Pre-Dojo:
- Worked as a high school math teacher
- Had considered programming before, but different fears & excuses got in the way
- Was interested in technology and loved the idea of being able to work from home building applications on his computer
After Dojo:
- Works as a Full-Stack Developer
- Has new friends he met at the Dojo
- Dreams of advancing to a Senior Developer role in the next 5 years
Program: Online Part-Time Accelerated Software Development
Testimonial:
Be an active learner and participate in lectures, ask questions, and challenge yourself every chance you get. Your success is completely up to you Coding Dojo will give you all the tools and guidance to be great you just have to take them.
Tell us a little about yourself. Age, hobbies, passions, and what you were doing (professionally) before the bootcamp?
I am 26 years old and I enjoy snowboarding, playing video games, ATV riding, and DJing.
Prior to the bootcamp, I was teaching high school mathematics.
Beyond the desire of learning how to code, why did you decide to enroll in the bootcamp?
I was unhappy with my job at the time, and was not getting paid enough for the work I was doing. I have always been into technology and loved the idea of being able to work from home building applications on my computer.
What fears or doubts were “holding you back” from enrolling? How did you get over them?
I had thought about trying to become a programmer for a while but different fears/excuses got in the way such as not having enough time or money, and just fear of failing. At the end of the day I got over these fears by just committing to making the career change and going for it with all my effort.
What sealed the deal on Coding Dojo? Why did you choose us over other programs?
The part-time accelerated program fit my schedule as a teacher, the technology stacks available matched up with what I expected to need to get a job, and the price was great compared to many other bootcamps.
What was it like getting ready for the bootcamp? Were you nervous, excited, etc.? How did you prepare?
I was super excited about the bootcamp. I love learning new things, especially about programming. I prepared by spending as much time as I could researching all the fundamentals of web development by watching YouTube videos and using apps like Sololearn.
Walk us through your first few weeks in the program. What were the parts you liked? Parts you struggled with?
I loved everything about the program, especially when we got into JavaScript and adding logic and real functionality to our websites. My teachers made learning the content super easy.
How did you overcome the obstacles or struggles you faced?
Whenever I struggled with something I would reach out to my cohort members and we would work through the problem together and if we couldn’t get it on our own there were always TAs at the ready to help us.
Do you have any fun anecdotes to share about your time in the bootcamp? Make good friends? Fond memories?
I don’t have any specific memories to share off the top of my head but I did make some good friends during my time in the Dojo and we still communicate and update each other about our careers in a Discord group.
When your graduation date was approaching, how did you feel about your skills and job prospects?
I felt pretty strong about my abilities as we approached graduation. I hadn’t started applying to a whole lot of jobs yet, because I was still teaching and had another month and half on my contract before I could start a new job.
How did the job hunt go? Where did you land a job?
My job hunt went fairly well, a lot of applying on LinkedIn with limited responses, however I would get contacted by companies and recruiters in waves. I ended up landing my current job with Cdev by applying through an email sent out to Coding Dojo alumni. Coding Dojo submitted my application to Cdev and got me an interview, and within a week they had hired me.
Beyond the coding expertise, did the bootcamp give you anything else?
I got a lot of practice with talking about code and I think that helped me in the job search and in my current job.
What advice do you have for others who are interested in coding bootcamps or who are just starting one?
My advice is to put everything you can into the bootcamp and it will reward you handsomely. Be an active learner and participate in lectures, ask questions, and challenge yourself every chance you get. Your success is completely up to you Coding Dojo will give you all the tools and guidance to be great you just have to take them.
What are your goals/dreams for the future, say 5 or 10 years from now?
My goal in the next 5 years is to be a senior developer in a company earning six figures.
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If you are interested in learning how to code and upgrading your career, Coding Dojo bootcamp offers accelerated learning programs that can transform your life. We offer both part-time and full-time online coding courses, as well as programs training you on Data Science, Cybersecurity, and UI/UX Design. We also offer financing options, scholarships, and other tuition assistance programs to help you with financial barriers.
If you want to invest in yourself and your future, there is no better time than the present! If you’re interested, use this link to schedule a 15-minute exploratory session with one of our Admissions representatives today.