Graduate Stories

Mental Health Practitioner to Developer

KurtisPreview: Kurtis

How did you find your time on the bootcamp?

Northcoders is challenging but achievable, intense but fun, and fast but memorable. If you haven’t already dreamed about code, then be prepared to dream about code and nothing else for the next three months. In short it was great because the essence of the course was always one step outside of my comfort zone.

Northcoders is challenging but achievable, intense but fun, and fast but memorable

May 2019

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

I worked for 42’nd Street, a Mental health charity for young people between the ages of 16 and 25. I was working as a research project lead and Mental Health practitioner. I learned a lot, I had great managers, and I enjoyed the work.

What was the support like on the course?

The support was three fold: help during the class, help in the lab, and help from a mentor. This forms a solid support structure. Equally important is the cohort. Often an answer was one or two chairs away in the form of one of my peers.

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

I was give access to the jobs board, and two job channels on Slack: one personal and one for my cohort. I also had help with my technical CV and interviews. My questions were answered over the phone, in the office and online. When I was interested in a position I sent over a message to NC and then mostly received an interview and further related information shortly after.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking about applying?

Go short and long. In other words: code a little everyday and not a lot over a few days. Trust your mind to brood over what you learned the day before.