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Kim started her software engineering career during the pandemic from scratch. She lost her job and started learning code from a bootcamp. In 4 months she got a job as a software engineer. Watch as she describes her experience.
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/9ss1KedFLvo
Kim’s Bio:
My whole life’s purpose is to be helpful to other people. Originally, that desire led me to pursue a career in hospitality, where I could directly impact the one-to-one consumer experience through her attention to detail, clear communication, and forward-thinking. After moving to the US, I regained touch with my innate curiosity. Through the perspectives of new friends I’ve made in the US, I realize that I had long ago shut off a valuable part of my mind – one that was more about seeking and exploring. But this led me to a career crossroads.
I started looking into other options, harkening back to her childhood self, when her desire for answers sent her on interesting rabbit trails that led to even more questions. I was always looking for things and asking questions and making things that were crafty. I started thinking, what can bring me that sort of excitement again?
A friend suggested me try coding but I brushed off the idea at first because I’d never worked with computers in any serious way.
Then one day, I decided to try it on a whim, taught myself some Javascript and enrolled to Hack Reactor’s immersive program. I realized that with software engineering, I can make an even bigger impact because the world is changing so fast, only software can keep up.
After the bootcamp, I landed her current job as a Software Engineer at Intellivision Entertainment, a company whose mission is to unite people through affordable, family-friendly entertainment. work on the infrastructure cloud team, doing backend work to build out services for consumers. I have a lot of autonomy on the job, but simultaneously feels like part of a passionate, supportive team with mentors and coworkers all working together toward common goals.
Episode Highlights and Show Notes:
List of topics
0:07 – So tell us the story of how you got your first job during COVID Pandemic!
2:14 – What was it like going to a demanding coding bootcamp?
3:44 – Which technologies were taught in your bootcamp?
4:49 – How did you approach looking for your first job out of bootcamp?
6:24 – How much does it cost to go to a good bootcamp like Hack Reactor?
7:24 – During the COVID Pandemic, are the classes virtual instead of in-person?
9:40 – Do bootcamp offer guidance and mentoring and if so what does it look like?
11:01 – Is it hard to be accepted as a software engineer without many years of experience?
12:30 – How did you prepare for your interview to get your first job?
14:45 – Did you find it overwhelming in your first job when you started right out of a coding
bootcamp?
17:17 – Did it get easier after the first week as a new developer in your first job?
18:30 – How long have you been working at your first job?
18:40 – Is there anything you are passionate about?
19:31 – How can people get in touch with you?
20:04 – Salutations
Kim’s links:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimhienluu
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xmSi1ytopsssR1i3kKveg
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