Josh Alexakos

Josha

Career Path: Software Engineering

From Paralegal to Linkedin

Before Coding Temple: Paralegal

Before Coding Temple: Software Engineer

What were you doing before you decided to attend Coding Temple?

I was working as a paralegal at a law firm. I had decided that I didn’t want to go to law school, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do.

What motivated you to enroll in a tech bootcamp?

After investigating some different career opportunities, I had a phone call with a former colleague who had done a tech bootcamp. He recommended the experience, as it helped him break into tech and change his life. I also dabbled in some basic programming, and found that I enjoyed the problem solving aspects of it.

Why did you ultimately decide to enroll at Coding Temple?

Coding Temple made the most sense for what I was interested in, which was an opportunity to learn full stack web development from teachers who had real world work experience. There was also a community of alumni who had gone on to do great work, which encouraged me that the experience would be worth the investment.

What was the most challenging part of the program for you and how did you overcome it?

I found building our first application with Flask was challenging. Moving from solving individual programming problems to building something was a big challenge. I overcame it by reviewing lessons, doing more research online, and a LOT of debugging.

What was the most valuable lesson or skill you learned during the program?

The most valuable skill I began to develop during my bootcamp was the ability to work with different technologies. Typically, as an engineer, you work with one to two programming languages, and maybe a few different frameworks. But sometimes you need to switch to a new language, or learn a new technology, and you need to do that quickly. Learning to build mental models and best practices quickly makes that transition possible. Coding Temple was where I began to learn those skills.

What resources did you find most helpful during the program?

Working with teachers and teaching assistants, definitely. There is nothing like speaking to someone who understands your problem and can walk through it with you.

What was the job search process like and how did Coding Temple prepare you for your current job?

The job search process was challenging. Coding interviews were a weakness of mine, and resume prep was also something I struggled with. Marlene was a huge help in helping me put together a strong resume, and getting me ready to speak to my experience and what I bring to the table.

How has your career progressed since graduating from Coding Temple, and what are your future career goals?

I am now 18 months into a role at a big tech company, and I have been doing well. I’m hoping to be promoted soon. I hope to continue to develop as an engineer to the point where I can make organization wide impact through tech decisions and knowledge sharing.

How did Coding Temple compare to your expectations, and what surprised you the most about the experience?

I wasn’t sure what I expected when coming into bootcamp, but the diversity of folks I encountered in my time in the bootcamp was a great experience. People from all walks of life are looking to make a significant change in their careers, and I’m glad that Coding Temple is helping them do that.

What advice do you have for current or prospective bootcamp students in terms of preparing for and succeeding at Coding Temple?

It may seem counterintuitive, but I would do as much preparation before bootcamp as possible. Not only should you do the pre-work, but watch Youtube videos. Read articles. Learn the concepts. This will prepare you to make the most out of your time in bootcamp, because you’ll ask informed questions, grasp new ideas sooner, and come out of bootcamp ready to land your first role.

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