Why Earning Nothing for Six Months Was a Great Idea
In December 2016, as someone with little to no programming experience, I made the decision to leave my job in the finance sector and pursue a career in software development. I have always had a keen interest in technology but only recently while in my previous employment, the idea that it could be more than a hobby first emerged. Whilst engaged in a rather monotonous finance job, I found great enjoyment in programming a simple tool in Excel VBA. Through self-teaching I was able to build a tool which automated a process that saved my team time on a daily basis. It was this sense of programming something that could help people which led me to pursue a career in software development.
CodeClan
In order to hone my programming skills I enrolled on a 16 week intensive programming course through CodeClan. The course has been tailored by CodeClan through the feedback of CodeClan partners (such as SwarmOnline) to create full-stack software developers who on completion of the course can be slotted into an existing software development company. The course runs 5 days a week, 9 to 5 and with the additional daily homework it is definitely very intensive. However, the course offers a fantastic opportunity to learn a wide range of programming skills and I found the more you put in, the more you get back. Through a combination of coursework, homework, personal and group projects we gained experience in the following aspects:
- Ruby, Java, JavaScript programming languages
- NoSQL & SQL databases
- Mobile & Web development
- Exposure to React framework
- Importance of UX
- SOLID principles & Agile methodologies
The opportunity to work for SwarmOnline was one which I grabbed with both hands. Working at SwarmOnline offers the chance to work on a variety of exciting projects. In previous interviews I had been to, I was told that as a new developer I might be shielded from the real programming to begin with. However, something which I found encouraging in the interview for SwarmOnline was the idea that I would be working on projects from the outset. This quickly materialised after the first few days of introductions and typical HR related reading I was handed my first ticket on a real functioning JavaScript program. This was quite daunting at first however, I have found that I learn best through doing. In the relative safety of my newly created branch I was able to play about and understand the workings of what was the biggest codebase I had seen in my young programming career. The team surrounding me at Swarm is relatively small compared to some tech giants out there, however the support I have been offered has been fantastic. My colleagues have been there to point me in the right direction on coding issues and have spent time pair programming on more complex issues. Through the use of pull requests I have gained feedback and pointers on coding syntax or alternative solutions. With each day and each ticket completed I have continued to be able to continue my learning experience whilst also offering real input into a growing React project.
So after finishing my first project at SwarmOnline, what have I learned? I have learnt that I was correct in my decision to change careers. Software development allows me to face new challenges on a daily basis and the enjoyment which i gain out of facing these challenges whilst building something useful for the client is a great reward.
I am also very much looking forward to the apps which I will develop in the future at SwarmOnline as each new app allows me to continue developing my software development knowledge.
