!
How did the job hunt go? Where did you end up working?
The job hunt was tough! I got into software development at the height of the tech boom and it took a while for me to find a position. I got to the last stage a few times only to miss out solely based on experience. But I found the perfect position for me to blend my previous and new skills and I couldn’t be happier with my role as a Proposal Writer and Business Analyst with GigaTECH!
What did it feel like to receive your first job offer? Or to get that first paycheck in tech?
My first job offer actually ended up being rescinded due to a location issue, but the company I am working for felt amazing! It took a few weeks and a few different interviews, so I was very happy to receive my offer letter and prepare myself to get back to work!
What are your goals and dreams for the future? Career or otherwise.
The company I am with is relatively small, but with large aspirations! I look forward to growing with them and becoming a leader within the company as we continue to move forward.
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If you are interested in pursuing a new career path, Coding Dojo bootcamp offers accelerated learning programs designed to help you learn the skills you want. We offer both part-time and full-time online coding programs, as well as programs training you on Data Science and Cybersecurity. We also offer financing options, scholarships, and other tuition assistance programs for those who qualify.
If you want to invest in yourself, there is no time like the present! If you’re interested, use this link to schedule a 15-minute exploratory session with one of our Admissions Advisors today.
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