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 in Customer Success/Operations roles at a startup
- Was looking for a new challenge and change in her career path
- Worked closely with Product/Engineering teams and discovered a strong interest in coding
After Dojo:
- Works as a Customer Solutions Engineer
- Has a newfound trust in her ability to take on new challenges and learn advanced concepts
- Aims to keep using her skills creatively, and inspiring others to embrace similar opportunities
Program: Online Part-Time Accelerated Software Development
Graduation Date: August 2022
Testimonial:
“Coding Dojo provided me with the resources and instructions to problem-solve obstacles and properly prepare for the course. I utilized my cohort and the spaces they provide to collaborate or receive help. I also appreciated all of the advice that the alumni shared with new students to encourage us, which I was always remembered throughout my time.”
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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 30 years old, raised in Hawaii, and currently live in Las Vegas. Throughout my education and career I’ve developed a strong interest in Psychology (college major), operations, technology and data. My other hobbies/passions include sports, video games, music, and taking care of my fish!
What were you doing professionally before bootcamp?
I was working primarily in Customer Success/Operations roles at a startup.
Tell us why you enrolled in Coding Dojo? Were you unhappy with your current role? Yearning for a change in career path?
I loved many aspects of my job, but was certainly looking for a new challenge and change in my career. With 5+ years in operations, and 10+ years in various customer-facing roles, I’ve realized that I’m incredibly passionate about two things: operations and people! Through several facets, Ops has shown me the fun in overcoming challenging obstacles, and the gratification in a job where you are creating efficiency to make people’s lives easier. As I began to work closely with and adjacent to Product/Engineering teams, I discovered a strong interest in coding to further my understanding of problems and solutions centered around software development.
Why did you choose Coding Dojo over other bootcamps?
Coding Dojo offered various types of programs which provided a schedule I could realistically commit to. I found the price affordable considering other competitors and the additional resources Coding Dojo provided (live tutoring, career services, alumni community, etc).
What were your thoughts going into bootcamp? Were you nervous? Excited? All of the above?
I was very excited and a little nervous. The nerves were mostly due to the ambiguity of returning to school six years after I already graduated with my bachelors degree. I knew there would be a learning curve, but I entered with confidence and dedication in being able to learn completely new concepts at an accelerated pace.
Did you face any obstacles in bootcamp? If so, how did you overcome them?
Coding Dojo provided me with the resources and instructions to problem-solve obstacles and properly prepare for the course. I utilized my cohort and the spaces they provide to collaborate or receive help. I also appreciated all of the advice that the alumni shared with new students to encourage us, which I was always remembered throughout my time.
What was it like during your first few weeks in bootcamp? What did you enjoy? What did you struggle with?
The first few weeks were enjoyable – Web Fundamentals was fun and a great introduction into coding. The hardest part was adjusting to a new schedule and stepping into “student life” again.
What advice would you share with others considering bootcamp? What about those currently in bootcamp?
Learning is a continuous experience. When you’re facing a problem, think about how you solved issues in the past to understand what you know now, and remember your accomplishments along the way that led you to this point. Be confident, have fun, and take breaks 🙂
Do you have any fun memories to share about your time in bootcamp?
It was rewarding to see how much my fellow cohort students accomplished through their final projects. I was so impressed with my peers, and have seen many of them take on new opportunities in their careers.
What was your favorite stack, project, or module to learn? Why?
I use this language for work so I may be biased, but I enjoyed learning full-stack development with Python. I also particularly like MySQL/SQL.
As graduation approached, how confident were you in your new skill set?
I was very confident and ready to enter the work field again.
Aside from credentials, what else did you leave bootcamp with? (soft skills, motivation, confidence, etc.)
I have extreme trust in my ability to take on new challenges and learn advanced concepts.
How did the job hunt go? Where did you end up working?
I went through several interview processes and accepted a Customer Solutions Engineer role at Brandfolder (by Smartsheet).
What did it feel like to receive your first job offer? Or to get that first paycheck in tech?
More than relieving, yet incredibly proud of myself considering the time and sacrifices I put into my experience. There was a lot of pressure to succeed, but there is no other feeling like being able to prove to yourself that you can exceed your goals. Receiving my first offer and role justified everything I had worked for.
What are your goals and dreams for the future? Career or otherwise.
I’m currently very happy with where I am with my career and hope to continue on this path of growth. Completing bootcamp was just the very step into an infinite amount of doors and possibilities that opened for me. I hope to use my skills creatively, and to inspire others to embrace similar opportunities that can change their life.
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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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