How a Bootcamp Graduate Found Her Match in Software Engineering

Fullstack Academy tech bootcamp students come from a wide variety of professional backgrounds. As a coding student, you may attend class with career changers from a range of industries including retail, finance, business, and the U.S. military.

But what makes bootcamp training a practical choice for those looking for a new career, and how do skills gained from other industries translate to lasting success in tech?

Coding bootcamp graduate Molly Morse is an example of a professional motivated by the prospect of a career change into tech. After considering her interests and goals, she ultimately decided to rapidly skill up in preparation for a career in software engineering

“I really enjoyed my bootcamp experience! I started out in a part-time cohort and, after the first week, I decided it was not challenging enough, so I switched into the full-time cohort,” explained Morse. “The pace was very good for me, it was a bit quick at times, but I found most days I was finished early and able to find more time to practice on the skills we learned. I really enjoyed [my instructor’s] teaching style. He made the topics interesting and was very real with the actual purpose and use of the skills.”

With the full-time schedule now providing the right learning pace for her needs, Morse was able to focus on concrete skill-building using industry standard tools.

“One of the skills I think was the most helpful to me was Prisma. Prisma is a really cool tool that made working with databases so much easier for me. Using Prisma, I have started making a personal website and working on projects for friends who own businesses. Learning the databases and structures that go into backend development has been the most useful skill I have learned and I have really enjoyed learning other ways to implement the tools in my own projects.”

Now that Morse had become well-versed in the day-to-day responsibilities of a software engineer, it was time to consider her career change more broadly. Utilizing career-focused resources both within and outside of the bootcamp—including advice from family—she identified key transferable skills gained from past experiences to apply toward a career in tech.

Morse states that she quit her job and was unsure what she wanted to do next. Morse’s mother then suggested coding, as she really enjoys problem-solving and puzzles.

“If someone is ready to dive into something new, this is a great place to do it. They started with the absolute basics of computers, so even if you are unsure about your skill level, the instructors make it an environment where it is safe to ask questions and learn and improve. I would absolutely recommend this program for someone ready to join the tech field.”

Congratulations, Molly! Here’s to your journey in software engineering—the ultimate missing piece of the puzzle for your skills and interests!

If you love puzzles and want to find out if a coding career is right for you, get started today.