How did you find your time on the Bootcamp?

Northcoders was a great experience - I learned a lot and had a fantastic time. The course was well-organised and well-designed and the tutors on the course were very supportive and helpful. The highlight of the course for me was the project phase - it was extremely satisfying to work together in a team to transform an idea into a functional app in under 2 weeks.

What were you doing before the Bootcamp and what made you apply?

Before Northcoders I was working in retail and had just completed a degree in natural sciences. I had completed a few online programming courses and found them enjoyable so I was looking for a way into the industry.

What was the support like on the course?

The support on the course was excellent - the tutors were all friendly, patient, and supportive. Tutors were almost always available and were always helpful when running into problems or just providing feedback, advice, or encouragement.

How much support did you receive from Northcoders with your job search after the course?

The careers team provided valuable advice and feedback on CVs and cover letters, as well as offering mock interviews if requested. There were plenty of jobs posted to the Northcoders internal job board, with many of these companies being hiring partners of Northcoders and giving presentations on the roles. The careers team also checked in to see how the job search was going.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking about applying?

I would advise them to give it a go - there are many great, free resources online to get started and find out if they enjoy it. I would also advise them to experiment as much as possible when learning to get a feel for how things do and don't work. I would also advise them to try to enjoy the process of learning as frustrating as it can be at times, to be patient, and to focus on what they can do rather than what they can't do (yet). If they find that coding is something that they enjoy and would like to make a career out of then I think Northcoders is a great way into the industry - in particular, the project phase was an invaluable experience.