Give the gift of a new career in software development: A student's story
Written by James Emberson
For Kelly Cartwright, a place on the Tech Educators Software Development Bootcamp strengthened her technical knowledge and supercharged her career in tech, proving that education is a gift that keeps on giving for years to come.
Day one of our Software Development Bootcamp is always a mixed bag. There's excitement, nerves, expectation, and (usually) a bit of humble pie to be eaten by the end of the day. But that's how it should be when challenging yourself to learn something new. It isn't easy or comfortable, and if it is, you're probably not doing the right course.
For Kelly Cartwright, who graduated from the Tech Educators Software Development Bootcamp in March 2024, day one of the course was the start of a journey toward a new career.
"I remember the first week of the course being exciting but also a bit daunting. After setting everything up and getting into the groove of how the daily classes work, I realised that, to get the most out of the course, I'd need to get my head down and put in some extra work whenever I had the chance. But the commitment and structure didn't put me off - it helped me focus and made me more determined to achieve something special."
Utilising existing skills and knowledge for a new career
With over a decade of real-world work experience before starting the course, Kelly made a move into IT and software development after realising that her skills and knowledge could be utilised in a new career. Enhancing her existing abilities with further education and training was the next logical step.
"I'd heard good things about the Tech Educators course and was looking to build on the basic knowledge I'd developed via YouTube and other free channels. I didn't want to do an online course that left me isolated and wondering why my code wasn't working. Having daily interaction with the staff at Tech Educators was so important for me and many others in the group."
The group dynamic proved more important to Kelly than she'd initially realised. Working with the same group of people every day, facing and overcoming the same coding challenges together, creates a bond that helps everyone work through the course together and achieve their full potential.
"Being part of a community and learning together as a group was really important for me and other students. At the beginning, some people in the group struggled a bit with the social aspect of the course, such as being on camera, explaining the logic behind a piece of code, and working together in small groups. But by the end of the 13 weeks, everyone had made real progress and seemed a lot more comfortable communicating and working together."
Preparing for a new career in software development
The career guidance offered by Tech Educators helped Kelly prepare for the tech job market and the process of finding and applying for work. Alongside our support team, she was able to identify relevant roles and opportunities that would put her new skills and knowledge to good use.
"I had a good amount of work experience before doing the course, so I wasn't worried about applying for new roles and pushing myself to do things like research job boards and post regularly on LinkedIn. But the Tech Educators team had a dedicated student success executive, who was great at helping me prepare for interviews and identify the kind of qualities tech employers would be looking for in the real world. His advice was really useful, particularly when I was busy with the course and other life commitments."
Many students find our CV feedback sessions particularly helpful alongside our regular career development talks with experienced developers. Tech Educators' links with the tech community often provide a platform for students to showcase their skills and gain valuable work experience, and Kelly found herself looking at a wider range of possible job roles as a result of her experience on the course.
"Although the Tech Educators course definitely prepares you for a new career in software development, it also opened my eyes to other roles within tech, which is so useful. Related jobs within tech companies, such as product leads, project managers, and account managers, all benefit so much from the kind of experience you get from the software development course, and my confidence in applying for these kinds of roles was so much higher after finishing the course."
Why a place on our Software Development Bootcamp is an ideal Christmas present
So would a place on our course make a good Christmas present for someone special in your life? Kelly has no doubts that it would.
"Courses like this one really can change your life and career path. I know we hear that sort of thing all the time, but it's true when it comes to practical education courses like the ones Tech Educators teach."
We're currently offering people the chance to give the gift of creativity to a loved one this Christmas. Our 'Give the Gift of' package includes a place on our January 2025 Software Development course and a new laptop to help them learn all the skills they'll need to start a new career in software development.
To find out more about our 'Give a Gift of Creativity' offer, please follow this link.
About the Author
James is a Digital Marketing veteran with over 10 years in the industry. James delivers the Tech Educators Digital Marketing with AI course, as well as overseeing the marketing activities for Tech Educators.
