How I Went From Struggling Single Mom to Software Engineer

Рет қаралды 27,168

Күн бұрын

In this episode, we have Joelle, a former struggling single mom who shares her inspiring journey from working dead-end retail jobs to becoming a thriving software engineer after taking the coding bootcamp path. Joelle opens up about the sacrifices, doubts, and ultimate rewarding payoff of teaching herself to code to completely transform her life and financial situation.
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Timestamp
00:00 Meet Joelle
00:49 The Turning Point in Joelle's Career
01:57 College vs. Bootcamp
04:39 Joelle's Bootcamp Experience
05:50 Balancing Act: Motherhood and Career Change
07:50 The Job Hunt Experience
11:52 Life After Bootcamp
17:59 Contract Work: Navigating the Freelance World
26:22 Advice on Contract Work
31:07 Closing Thoughts
#techcareers #softwareengineer #podcast

Пікірлер: 120

@cultureofcode Ай бұрын

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO RECEIVE: 🚀 Episode Summaries: Get the latest episode in a digestible format 💡 Coding Tips & Tricks: Level up your skills with practical advice from industry experts. 🔮 Tech Trends: Stay ahead of the curve with our curated digest of emerging technologies. 🎁 Special Offers: Be the first to know about upcoming events, courses, and podcast merchandise. 👥 Community Spotlights: Connect with fellow coders and see what our listeners are building. ✉ newsletter-signup-form-cf0560.zapier.app WANT TO SHARE YOUR TECH JOURNEY? 📒 forms.gle/jD8QMJKCMux7y82E9

@shuhussein1276 2 ай бұрын

I like this very much. I am a computer science student in my first year. I made a big leap from marketing to compsci at 29 years old.

@FernandaKrav 2 ай бұрын

Im 29 years old and this is my first year studing comp sci too :)

@shuhussein1276 2 ай бұрын

@@FernandaKrav That's awesome. Best of luck on your studies.

@AntonioPaezL 2 ай бұрын

Today is Mothers day in Mexico , so this video just highlights how hard working mothers are....I am her new fan!!...she is awesome!!

@pedro.zurita 2 ай бұрын

Congratulations on having the determination and grit to completely change your life and that of your baby. Not many people can pull this off even with all the help in the world. Many people use family as an excuse to stay behind when really it is the #1 reason to push forward.

@latanezimbardo7129 2 ай бұрын

and money...

@Fabulousviccen 2 ай бұрын

Beautifully said ❤

@projectsspecial9224 2 ай бұрын

I'm so happy for her! Happy Mother's Day week!😊

@AshJae Ай бұрын

Many people don’t have parents they can move back in with

@OrlandoVallejos 2 ай бұрын

Congratulations! You’re an example for many people out there that don’t know what to do and are only making minimum wage

@WestFreedom4668 2 ай бұрын

I'm guessing she is a single mother who either did a divorce and removed the father from her daughter's life or did she know who the father is. If I'm wrong on this and she is a widow, sorry for assuming the above.

@joellejohnson4392 2 ай бұрын

Thank you! Worth every bit of hard work.

@Missesfixit Ай бұрын

@@WestFreedom4668there are not only two choices. You must be very young.

@AjaySingh-xd4nz 2 ай бұрын

This is so feel good story. Mothers can go to any extent for their kids. Salute ! Happy Mother's Day!

@KarMa-ws3ll 2 ай бұрын

Great insights,very impressed by Joelle!

@Penpaper 2 ай бұрын

I’m happy for her success, she seems to deserve it and worked hard. But the same time most people won’t have an experienced mentor to guide them, that makes a big difference

@cultureofcode 2 ай бұрын

Definitely! What other topics you want us to tackle next?

@kadiscojustice 2 ай бұрын

Wow her story is so inspiring 😊 Congratulations to you 👏👏

@vc663 Ай бұрын

Congratulations to you. Hard work pays off 😊

@ola...o1009 2 ай бұрын

Info packed. Thanks

@cultureofcode 2 ай бұрын

Thank you! What topic would you like us to cover next?

@Todd.Albert 2 ай бұрын

You're an inspiration to others!

@chanyoung3725 2 ай бұрын

Proud of her.

@mirahmedalikhan2415 2 ай бұрын

God bless you Madame!

