Studying to code so that you could land a job in tech can really feel daunting. That is why we’re sharing inspiring tales from Codecademy’s group — to point out how folks 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 isn’t any single path to a extra fulfilling work life.
At the moment’s story is from Andrew Polemeni, a 28-year-old Senior Software program Engineer at Ford Motor Firm, dwelling in Ormond Seaside, Florida. Learn extra tales from Codecademy learners right here — and be sure you share your story right here.
Why I selected to study to code
“Earlier than school, I labored within the meals service trade, as a result of it was the one job I might get. I did make an enormous transition in highschool: I used to be a dishwasher, then made a soar to server.
Once I was going to school at Daytona State College, I obtained an affiliate’s diploma in Music Manufacturing Know-how and needed to turn out to be an Audio Engineer, which I not discover a viable profession choice and is extra of a pastime. I switched majors to IT, as a result of I’ve at all times been a technical individual and was good with computer systems.
I used to be inclined to go the cybersecurity route after school. I virtually landed a job in cybersecurity, however my professor obtained me thinking about studying coding. I had taken some coding lessons, however I wasn’t too into it, so I put it on the sidelines. I needed to take a information buildings and algorithms course, however I did not know JavaScript, so I needed to get up-to-date on that.
After some time, I needed to do extra of the coding stuff, and Codecademy actually helped with that. I began doing the JavaScript course, and because it obtained simpler, I did a bunch of programs. Something I needed to start out studying, I simply used Codecademy.
I appreciated the side of cybersecurity the place you’re serving to safe companies. I felt like coding was the way in which to go, as a result of if you do not have bugs in your code, you are not going to have safety points. I appreciated that, as an alternative of simply doing the defending facet of issues, I might construct merchandise higher.”
How I made time to study
“I nonetheless wanted to spend additional time studying to code, since an IT diploma does not focus on coding. It is extra of a smorgasbord of issues, like safety, venture administration, networking, and person expertise. I simply spent just about all my free time studying nothing however coding, in order that approach, I might be job-ready. I principally discovered to code after I used to be achieved with my classwork. I’d shovel meals in between, after which simply return to doing Codecademy.
You’ve obtained to be devoted to it. When you study, it is just about clean crusing from there. What I discovered from Codecademy is that if you happen to study a pair languages, they’re all just about the identical. It helps to know that if you are able to do one language, there’s only a totally different approach of doing issues in one other.”
How I saved up sufficient cash to change careers
“I labored at quite a lot of service trade jobs at native eating places, Dairy Queen, and Publix. After quitting Publix, I did have cash saved. I went to my school and took a work-study job, which was paying like $8 an hour. I used to be in a position to pay for Codecademy this fashion, simply by doing month-to-month funds.
Once I was doing Codecademy, I simply sort of saved cash and simply tried to place it apart, as a result of I believed that was actually necessary. And I believed I’d in all probability receives a commission again finally for it.”
How lengthy it took me to land a job
“My plan out of faculty was to get into cybersecurity, however after going via 5 job interviews and getting rejected, I used to be advised that I’d make a greater developer. I am glad that occurred although, as a result of I quickly discovered cybersecurity not as attention-grabbing as coding, the place you create the instruments. With the data of each, I believed I might write safe instruments, which is the long run in any case.
It took me a number of months out of graduating school in 2019 earlier than I landed the job at Stetson College, which paved my approach for future success. I utilized for jobs at in all probability 50 locations earlier than making use of to Stetson, and it was the one job I had lined up once I graduated. It is undoubtedly arduous once you’re beginning out with no expertise, you’ve simply obtained to get it any approach you may.”
How I obtained within the door
“My professor was job boards for college kids and advised me to use for this Internet Developer job at Stetson College, however among the necessities have been PHP and jQuery, and I did not know these two languages. I used to be like, Okay, properly, what do I want to check up on? I took the Codecademy jQuery course and PHP, after which I used to be just about up and operating. Codecademy helped me decide it up rapidly because the hands-on guided strategy is one of the best ways to study for me.
From there, I landed a job at Oshkosh Company, the motorcar producer that makes hearth vans, as a result of I needed to change from doing PHP to doing principally Java and Angular. That was the route I needed to go, because it’s extra profitable and future-proof than LAMP [Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP/Perl/Python] stack jobs. I needed to be totally again finish as a result of I favor that facet of issues extra. I labored there for a couple of 12 months earlier than shifting to Ford Motors.
My LinkedIn is at all times totally up to date, so it is just about a direct copy of my resume. A recruiter reached out to me on LinkedIn in regards to the job at Ford Motors. They advised me that this job could be a 50% bump in pay, so it sounded prefer it was actually nice.”
How I nailed the interview
“I did need to do a slight technical interview, however it wasn’t something loopy. It was simply answering some coding questions, however they weren’t actually that onerous. I interviewed on two totally different groups and ended up getting picked up on this one workforce.
One of many questions that I used to be requested within the technical interview was, Do the Fibonacci sequence in Java. The opposite one was like, Are you able to clear up this check case? Are you able to repair this code? However one factor I’d say for different people who find themselves interviewing is that you do not have to be the perfect or most technically proficient. Your persona is the place it actually shines.”
How I evaluated the provide
“For me, it was the truth that I might have extra mobility to finally change groups if I needed to. Beforehand, once I was a Senior IT Analyst, I labored on this web site that mainly sells aftermarket elements to retailers. I must discover one of the best ways to optimize the bottom transport price — and that is all I sort of would do.
Working at Ford Motors has a side of mobility. Say, if I needed to do machine studying on automobiles or issues like that, I in all probability might soar to doing that or I might transfer to a different workforce to do back-end stuff finally.
After which the pay bump that they supplied me was nice. Each job that I’ve taken for the final three years has given me a 50% bump in pay. Once I first began I used to be making about $47,000, after which I am all the way in which as much as like $130,000.”
How day one & past went
“In my present function at Ford Motors, I principally do front- and back-end growth. So I’m designing the person interfaces and performing some information stuff.
Having a background in Java and Angular actually helped me put together for this job. I felt slightly bit extra assured coming from my IT job at Oshkosh. However it’s at all times tough once you’re switching jobs to get adjusted, as a result of it is like studying an entire new codebase. It is sort of like being a freshman once more, and you are like, Okay, the place does this go? Which classroom do I’m going to?”
What I want I knew earlier than I began studying
“I want I knew to stay with one factor and simply get actually good at one language, quite than attempting to observe all of the tutorials.
My recommendation is to know what you need to do forward of time. The toughest half once you’re beginning out is deciding, do I need to do front-end or back-end? Do I need to be a Knowledge Analyst? Do I need to be a Machine Studying Engineer? There are such a lot of totally different careers and paths you might take. I am nonetheless sort of deciding if I need to transfer extra in the direction of Massive Knowledge stuff.
Generally you simply get put into locations the place you need to transition, and it takes longer than you’d anticipate, however you simply need to be affected person. Be perseverant and do not get your hopes down; you may get that job finally, it should simply occur.”
Study like Andrew
See the programs and languages that helped him most.
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