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 neighborhood — to indicate how folks such as you (sure, you!) can embark on a studying journey and find yourself with a completely new profession. We hope these tales function a reminder that there’s no single path to a extra fulfilling work life.
At this time’s story is from Matthew Ogtong, a 29-year-old iOS Developer at Comcast, residing in Philadelphia. Learn extra tales from Codecademy learners right here — and remember to share your story right here.
Why I selected to study to code
“I initially went to school for enterprise, then I transitioned to laptop science at NJIT. I truly don’t have a level; I dropped out round senior yr to pursue coding full time. I used to be in a position to land a task in IT help whereas I used to be nonetheless in school, and I labored there for a couple of yr. Fortuitously, I used to be sitting subsequent to the engineering division, and plenty of my coworkers had been contemporary bootcamp grads. I used to be like, ‘You guys don’t have levels in laptop science? How’d you get this job? This sounds insane to me!’
A few the senior engineers had been having this mentorship program for different folks within the firm who had been fascinated about studying tips on how to code. I used to be the primary one to say, ‘I need to do that.’ I cherished it. I discovered some net applied sciences like JavaScript React and even contributed a bit of bit to their supply code. I joined Codecademy in 2019 and I took just a few programs.
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The pandemic hit in 2020, and since I labored in IT, the vast majority 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’d have the ability to juggle college and a coding bootcamp.”
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How I made time to study
“What I discovered from my coworkers is that the individuals who actually stand out from the remainder are the individuals who additional research outdoors 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, serious about the initiatives that I needed to construct. I additionally stayed away from plenty 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 residing at dwelling with my mother and father, and I wasn’t paying hire. I simply saved saving cash from working IT gigs. Since my function was impacted immediately from Covid, I used to be in a position to obtain unemployment advantages. That additional $600 every week undoubtedly helped so much. If I wasn’t receiving the unemployment advantages, issues would have been rather more tough for me.”
How lengthy it took me to land a job
“All of the jobs I noticed on Certainly and LinkedIn had been like: ‘You want Python expertise. You want Java expertise. You want JavaScript expertise.’ I believed, I can’t study all these items! It took me six months to be employed right into a consulting agency, the place they educate you cellular growth applied sciences and assist you land your first consumer and contract.”
I used to be attempting to get my ft moist with open-source contribution, and I believe 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 yr, primarily contributing to Docs. I used to be attempting to get my ft moist with open-source contribution, and I believe 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, at the very least simply to provide a bit of intro for anybody that’s visiting your web page.
I had over a yr of cellular growth expertise, so I contributed to Swift and SwiftUI Docs. Contributing to Docs is very easy; the documentation could be very intuitive and really complete. The method is streamlined, and all of the maintainers are pleasant. And now in my job I exploit GitHub every single day and Git for all the things.
In April 2023, I joined a brand new agency, they usually [placed me in] the function at Comcast as a ‘contract to rent.’ So if all the things goes nicely, then they’re anticipated to rent me full time.”
New to open-source software program?
Contributing to Docs is a superb method 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 may additionally assist you land a job.
How I nailed the interview
“It was undoubtedly probably 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 dwell panel on the Comcast Know-how Middle, which is a large constructing in Philadelphia.
There have been three folks from the group: the Supervisor, the iOS Developer Lead, and the Scrum Grasp. They gave me a listing of options and API endpoints, and an hour and a half to principally 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 entire day, and the interview was at 4 pm. My abdomen was growling the entire interview, and I used to be sweating in my go well with.
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 night time and mentioned, ‘We wish 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 today.”
How I evaluated the supply
“Instantly, I used to be like, I need this job. The principle factor for me was the group. That is my first hybrid function — two days in, three days distant — which is ideal for me, as a result of I type of miss the workplace. My first impressions of the group, the vibe they gave off, and the tradition that they offered as an organization had been the primary engaging elements. The supply was increased than my expectations, and the potential for profession development on this place is de facto good as nicely.”
How day one and past went
“The primary week at Comcast was nice. They received me settled in immediately, and I received my laptop computer on the primary day. On the second day, they only 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
“Choose one expertise that you simply’re keen about and decide to it. Keep it up and study these abilities. Going again into time, I’d 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 type of linked in that sense.”
Undecided the place to start out? Take a look at our character quiz! We’ll assist you discover one of the best programming language to study 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 a part of the discussions in our neighborhood.