@happyhippyhaven 2 ай бұрын

Excellent

@PhilippAurand Ай бұрын

Heya! Cool intervie✨. There was a lot of useful information and things to take into consideration on the journey. Joelle's story is very inspiring. I thinks she mentioned that she was too busy to use social media consistently but does she have a LinkedIn of Github account that you could post in the description? unless she preferred not to share that info

@kanamenoname210 2 ай бұрын

The viggest issue i have is getting a job. I get interviews but barely make it past the initial screening

@SelfTaughtinTech 6 күн бұрын

Technology is freeing so many people, love to see it!

@cultureofcode 2 сағат бұрын

Definitely, Daj! That's the mission!

@SelfTaughtinTech 2 сағат бұрын

@@cultureofcodecouldn’t agree more! Cheers 🍻

@airborneranger-ret 2 ай бұрын

Kudos to you :) LIked and subbed.

@cultureofcode 2 ай бұрын

Thank you! What other topics are you interested in us covering on this channel?

@michaelallen1154 9 күн бұрын

I've heard that the software boot camp thing is nearly defunct though now. Was she the last to slip through before it all tanked?

@hassansyed6087 2 ай бұрын

Hey Joelle & Culture of Code, Congrats on your story and I can't imagine how difficult all the material must have been coming from a non-coding background Can you tell us a bit more about your interview questions and the behavioral part (if you had one)

@cultureofcode 2 ай бұрын

Most interviews will be standardized. That is it’ll be leetcode for technical questions. Either look up the company’s tagged most frequent questions or just do the “Neetcode 150”. For behavioral look up Amazon leadership principle questions and use the STAR method for answering.

@hassansyed6087 2 ай бұрын

@@cultureofcode "Company’s tagged most frequent questions" --> That's key. Thanks for the tip !

@joellejohnson4392 2 ай бұрын

My interview was not traditional. They knew that I was capable technically, because of the dashboard I had helped build for them. My interview was mostly "Can you work in person? What position do you want to be in?"

@TheGameShocker 2 ай бұрын

Good for her. Good story. Thanks for this.

@cultureofcode 2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! Any topics you want us to cover in the future?

@TheGameShocker 2 ай бұрын

@cultureofcode not sure. But I see you have other interviews on your channel. I'm just researching and exploring other people experience before I try my hand at this tech thing

@kparag01 2 ай бұрын

I thought that I m late to programing 😊

@user-kw8qe5fk8v 2 ай бұрын

Keep it up mom!

@cultureofcode 2 ай бұрын

Thank you! What other topics do you want us to cover?

@user-kw8qe5fk8v Ай бұрын

It wasnt my intention to ignore you, What's your criteria regarding how to raise children in a proper way? Everyone has different criterias bout it?

@PropTechFounder Ай бұрын

Hey great video. I have a story that I think you would find interesting, I went from being a real estate agent to software developer. Would love to be on this show!

@cultureofcode Ай бұрын

Hi Gustaf! We'd love do have you on! Can you fill this form so we can reach out to you? forms.gle/7pqENdZReYJAciiHA

@cruzergo 2 ай бұрын

When did this interview happen?

@cultureofcode 2 ай бұрын

Last month! What other topics do you want to see us cover?

@tenminutetokyo2643 2 ай бұрын

You have 15 years to save money, then they will get rid of you. Better have a 2nd plan lined up to keep the mortgage going.

@dorskiee19mcg88 2 ай бұрын

Which bootcamp was it? Thank you

@60secondanimals41 2 ай бұрын

She said code academy

@atoms.channel Ай бұрын

@@60secondanimals41 pretty sure she said 4Geeks Academy ... 4:00

@cultureofcode Ай бұрын

this 👆

@aleksandrakuliczkowska1995 2 ай бұрын

Has she entered the field in 2023? What year?

@joellejohnson4392 Ай бұрын

Began studying Spring 2022, college Fall 2022, Bootcamp Oct 2023- Dec 2023, started salary position Feb 27 2024.

@MrJoseTiger 2 ай бұрын

How long did it take you

@joellejohnson4392 Ай бұрын

Just shy of 2 years from first exposure to html to Data Analytics position.

@brianfreeman2200 2 ай бұрын

I want your help

@cultureofcode 2 ай бұрын

Email me cultureofcode@gmail.com

@ProgrammingWIthRiley 2 ай бұрын

Go to a boot camp, but study the craft

@hinalpatel6115 2 ай бұрын

what is bootcamp name

@atoms.channel Ай бұрын

I think she went to 4Geeks Academy ... 4:00

@InspireUplift-nj6rf 18 күн бұрын

What bootcamp did she attend ?

