Studying to code as a way to land a job in tech can really feel daunting. That’s why we’re sharing inspiring tales from Codecademy’s group — to point out how individuals such as you (sure, you!) can embark on a studying journey and find yourself with a very new profession. We hope these tales function a reminder that there’s no single path to a extra fulfilling work life.
Right now’s story is from Matthew Ogtong, a 29-year-old iOS Developer at Comcast, dwelling in Philadelphia. Learn extra tales from Codecademy learners right here — and be sure you share your story right here.
Why I selected to be taught to code
“I initially went to varsity for enterprise, then I transitioned to pc science at NJIT. I really don’t have a level; I dropped out round senior 12 months to pursue coding full time. I used to be capable of land a task in IT help whereas I used to be nonetheless in school, and I labored there for a few 12 months. Thankfully, I used to be sitting subsequent to the engineering division, and a variety of my coworkers have been contemporary bootcamp grads. I used to be like, ‘You guys don’t have levels in pc science? How’d you get this job? This sounds insane to me!’
A few the senior engineers have been having this mentorship program for different individuals within the firm who have been concerned with studying tips on how to code. I used to be the primary one to say, ‘I need to do that.’ I liked it. I realized some net applied sciences like JavaScript React and even contributed slightly bit to their supply code. I joined Codecademy in 2019 and I took a couple of programs.
Be taught one thing new totally free
The pandemic hit in 2020, and since I labored in IT, nearly all of my time was spent doing work within the workplace. They needed to scale back my hours considerably, so I simply began planning my subsequent strikes. I used to be like, I’m going to do coding full time. I gave my discover about three months later, and stopped college, as a result of I didn’t assume I might be capable to juggle college and a coding bootcamp.”
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How I made time to be taught
“What I realized from my coworkers is that the individuals who actually stand proud of the remaining are the individuals who additional examine exterior of structured bootcamps. You shouldn’t deal with [learning to code] as a 9 to 5. I knew this was going to be my future and what I needed to do, so I used to be coding after hours, studying new applied sciences, fascinated with the tasks that I needed to construct. I additionally stayed away from a variety of social media platforms like TikTok, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram — I just about solely have LinkedIn.”
How I saved up cash to modify careers
“Like many individuals in the course of the pandemic, I used to be dwelling at dwelling with my mother and father, and I wasn’t paying lease. I simply saved saving cash from working IT gigs. Since my position was impacted immediately from Covid, I used to be capable of obtain unemployment advantages. That additional $600 every week positively helped so much. If I wasn’t receiving the unemployment advantages, issues would have been far more troublesome for me.”
How lengthy it took me to land a job
“All of the jobs I noticed on Certainly and LinkedIn have been like: ‘You want Python expertise. You want Java expertise. You want JavaScript expertise.’ I believed, I can’t be taught all these items! It took me six months to be employed right into a consulting agency, the place they train you cell growth applied sciences and show you how to land your first consumer and contract.”
I used to be attempting to get my toes moist with open-source contribution, and I feel Docs is an ideal entry for anybody to attempt to get into that.
Matthew Ogtong
iOS Developer at Comcast
How I received within the door
“I primarily began utilizing Codecademy in the beginning of this 12 months, primarily contributing to Docs. I used to be attempting to get my toes moist with open-source contribution, and I feel Docs is an ideal entry for anybody to attempt to get into that. Earlier than you even begin making use of to jobs it’s vital to have a sturdy GitHub profile and a README in place for your self, not less than simply to offer slightly intro for anybody that’s visiting your web page.
I had over a 12 months of cell growth expertise, so I contributed to Swift and SwiftUI Docs. Contributing to Docs is very easy; the documentation may be very intuitive and really complete. The method is streamlined, and all of the maintainers are pleasant. And now in my job I take advantage of GitHub every single day and Git for all the things.
In April 2023, I joined a brand new agency, and so they [placed me in] the position at Comcast as a ‘contract to rent.’ So if all the things goes properly, then they’re anticipated to rent me full time.”
New to open-source software program?
Contributing to Docs is a superb strategy to begin studying tips on how to use Git and GitHub, lend your data to different learners, and construct your portfolio. Not solely will Docs enhance your coding chops, however it could additionally show you how to land a job.
How I nailed the interview
“It was positively essentially the most intensive interview I’ve had — interval. The primary was a screening with the recruiter, then it was a video name with the with the supervisor, the place he requested me a bunch of technical questions. There was a 3rd interview in-person with a reside panel on the Comcast Know-how Middle, which is a large constructing in Philadelphia.
There have been three individuals from the staff: the Supervisor, the iOS Developer Lead, and the Scrum Grasp. They gave me an inventory of options and API endpoints, and an hour and a half to mainly construct an app from the bottom up. I needed to clarify my thought course of all through the entire thing. I didn’t eat something that complete day, and the interview was at 4 pm. My abdomen was growling the entire interview, and I used to be sweating in my swimsuit.
They gave me an additional hour to wrap up, as a result of I bumped into some points with my code. They requested me if I used to be free that evening and stated, ‘We would like you to proceed engaged on this code, polish it up, put it in your GitHub, after which ship us a hyperlink.’ And that’s what I did. What I constructed for the interview is nonetheless on my GitHub to this present day.”
How I evaluated the supply
“Instantly, I used to be like, I would like this job. The principle factor for me was the staff. That is my first hybrid position — two days in, three days distant — which is ideal for me, as a result of I form of miss the workplace. My first impressions of the staff, the vibe they gave off, and the tradition that they offered as an organization have been the principle engaging components. The supply was greater than my expectations, and the potential for profession development on this place is actually good as properly.”
How day one and past went
“The primary week at Comcast was nice. They received me settled in straight away, and I received my laptop computer on the primary day. On the second day, they simply gave me a tour of the workplace as a result of I used to be new. We performed some ping pong; it was actually chill, and I used to be not anticipating that.”
What I want I knew earlier than I began studying
“Decide one know-how that you simply’re enthusiastic about and decide to it. Keep it up and be taught these abilities. Going again into time, I might have 100% chosen an iOS growth bootcamp over the generic software program engineering one. If you wish to, say, change and do one thing completely different, these languages are going to switch over. Every part is form of linked in that sense.”
Unsure the place to begin? Take a look at our character quiz! We’ll show you how to discover the most effective programming language to be taught based mostly in your strengths and pursuits.
Wish to share your Codecademy learner story? Drop us a line right here. And don’t neglect to be part of the discussions in our group.
