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 full-time as an Escalations Analyst in the PC Hardware Industry
- Fell in love with data science but lacked the skills to break into the industry
- Saw first-hand how his data scientist colleagues directed business decisions with their insights
After Dojo:
- Works as a Business Analyst for a foodservice distribution company
- Has a newfound ability to tell himself that anything is possible if he sets his mind to it and is adequately prepared
- Aspires to get his MBA and break into management-level positions
Program: Data Science Online Part-Time
Graduation Date: August 2022
Testimonial:
“Do it, but do it well. You get out what you put in for sure. If you’re just going through the motions and completing assignments just to complete them, you’ll find the process later on (personal projects, finding a job) much more cumbersome; however, if you are really immersing yourself in this, it’s only to your benefit.”
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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!
Hi! My name is Alpha and I love to watch basketball, code, and I am a huge gamer. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and have been here my whole life.
What were you doing professionally before bootcamp?
I worked in the PC Hardware Industry as an Escalations Analyst.
Tell us why you enrolled in Coding Dojo? Were you unhappy with your current role? Yearning for a change in career path?
I fell in love with Data Science while I was at my company after working directly with many Data Scientists. They were all so confident in their work and were directing business decisions with their insights. I was hooked instantly.
Why did you choose Coding Dojo over other bootcamps?
Coding Dojo had the curriculum that I connected with the most. I had a little bit of coding experience before entering my program but they catered to intermediate to advanced students as well.
What were your thoughts going into bootcamp? Were you nervous? Excited? All of the above?
I was excited and ready to bolster my resume. Tip for anyone starting out: Soak everything in and prepare to use all your experiences as bargaining tools during interviews, it is all valuable so don’t sell yourself short.
Did you face any obstacles in bootcamp? If so, how did you overcome them?
Oh yeah absolutely. The pace of the course can be a little daunting especially if you’re someone like me and working full time as well. Everyone’s here to help you out though so ask questions and be eager to learn.
What was it like during your first few weeks in bootcamp? What did you enjoy? What did you struggle with?
I enjoyed the practicality of the work to be honest. I knew that a lot of what we were doing, although it may seem elementary, was very useful later on and also in the industry. I really only struggled towards the tail end of Advanced Machine Learning; it is a very abstract topic and you can spend forever trying to make a perfect model. A great deal of satisfaction came from that section though.
What advice would you share with others considering bootcamp? What about those currently in bootcamp?
Do it, but do it well. You get out what you put in for sure. If you’re just going through the motions and completing assignments just to complete them, you’ll find the process later on (personal projects, finding a job) much more cumbersome; however, if you are really immersing yourself in this, it’s only to your benefit.
What was your favorite stack, project, or module to learn? Why?
Advanced Machine Learning for sure. It was our first look at the expanded potential of Machine Learning.
As graduation approached, how confident were you in your new skill set?
Very confident in my ability actually. I trusted all of the instructors a lot, they did a fantastic job. Special shoutout to Josh J.!
Aside from credentials, what else did you leave bootcamp with? (soft skills, motivation, confidence, etc.)
The ability to tell myself that anything is possible if you set your mind to it and are adequately prepared.
How did the job hunt go? Where did you end up working?
So it is definitely a ‘hunt’ especially in today’s climate. I now work as a Business Analyst for a foodservice distribution company. It is definitely a bit of a numbers game right now so I would recommend setting hours of time apart to devote to fine tuning your resume and applying to a bunch of different companies. Use different platforms too.
What did it feel like to receive your first job offer? Or to get that first paycheck in tech?
It felt absolutely amazing, success is real, you just have to really work for it.
What are your goals and dreams for the future? Career or otherwise.
I have aspirations to get my MBA now and to break into management eventually.
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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 in 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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