@cultureofcode 18 күн бұрын

4Geeks Academy

@638DESTRUCTION 2 ай бұрын

What language / stack did she learn?

@joellejohnson4392 2 ай бұрын

In college, I learned Python, C, C#, Java, and SQL. In bootcamp I learned JavaScript, Express APIs, Node.js, React, React Native, Mongodb, Firebase, MySQL, PostgreSQL. So FERN, MERN. I highly recommend learning FERN, MERN, and Python. Most of my work is in Python because I deal with a lot of data.

@638DESTRUCTION 2 ай бұрын

@@joellejohnson4392 That's excellent! Do you recommend learning more of the data science route (python / sql) vs the web developer / full stack route? What languages and frameworks have helped you land the most jobs / contracts? I am coming from a different background. I'm 45, earned my Bachelor's degree in IT later in life (40 yo) after working in IT support for 20 years and raising a family. But now I find that I'm ready to pivot from IT support and networking into a development role.

@koconutkirby4135 Ай бұрын

@@joellejohnson4392you are such a inspiration ❤

@810Batman 2 ай бұрын

Hate to hear the story, salute on the shot at life!!! If nothing else KZfaq is about to drop you a bag for the views!!! 🎉😊🎉😊🎉😊🎉😊🎉

@cultureofcode 2 ай бұрын

Thank you! What other topics do you want us to cover?

@guillermofeller3451 2 ай бұрын

beautiful woman 😘

@jermainemyrn19 2 ай бұрын

11k for the whole year should be illegal. That's pre meditated murder if she didn't have family support

@nyahhbinghi 2 ай бұрын

11k is less than minimum wage, sounds like she only worked a few months that year - the answer is better jobs

@cultureofcode 2 ай бұрын

Yes it must have been a struggle. what other topics do you want to see us cover?

@joellejohnson4392 2 ай бұрын

I worked only part time for 9 months last year. It was the hardest time I've ever had financially.

@user-ky4hc1bx7s 2 ай бұрын

6000 applicants per job...goodluck

@atoms.channel Ай бұрын

learn to network, make your own luck

@paulanderson2963 2 ай бұрын

Next video How I went from a software engineer to an anti-Ai activist. I am just teasing 😊 Congratulations on your current path. Just remember that life continuously transitions and so this is just for a time.

@cultureofcode 2 ай бұрын

Haha! What other topics do you want us to cover?

@justchris846 2 ай бұрын

$11,000 ? fuck were you working?

@dr.merlot1532 2 ай бұрын

I made about that much as a part time teacher/substitute teacher in 1 year. The fact is that despite having a math PhD, I couldn't find a job in software engineering for more than 1.5 years.

@IDontReadReplies42069 2 ай бұрын

Please stop convincing people to code it's already a senior only industry, we don't need more junior resumes flooding every job

@IDontReadReplies42069 2 ай бұрын

@ResearchSWE its not ego, it's simply wanting the tens of thousands of juniors who are unemployed, to ACTUALLY be employed. Your comment shows a clear misunderstanding of how the economy works. If none of the juniors get jobs because its been bottlenecked then no juniors are able to gain experience and become seniors! Swing and a miss buddy, you're embarrassing yourself

@sandman.38 2 ай бұрын

Thank you. You speak the truth amongst the pretend soothsayers in this economy. I’m a mid-level senior-ish dev with my own startup, couple previous positions under my belt, a recent MS in CS plus a BS in ECE, and it’s a disaster even getting an interview. People with no experience will go homeless if they try to pick up coding like it’s a shift at the local library. There’s nothing out there unless you get stupidly lucky. I have dozens of people begging me on Linkedin for a job even though i’m in the same boat lol I’m in NY and right now there’s absolutely nothing, I can’t speak for other areas, but in a big city like this it’s a troubling reality I can’t wrap my mind around. I’m tens of thousands of dollars deep in a dying, geriatric, and self destructive industry; my only option is Gov tech or the military tbh, getting laid off is a death sentence, you won’t get another job.

