Pre-Dojo:
Attained a career point without any advancement opportunities
I was interested in coding and tried my best to learn by myself, but couldn’t keep pace.
As a non-profit training coordinator and E-learning administrator
After Dojo:
Work as a full-time web developer
Has confidence in his ability and ability to learn new topics.
Willing to help others learn more about software development and coding
Program: Three Full-Stack Bootcamps in Los Angeles, CA
Testimonial:
I had friends and acquaintances who had attended other bootcamps, but they weren’t too enthusiastic about them. After Coding Dojo, I ran into an old friend. He was a software engineer. I spoke with him more, and he confirmed that it was possible to change careers.
Please tell us about yourself. Your age, hobbies, passions and what you did (professionally) before joining the bootcamp.
I am 33 years old and enjoy playing and learning new boardgames, watching sports, and making homemade ice-cream.
Why did you choose to enroll in a bootcamp for coding?
I had reached a point where I couldn’t advance in my career, but I was working in an unusual niche of nonprofits that didn’t offer many opportunities. I had to leave nonprofits if I wanted my field to continue. I felt it was the right time to transition to tech because I had always been interested in this area and had taken on these types of responsibilities in previous roles.
What were your fears and doubts that prevented you from enrolling? How did you overcome them?
I was unable to make the decision to quit my job, and bootcamps were too expensive. I had some friends and acquaintances who had attended other bootcamps, but they weren’t too enthusiastic about them. After Coding Dojo, I ran into an old friend. He was a software engineer. I spoke with him more, and he confirmed that it was possible to change careers.
What was the secret to Coding Dojo’s success? Why did you choose Coding Dojo over other programs?
In addition to talking with my friend, I attended open houses for different bootcamps. I felt that Coding Dojo’s instructors were more open-minded and involved. It was great to be able ask current students questions about their experiences. Through their lower tuition and availability of scholarships, Coding Dojo was more affordable than other bootcamps. I was also interested in Python at that time, which was something that other bootcamps didn’t offer.
How was it to prepare for bootcamp? How did you prepare for the bootcamp?
Although I was excited to make the decision to enroll, I had to wait several months due to my previous work. This only made matters worse. I tried to take some online courses for free, but I was too busy to finish the course. I had only a week between my job loss and the start of Coding Dojo, so I completed the pre-work assigned.
Talk us through the first few weeks of the program. Which parts were your favorites? What parts were difficult?
It felt new and I was able spend so much time learning new skills. The first few weeks were very exciting. The hardest part of the first week was the rapid pace at which we went from learning about divs and how to make them a certain color to creating a webpage in just a few days. I struggled with object-oriented programming.
What were your strategies for overcoming the difficulties you faced?
Our cohort was very supportive of each other and the instructors and TAs were great. Many of us stayed up late to ensure we could follow our schedules.
Do you have any funny stories to share about bootcamp? Make friends! Do you have fond memories?
We worked until midnight every night, some calling it “Dojo After Dark”. My cohort went out to eat after the second test, as we all failed on our first attempt. This helped us all bond together. Our cohort worked well together, and we still check in to each other to see how our lives are going and offer help.
How did you feel about your job prospects and skills as you neared graduation?
After acquiring three black belts I felt quite confident in my abilities, but I knew that my grades wouldn’t help me when applying for jobs. I knew that getting a job would be more difficult than bootcamp, so I was prepared for a challenging job search.
How did your job hunt go? How did you land a job at your current job?
The job search is a daunting task.