If I can be open minded, patient and keep trying, I can learn and enjoy a skill that I never thought I was capable of.
After about 2.5months I got a job at
BCG Digital Ventures where I’ll be an Associate Engineer helping to build startups in the incubator. This job far surpasses anything I could have imagined getting six months ago!
What were you doing before Le Wagon and what led you to enroll?
I was a professional swimmer and I went on an indefinite break to explore other careers and find a new job in London. I was doing a private equity internship and got inspired to learn how to code and build something. I also thought it was strange that I didn’t know how software or the internet works, given that its such a big part of life.
Did you have any difficulties with learning during the Bootcamp, and (if so) how did you get over them?
Yes. When I couldn’t solve a problem or didn't understand a concept, talking to buddies (pair programming) and teachers to get a different explanation was one way. The other was to get different perspectives and explanations by researching online, acquiring more understanding that way.
How did you stay motivated throughout the course?
I didn’t touch my laptop on the weekend and made sure to switch off. It’s also fun to problem solve and for me having a problem to overcome is always motivating for me. Doing yoga during the day also helped too.
What was the best part of your bootcamp experience?
The project weeks. I enjoyed spending more time with a single group of people and bringing an idea to life, together. It was also great to get to know them better as prior to week seven, you’re working with someone different everyday.
What’s your experience post Le Wagon? What are you doing now? How long did it take you to find a job afterwards?
I took a month off to recover and go on holiday with family, but did a couple remote interviews and sent off some applications. Once I focused on the job hunt, I experienced the downs of no-replys, some “you’re not experienced enough” or “we have other more experienced candidates, sorry” before finally getting a job. This was better than my experience last summer before learning to code though; I was practically getting no response at all.
Doing all the interview challenges and experiencing rejection was invaluable because I became aware of my weaknesses and what knowledge I needed to acquire to get an interesting job. After about 2.5months I got a job at BCG Digital Ventures where I’ll be an Associate Engineer helping to build startups in the incubator. This job far surpasses anything I could have imagined getting six months ago!
What was the most valuable takeaway from Le Wagon for you?
I’ve realized that if I can be open minded, patient and keep trying, I can even learn and enjoy a skill that I never thought I was capable of. I really didn't enjoy or do well in the one coding class I took 10 years ago, but this time it was different.