@sandman.38 2 ай бұрын

@ResearchSWE There’s nothing to ‘break’ into. There’s tens of thousands of unemployed SWEs right now that are exponentially more qualified and talented than this lady, including myself, to the point where there’s diminishing returns from knowing too much vs compensation. She’s not even on the bell curve for talent, there’s nothing to discuss in that department at all. My point being, this is not the industry to be switching over to if you have immediate financial problems. You will be worse off than where you started, find a sensible job in a solid sector. Being a generic programmer isn’t a stable career anymore lol, isn’t this clear to most people? You have to specialize yourself if you want a chance, and that takes more time and brain power than most people have to offer, just to land an entry level and get the same pay as a construction worker with their OSHA 30. And i’m being 1000% realistic right now, this isn’t pessimism this is me shouting from the abyss from my own observations. And remember just because somebody has a different opinion from yours, doesn’t mean they’re wrong, that’s why the world is how it is today.

@IDontReadReplies42069 2 ай бұрын

@@shallanrambaran7090 Oh okay, this random commenter on youtube says it isn't so lets just ignore every single survey, article and study from hundreds of different organizations saying it is, gotcha. Because HIS own personal experience is different, totally not anecdotal or anything. Nope no survivorship bias to see here or anything 🤣

@eluyegetnet6950 2 ай бұрын

So true

@S-we2gp 2 ай бұрын

DEI strikes again lol. Its always good to see people doing well, but I sure hope you have the humility to understand the leg up you were given and work hard to capitalize on it and help others.

@atoms.channel Ай бұрын

how do you know her hiring was DEI related? And yes, she seems to already appreciate the mentoring she got, and hopefully that shapes her to help others too.

@roblox21242 2 ай бұрын

*how i went from struggling single mom to software engineer single mom.

@navtektv Ай бұрын

just checking the comments to try to see if she's trying to sell me something...

@cultureofcode Ай бұрын

none :)

@SolarBang 2 ай бұрын

I want to be excited about this, but honestly this is a male dominated industry and most places are trying to meet diversity hire quotas and their are so few females applying a lot of times they are just auto hired.

@cultureofcode Ай бұрын

Diversity in tech is a crucial topic, and it's important to address these concerns. Creating a balanced and inclusive environment benefits everyone, and we need more discussions like this to drive positive change.

@SolarBang Ай бұрын

Agreed

@atoms.channel Ай бұрын

DEI or quota auto hires surely exist, but to to just blanket sweep her hiring (or intimating that it is) as a product of a quota seems far fetched. I've seen lots of places that hire for ability. That's also a very negative mindset to just assume that "all" places have some DEI agenda - if you have the skills (and can show you have the skills) you'll get hired... eventually, and what makes it easier is if others also trumpet your skills, aka the right kind of networking. Joelle had "luck", ie her skills to meet the opportunity + the right kind of networking to get her the audience to get hired.

@SolarBang Ай бұрын

@@atoms.channelYou are making a lot of assumptions. I never said she didnt gave skills or was auto hired. Sadly today you never know hence why I was robbed of excitement. I have plenty of friends today wondering if they earned their job or were auto hired. Its sad.

@atoms.channel Ай бұрын

@@SolarBang sorry if I misjudged your intent; your wording, but that you even bring it up here made it seem more leaning to that direction, also there was someone else posting in proximity spouting about DEI, not sure if one comment fed the other. I still think you need to recheck the validity of saying that "a lot of the times they are just auto hired". Alot of times' is so vague... 1 our of 3, or 1 out of 100?... unless you have actual data, it's like using a superlative "*all* those types are trash". Really 'all'?! No not 'all', and in this case I push back at you saying 'a lot', because that has varied weight depending on the reader's mind. Sometimes our wording or choice of words puts us in a darker place. ' Anyway, thanks for clarifying.

@travelvideoz 2 ай бұрын

Joined in 2020 when they hired anyone

@vinceocratic 2 ай бұрын

Before we reach for our single mom sympathy cards, how did she end up a single mom?

@ricardo19822 2 ай бұрын

Codecamp for 3 months is not = Engineer lol

@OCEAN-fc9wl 2 ай бұрын

I bet if you ask her to write a binary search algorithm she would barely be able to

@lollymanna 2 ай бұрын

The most important thing is she can put food on the table with her new career

@pope1089 2 ай бұрын

Wheres the father, does he not provide, wheres the government do they not provide

@FHi349 2 ай бұрын

@churchofsatan2041 2 ай бұрын

But your still a single mom

@ilokied 2 ай бұрын

😂

@StTrina 2 ай бұрын

She'll meet a nerdy dude at work eventually and she'll have him babysitting someone else's kid while she goes out on girls nights. She won't be single much longer.