Oliver joined Makers bootcamp in February 2016 and is now the Chief Technology Officer at Radically Digital, a born-digital Tech Consultancy empowering companies to scale and overcome challenges. We caught up with him to hear about his impressive career progression and his top tips for starting out in tech after the Makers bootcamp.
When did you join Makers?
I joined Makers in February 2016.
What was your ambition and motivation at the time? Were you switching careers?
I was switching careers and came from a background in control system engineering, so it wasn’t too dissimilar from designing systems that people would use in order to work with. I went to a convention, and they announced the new and exciting improvements they were going to release. And one of them was ethernet, which, has been around for quite a few decades. So I decided to switch over to software development to be involved in something a little bit more fast-paced and exciting.
Why did you choose Makers?
I applied for a couple of apprenticeships but unfortunately due to my lack of experience in JavaScript and common web languages, I wasn’t successful. I heard about various coding bootcamps that were running and decided to research them. There was a quote on Makers’ website from a former student that really stood out. They were talking about how Makers was essentially the Marine Corps of bootcamps and I enjoy a challange so that really piqued my interest.
What did you think of the Makers experience?
I didn't know what to expect but thought it was just going to be hardcore programming every single day. I tried to follow a couple of web tutorials In the lead-up and they dropped you into the deep end. So I assumed that Makers would prep people a little bit more about the rhythm and understanding of how to code and structure an app.
Where Makers really caught me by surprise was the fact that the syllabus covers a lot more than just software engineering. A lot was around what to expect when you start a developer job.
Makers gave me a smooth transition into a brand new type of industry. When I started Makers I would have been very comfortable starting in a large corporation and just being another number, but the team opened my eyes and helped me realise that’s probably not what I would most enjoy. And the plethora of different types of companies out there.
How did Makers change or impact your career?
Makers really changed my perception of companies. I initially would have been more interested in a much larger corporate environment, but being made known of these liberal and impact-driven companies gave me a different perspective on what to expect from work and how a company could work and operate.
What did you learn or gain at Makers that helped you to build a career in tech?
Initially, I thought I was going to struggle with coding the most but fortunately for me that came quite easily. It was definitely learning a new way of working — how to communicate with other people and pair program was definitely an interesting challenge. I didn’t initially enjoy it but learned to love it in the end and it’s key in any software developer role.
I’ve said to quite a few friends that for me Makers was like a rehab experience where I learned to de-stress, take a step back and reassess how I would engage with work and other people.
Do you think that people are now more open to bootcamp hiring than in the past?
Definitely. At companies that I’ve worked for in the past, there was a bit of a battle when you’re up against somebody with a computer science degree. However, I think bootcamps are becoming a lot more popular and mainstream as an entry point into software engineering careers. Therefore it’s become a lot more well-known, respected, and accepted among companies.
What do you think are the core differences or benefits of hiring Makers versus university graduates?
At Radically Digital, we actually prioritise hiring bootcampers. We like bootcampers because they come from a range of backgrounds. So instead of sobody that has studied a four-year computer science degree, you’ve got someone who has usually started a career and realised that it wasn’t for them. Then picked up coding either as a hobby or from a friend or via bootcamp. Then they’ve decided to pursue that as their career going forward.
I don’t want to make a blanket statement, but bootcampers are generally a little bit more sure in their careers and that it is definately something that they want to do. And there is a lot more passion initially, which is quite infectious within a team.
What would you tell anyone now thinking about taking a bootcamp?
It’s challenging, but it’s probably the most rewarding choice you’ll make.
What advice would you give recent bootcamp graduates in building their career after bootcamp?
Learn as much as you can. Take it easy for the first year or two rather than chase a career ladder. Look for a company where you can learn and interact with your users and actually see how people want to interact with your app. Prioritise learning what you immediately have access to and what the company can provide you.
If you suddenly have the ambition to learn Go, then learn Go. If the company that you’re working at is a creative agency then embrace front-end development and learn how to interact with the designers. So really master the craft or the area that you have access to, enjoy it and have fun.
If you’re thinking about learning to code or launching a career as a software developer then you can find out more about our next bootcamp cohorts here . If you’re still unsure then why not attend one of our live Q&A sessions which covers everything from our cutting edge curriculum to our dedicated career service.
