Graduate Stories

Musician to Software Developer

Mike's story

Mike's story

How did you find your time on the bootcamp?

I had a fantastic time on the course! It was fast paced but the curriculum was designed to keep the learning experience exciting and fun. I've also been lucky enough to meet some amazing people, many of whom I still see pretty much every week.

The networking and hiring partner presentations allowed me to meet many potential employers... when the interview came around, I felt confident and calm

July 2018

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

I was working as a full time musician, which I loved in many ways but didn't offer me everything that I wanted out of a career. Coding gives me a platform to be creative, while still offering the financial prospects and flexibility I really want out of a job.

What was the support like on the course?

I was very happy with the support I received on the course. I'd like to give a special shout out to Paul Copley who, not only really knows his stuff, seems to have an unlimited supply of energy and patience. Paul guided our cohort and many others through the back-end section, which most students deem to be the most challenging few weeks at Northcoders.

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

The off-boarding process was very smooth indeed. The CV and interview prep was invaluable as it was tailored not only to the roles I was applying for, but also to each specific company so I felt like I had an edge over other applicants. The post-grad networking and hiring partner presentations also allowed me to meet many potential employers beforehand in a relaxed, informal setting so that - when the interview came around - I felt confident and calm.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking about applying?

If you don't like wasting time and you want to go from a complete beginner to a job-ready developer as quickly as possible, take a bootcamp.