Coding Dojo

Coding Dojo Alumni Success | Ye Zhang

How Our Data Science Bootcamp Upgraded Ye Zhang’s Career

Pre-Dojo:
  • Worked as a Quality Management Coordinator
  • Was interested in gaining data analysis experience to advance her career
  • Desired working with healthcare data to make changes and improvements
After Dojo:
  • Works as a Data Analyst
  • Has a new thought process working with data to find new solutions 
  • Has a great knowledge foundation to build upon for years to come
Program: Data Science Part-Time bootcamp
Testimonial:

I really enjoyed the Data Science Part-Time program and I gained a lot from it, not just skills in data analytics and machine learning but also a way of thinking when dealing with data.

Tell us a little about yourself. Age, hobbies, passions, and what you were doing (professionally) before the bootcamp?

I have a background in Healthcare Management and Health Informatics. I had been working in the Quality/ Process Improvement domain in the healthcare field for a few years. Prior to the bootcamp, I found myself more interested in data analysis and passionate about working with healthcare data to make changes and improvements.

Beyond the desire of learning more about data science, why did you decide to enroll in the bootcamp? 

I really enjoy working with data and wanted to move to an opportunity where I can use more of my knowledge and skills in data analytics and also gain more expertise in the field. I really enjoyed the Data Science Part-Time program and I gained a lot from it, not just skills in data analytics and machine learning but also a way of thinking when dealing with data.

What fears or doubts were “holding you back” from enrolling? How did you get over them?

I was a little afraid of not being able to acquire as much knowledge as I would like to from a 12-week program. I attended one info session and expressed my concern, then received positive feedback from the instructor. She mentioned that there are definitely lots of materials to share for students to learn after class and I also saw lots of good reviews on different websites. 

What was it like getting ready for the bootcamp? Were you nervous, excited, etc.? How did you prepare?

Yes, I was a little nervous as I knew it is going to be intense to complete the course during 12 weeks while having a full time job and a little kid to take care of. But I felt more excited about being able to learn about data, as well as knowing what I would be capable of after the program and what possibilities might be out there for me to explore after the program. 

Walk us through your first few weeks in the program. What were the parts you liked? Parts you struggled with? 

I think I enjoyed the entire process. I really liked the additional resources that our trainer recommended.

How did you overcome the obstacles or struggles you faced? 

I did not encounter obstacles. We had office hours twice a week and the trainer and TA were very available to us for any questions or concerns. They are amazing!

Do you have any fun anecdotes to share about your time in the bootcamp? Make good friends? Fond memories? 

I think being able to meet a group of people who have similar interests and a passion for data, as well as being able to learn from each other and solve problems together was very inspiring.  

When your graduation date was approaching, how did you feel about your skills and job prospects?

I felt like I had a lot to prepare for before job searching. But the program provided a great foundation which allows me to quickly find the most useful resources and learn more in depth if I would like to go deeper on one topic. 

How did the job hunt go? Where did you land a job?

I had many interviews, most of them were data analyst positions in the healthcare field and I received a couple of offers. I now work as a Data Analyst! 

Beyond the data science knowledge and skills, did the bootcamp give you anything else? 

Yes, our trainer also created one session for interview preparation. She showed us how to showcase our project portfolio and the ways we can use things like GitHub, building our own website, etc.

What advice do you have for others who are interested in bootcamps or who are just starting one?

Definitely try your best to keep up with the progress and make sure to understand the basics very well. And try reading the additional resources and search for more resources to learn things more in depth as much as possible.

If you are interested in reskilling or upskilling to upgrade your career, Coding Dojo offers accelerated learning programs that can transform your life. We offer both part-time and full-time online courses focused on Software Engineering, as well as courses on Data Science and Cybersecurity. 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.