Can you describe your experience during the final six weeks of the Northcoders bootcamp?

Absolutely! The final six weeks at Northcoders were an exhilarating journey. During this period, we delved into the front end and project phases of the course. It was a culmination of everything we had learned and a chance to apply our skills in real-world scenarios.

Before joining Northcoders, what was your professional background?

I was a freelance proofreader and editor. My job involved meticulously reviewing academic and business documents to ensure clarity and coherence. I had honed my skills in this role for several months and edited over a million words.

What inspired you to transition from proofreading to a career in software engineering?

The inspiration for my career transition came during a snowboarding trip with friends, two of whom were Northcoders graduates. Their enthusiasm for the program and their belief in my aptitude for coding convinced me to take the plunge. I enrolled in the software engineering course to embark on this exciting new path.

Can you summarize your initial six weeks at Northcoders?

Those first six weeks were enjoyable. Due to some self-study before joining the course, I found the fundamentals relatively straightforward. We explored various topics and even built a news API server during the back-end phase. Pair programming was a significant part of the learning process and taught me valuable teamwork, communication, and leadership skills.

How did the last six weeks of the bootcamp differ from the initial phase?

The final six weeks had a remote learning aspect. We had early mornings, strong coffee, and intense lectures that rapidly expanded our knowledge. What's interesting is that, despite feeling like we didn't make significant progress day-to-day, we accumulated a wealth of knowledge over time. The focus shifted to front-end development, which was delightful but also presented its own set of challenges.

Could you describe your experience with front-end development?

Front-end development was both delightful and chaotic. Unlike the structured tasks of the back-end phase, we were given vague briefs and told to go for it. This newfound freedom was both exhilarating and intimidating. My creativity fluctuated, and my partner and I decided to create a tic-tac-toe-themed game with a unique twist. The coding aspect was invigorating, but I struggled with CSS, which proved to be a tough challenge.

How did you deal with the challenges of CSS and front-end design?

CSS was indeed a hurdle for me. Designing websites involved more than just moving elements around; it required ensuring consistency, responsiveness, and preventing overlapping issues. I dedicated my bank holiday weekend to improving my CSS skills by seeking guidance from online resources. While I didn't become an expert, I certainly became more proficient.

What was the highlight of the final week of the course?

The final week involved creating a news website connected to our back-end servers. While the coding part was enjoyable, the design aspect remained challenging. To overcome this, I turned to Google for explicit CSS instructions, which proved to be a game-changer. I managed to create a sleek and functional website, which was immensely satisfying.

Could you share your experiences during the project phase?

During the project phase, I joined a team of five to develop an app for tracking ice cream trucks. We expanded the concept to create a location-sharing app connecting customers with local pop-up stalls. It was an intensive two weeks of coding and pair programming, filled with challenges and successes. We learned how to work effectively as a team and grew closer through the process.

How did you feel upon completing the bootcamp?

Completing the bootcamp was a moment of immense pride. Despite some last-minute bugs and moments of panic, we successfully finished the app. After thirteen weeks, I felt a sense of accomplishment as both a developer and an individual. We celebrated our graduation with hoodies, pictures, and a sense of readiness for our future careers in the software engineering field.

Check out Rich's LinkedIn to follow his journey.