Sabrina Jurlina
Career Path: Software Engineering
Dual Real Estate Agent & Model Turned Software Engineer
Before Coding Temple: Fashion Model & Real Estate Agent
After Coding Temple: Software Engineering Apprentice @ Basis Technologies
What were you doing before you decided to attend Coding Temple?
I was a fashion model & real estate agent
What motivated you to enroll in a tech bootcamp?
I was frustrated with the lack of tech tools in my industries, and I was kind of sick of having 2 independent contractor roles where I had little control of my work load/career development. So I took matters into my own hands! I decided to learn to code so I could build useful tools and set myself up for a long term career with a ton of upside & growth potential.
Why did you ultimately decide to enroll at Coding Temple?
I researched a bunch of bootcamp, and ultimately landed on CT because of the course structure & material, and the endless alumni resources. The timing also aligned well with my schedule at the time and allowed me to keep working, which was another important factor.
What was the most challenging part of the program for you and how did you overcome it?
Information overload. I felt like once I started to get a basic understanding of one topic, we would immediately move onto the next. It was super frustrating, but in the end I realized I had absorbed more than I realized. Primarily, it set me up for success in having to learn on the fly and be resourceful in the real world, when you don’t necessarily have an instructor at your disposal 24/7.
What was the most valuable lesson or skill you learned during the program?
Being resourceful, independent learning, & believing in myself despite a frequent that I have no idea what I’m doing!
What resources did you find most helpful during the program?
Instructors. Stack overflow. YouTube videos!
What was the job search process like and how did Coding Temple prepare you for your current job?
CT helped me edit my resume & write my cover letter. I couldn’t have done it without them! They were so encouraging & the alumni resources made the job search process so much easier. Doing mock interviews weekly & leetcode problems daily was a life saver. The interview process can be super stressful, but I think that I just kept trying to keep in mind that I was interviewing the company just as much as they were interviewing me. So while getting the coding questions correct and having solid answers for other behavioral or technical questions was important, so was asking questions in order to find the right fit.
How has your career progressed since graduating from Coding Temple, and what are your future career goals?
I’m currently in a 6 month paid apprenticeship program which has the potential to go full time afterward. I’m just getting started and have much to learn, but I’m so excited for the road ahead!
How did Coding Temple compare to your expectations, and what surprised you the most about the experience?
I didn’t expect to cry as many tears of frustration as I did throughout the course (lol). But I can truly say my instructors and cohort were so supportive and encouraging along the way. Another surprise was that the alumni resources are insanely thorough, abundant, and helpful.
What advice do you have for current or prospective bootcamp students in terms of preparing for and succeeding at Coding Temple?
My biggest piece of advice is stay on the call after your class if you can, and work on assignments with your peers! People are so helpful and it feels nice to know you’re not alone during this really challenging learning process. Take it one day at a time! Do your home work on time if you can, but if life gets in the way, don’t sweat! Make your work up when you can, and if you’ve tried to debug something for one hour, don’t hesitate another minute to ask for help.