Career Path: Software Engineering

From Geographic Information Systems to Frontend Developer

Before Coding Temple: GIS and Data Analyst

After Coding Temple: Frontend Developer @ Critical Mention

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

I had quit my job doing Geographic Information Systems for County government. My plan was to up my skills and get a better job, although it took me a few months to decide to do software dev, specifically.

What motivated you to enroll in a tech bootcamp?

I thought I had a knack for learning tech things, and I was tired of having jobs that didn’t utilize my abilities. I looked into Data Science and Software Dev… I thought I wanted to be a data scientist, but while filling out applications for bootcamps and doing pre-work for bootcamps, I came to realize that I like software dev way more than data science.

Why did you ultimately decide to enroll at Coding Temple?

It was slightly cheaper than some of the others I was considering (Flatiron and General Assembly). But I liked Coding Temple because they offered “live” (on the internet) classes, rather than self-paced pre-recorded content (which I didn’t want)

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

The concept of Object Oriented Development kinda blow my mind and made me cry out of frustration. The final project was also difficult, but in a good way. It was great to know I could talk to my fellow students, as well as Nicole and Marleen if I was feeling overwhelmed.

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

Model View Component based web design, learning frameworks and how everything works together. Although I wish we had learned Vue.js instead of React.

What resources did you find most helpful during the program?

ability to ask questions in class

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

I had never done a job search in tech, and I was quite nervous about it. CT did a great job preparing me for technical interviews. The daily coding challenges at the beginning of class were great practice. As was Code Wars. In terms of being prepared for the job search, interviews, negotiation and stuff, Marleen was a great help to me as she knew the industry inside and out.

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

I was hired as a full stack developer 3 months after I finished CT, and have been in that position for about 1.5 years now. I like my job, but I am thinking of making a jump to a new company that more aligns with my interests in the near future. I may also choose to focus on backend dev rather than frontend dev (which is what my current job focuses on).

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

It pretty much met my expectations.

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

I think it helps to have a little bit of programming experience. I had taken a couple intro Python courses on Coursera. So I wasn’t starting at ground zero. I’d also recommend that the prospective student do whatever they can to make as much time in their day for the bootcamp.