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Are you ready to be equipped for the in-demand rush of remote work? Are you seeking a higher salary than your current local offering through a change in career to tech? Microverse might be a viable solution. In this article, I share my Microverse's Full-stack Web Development Program experience and eight highly actionable steps to succeeding at Microverse.
Whether you have zero background in software development or a CS Degree with years of work experience, you can get closer to your career dreams upon successfully completing the Microverse's Full-stack Web Development Program.
I’m Steve, a software developer student at Microverse, a remote school that teaches software development through pair programming and project-based learning. After five months of personal preparation I began full time study in November of 2021.
My Microverse experience isn’t what I expected. It’s far better!
The short version:
“I love to travel. I want freedom to work from anywhere in the world.”
“I need sustainable income that aligns with my interest in tech and is able to finance my travels.”
What I found?
“So much more…”
As a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) for several years, I managed to satisfy my dream to travel and work. At least partly. Teacher salaries vary significantly as you move throughout the world.
Though it’s very possible to find a comfortable living through TEFL, I was ready for a change in career. That’s when I took my first online full stack software development course.
Upon finishing this course, I tried job hunting but was not successful. One night my wife said, “Look at this post on Instagram”. It was Microverse. Half an hour later, my Microverse experience began.
Microverse offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to connect students to a quick and accessible pool of global employment prospects. You can find a stack of in-demand technologies, namely: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, REACT, on the front end and, Ruby, Ruby on Rails, with SQL on the backend.
I found this stack approachable and beginner-friendly, while still holding high value in the job market. Diverse learning materials help you acquire highly employable skills including, but not limited to:
Build everything from pixel-perfect clones of FIGMA design specs using HTML5 and CSS3, to complex apps acquiring multiple API’s in Single Page Applications with React and Redux.
Conquer databases with fun multi-table builds in SQL and query like a pro. Deep dive into Ruby starting with a university library website to keep track of users, track check-in status of library resources, and add additional resources to the library database.
Intro to Rails. We build an app that gives you an understanding of what’s going on in the backend of your favorite blog websites.
To top these off, consolidate all new tech knowledge with capstones that utilize all the skills covered for a particular module.
These real world projects are great because they combine challenging core constraints with competitive industry designs.
At the completion of every module capstone project, you know you are ever closer to your goal of developer competency and increased employability.
1) Ask for help early - In order to get help, one must require it - slash away fears of being a burden and get the help you need.
2) Take advantage of being in groups with different coding experience and ability - In my Microverse experience, being at the same skill level with your team members is not a desirable environment. Frustrations arise when blockers come up, and as a group, there’s no way out - except finding someone with more experience. At Microverse sometimes you will teach others and at other times you will learn from others.
3) Ask for help as a team - This is so important to maximize development time while minimizing overall pressure to meet project deadlines.
4) Make a network of FRIENDS - You need help. I can’t count how many hours of debugging I’ve saved by just calling a friend from my network that could steer the path to the correct answer.
5) Be aware of your pair programming partners strengths - learn trust through professional communication. Sharing with your pair programming partners your blockers, or successes and strengths builds mutually valuable working relationships.
6) Leverage repeat weeks to your success! - My first repeat week wasn’t pleasant. I felt like a failure. Surprisingly, upon repeat I felt more confident (having completed the material already) and was able to reinforce my skills. I succeeded in knowing what not to do. Funny how that works!
7) Learn your true motivation - If you can pick yourself up from perceived failure, continue, or push past your comfort zones, you find that special spark that propels you to continuously move FORWARD. I feel this point should be number 1; but sometimes you do not discover motivation until you’re up against a hard deadline with little hope of finishing. That’s when you make a choice, “Will I quit”, or “Keep going?” There is a powerful reward in knowing the answer to either question.
8) Over-communicate - The key to success at Microverse and Software Development in general is being an expert at professional communication. When I met my pair programming partner during the final week of the JavaScript module, I had to make a decision; do I bring what I had feared into our week?
The choice was simple. I had to be honest. I told my pair programming partner that I felt weak in certain technical areas of our project. I didn't know how that news would be taken but I had to be bold to do so.
My honesty paid off. My coding partner had difficulties as well, though with availability for the week. Through communicating we were able to work toward amicable resolutions of our concerns. We completed our week three days early.
Before starting Microverse's Full-stack Web Development Program, I had zero experience in marketing myself as a software developer. I had no work experience in the field, and little technical education, with only one self-paced software development course under my belt.
I had started the process of applying to numerous job openings with dismal success. The agony of searching for employers interested in me and my skill set was nothing short of gruelling.
I can happily say that after just three short months of Microverse’s full-time program I have become visible in the job market. I’ve already had two recruiters reach out with job offers! Imagine what your outcome could be!
It’s never a sure thing when you find a service online. You can never be certain that what you see advertised is what you actually will receive. My Microverse experience though, from first contact, has been a breath of fresh air in the virtual trust space.
What I received and continually receive, is more than what is advertised. I learn each day more of what I am capable of, while sharing with similarly motivated and helpful people throughout the journey.
Applying the keys to success at Microverse, like making friends, not just a network, will prepare you for the world of software development that awaits. Your friend today could be your connection to lucrative employment tomorrow.
You can succeed at Microverse, even with zero experience in tech. Learn lifetime professional skills for your next, and subsequent job opportunities. Discover the joy of remote work, while comfortably communicating with beautifully diverse people around the globe.
Here's a video sharing more about my Microverse experience:
Happy coding future Micronauts!
Steve Wayde Dames Jr transitioned into web development after five years teaching English as a Foreign Language. He believes collaboration is the key to growth.
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