Naturally creative with a flair for problem-solving, Felicia Fel has taken a cautious but determined approach to her career.<\/p>\n
Initially set on becoming a comic book artist, Felicia, qualified in 3D animation from Media Design School, embarked on a journey to find the perfect career. A couple of roles later, Felicia discovered her affinity for design.<\/p>\n
After experiencing the technical limitations of this work, Felicia sets her sights even higher, landing on the software engineering program<\/a> with the Institute of Data.<\/p>\n Felicia recently landed a dream role as a front-end developer. We recently caught up with Felicia, eager to congratulate her on her new role and to learn about her transition from designer to front-end developer and the part the Institute of Data played in her journey.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve always loved drawing. Growing up, I was either drawing or playing in the sun outside. Becoming a comic book artist seemed like a good fit and a natural progression for me.<\/p>\n After qualifying in 3D animation, I worked as a 3D generalist at several studios in Auckland. I was employed as a contractor, which I found quite tough, and while I enjoyed the work, I didn\u2019t feel as rewarded as I expected.<\/p>\n At that stage, I decided to make the switch to design. After working in design for a few years, I found myself frustrated at not being able to code. I was relying on WordPress and using plugins that didn\u2019t produce the kind of finish I was after.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve always enjoyed problem-solving, and I became curious about how to work it out myself.<\/p>\n I noticed the kind of projects the software engineers<\/a> were getting involved with where I worked, so I decided to give it a go myself!<\/p>\n As a kid, I was always interested in tech and how things were put together. I mucked around a lot, hacking Android phones and modifying my computer.<\/p>\n Studying tech seemed like a natural extension of this curiosity. I was a bit nervous about investing my own money, so I took advantage of a free course offered by the New Zealand government.<\/p>\n In the free course, we touched on HTML, CSS, and some JavaScript<\/a>, which was very surface-level. It became clear I needed more in-depth knowledge and skills to get the job I wanted.<\/p>\n After finishing the free course, I decided to invest more in a career in tech. That\u2019s when I found the software engineering program at the Institute of Data.<\/p>\n I first saw the program advertised on Facebook. I noticed it was partnered<\/a> with the Auckland University of Technology, which gave me more confidence because of the university affiliation backing the program.<\/p>\n I also had a great conversation with the student success team. They were really friendly, supportive, and accommodating. They explained everything, and that built a sense of trust. So I decided to go for it!<\/p>\n At first, I found it intimidating because I felt like I lacked knowledge compared to other people. I also found it intense, focussing and absorbing all that new information!<\/p>\n There were eleven of us in the program and a range of personalities. Initially, I found it quite challenging as the class was big but the one-on-one time with our trainers was invaluable, and I found the assistants to be really helpful and reassuring.<\/p>\n I found that the most important thing to do is do the projects on your own!\u00a0 By focusing on a problem, you can apply what you read to a real-life situation.<\/p>\n Applying your knowledge to a real-life scenario lets you see how things connect.<\/p>\n The breakout room is really useful because of the time with the assistants. Access to a dedicated assistant was incredibly helpful, as they could focus on my specific questions.<\/p>\n We did a lot of group work, and I found everyone in the class environment super nice and supportive. It was helpful to be placed with people who weren’t outside my scope.<\/p>\n I found the placement for group work with others around the same skill level worked well, taking the pressure off those who needed a little more time.<\/p>\n Because I wanted the freedom to travel during my breaks, studying remotely worked really well for me. Like everyone, during COVID, I couldn\u2019t travel and visit my family in Indonesia.<\/p>\n It was important to me to be able to have the flexibility to travel, so the remote study worked with my schedule.<\/p>\n When I was browsing on the Internet, I saw a community page on Facebook. The page functioned specifically for vet locums trying to find and coordinate work.<\/p>\n As far as I could tell, the vet locums were limited to this Facebook community for finding jobs, so I wanted to create something useful and helpful.<\/p>\n For my capstone project, I created a job board for New Zealand veterinarians<\/a>. I wanted to make a public website where vets could post their skills, qualifications, and specializations.<\/p>\n I wanted to create a space where people requiring certain services could see clearly which vet was most suitable for their particular job. I also included the facility allowing clinics to contact vets directly, speeding up and simplifying the process.<\/p>\n The capstone project was intense and stretched my time management skills. The environment was really positive. I found my trainer, classmates, and assistant all excellent. They were all so accommodating and supportive.<\/p>\n I had been in contact with a company since I first embarked on my new career in tech. Because I\u2019d kept in touch with them after I\u2019d finished the program, they were delighted to take me on.<\/p>\n The good news is I completed the online coding test and got the job!<\/p>\n I work as a front-end developer and also help with some of the UX design of the product. At my current job, they like my previous experience and the fact I can code well.<\/p>\n We learned React in the Institute of Data program, which has been very useful. I’m using a new framework called Next.js<\/a> – it’s basically a framework on top of React.<\/p>\n I like problem-solving. I like pulling things apart and then putting them back together. And it’s the same with coding.<\/p>\n It’s interesting to me how I can make a big difference after changing a few lines of code.<\/p>\n I also like automation.<\/p>\n I want to make things as easy and as automated as possible.<\/p>\n I found the Insitute of Data program more in-depth than any other program. Other programs don’t teach you the back-end, or they don’t teach you SQL and non-SQL databases.<\/p>\n The Institute of Data program was so thorough it gave me confidence.<\/p>\n When I did the coding test for my job, I was confident I would do well because of the content I covered with the Institute of Data program.<\/p>\n The course gave me the foundation and the confidence to say yes to the job, which I may not have had otherwise.<\/p>\n Go for it! Don’t overthink it. Ensure you’re prepared, but don’t be put off by job descriptions. If you haven’t fulfilled every aspect they’re requiring, apply anyway.<\/p>\n Keep an open mind about the company and know that you won’t match all the requirements for every single job. But just apply, apply, apply.<\/p>\n Being a software engineer<\/a> is about building and problem-solving. It’s a lot more creative than you might imagine!<\/p>\n Tech is fun! It’s an industry that’s constantly changing. With tech, there’s room to experiment and be creative.<\/p>\n Just remember, you don’t have to know everything. You can learn as you go. Be adaptable and be a problem solver. Learn how to learn. That’s the most important thing.<\/p>\n If you\u2019d like to learn more about a change into software engineering and finding your ultimate job, you can book a free career consultation<\/a> with one of our course advisors. They specialize in roadmapping your path so you can reach your goals faster.<\/p>\n1. How did you first become interested in tech?<\/h2>\n
2. What motivated you to do a course in software engineering?<\/h2>\n
3. How do you remember those first few days or weeks of the program?<\/h2>\n
4. The Institute of Data provides a lot of resources to students. Did you utilize any of these resources during the course?<\/h2>\n
5. How did you find studying remotely?<\/h2>\n
6. Tell us about your capstone project.<\/h2>\n
7. Tell us the story of how you landed your first job.<\/h2>\n
8. What do you enjoy the most about working in the industry?<\/h2>\n
9. How do you feel that the Institute of Data program prepared you for working in the industry as a professional?<\/h2>\n
10. What guidance would you give to someone applying for jobs after graduating?<\/h2>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n