Today's spotlight is on Daniel Child. He has a background in Economics and found his call in Web Development. After completing Ironhack's 9 week Web Development Bootcamp at Ironhack Barcelona, Daniel found a great job opportunity in his native country, USA. Check out his story here:
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up in California, where I went to the University of California San Diego and received a degree in Economics. I moved to Spain in 2016 to design exchange programs for American international students who wanted to study in Barcelona.
What were you doing before you decided to join an Ironhack bootcamp?
I lost my job when the pandemic hit in March 2020, and was immediately confined to my home for the next several months. My unemployment ran out after a few months and I needed to find a way to make money but could not leave the house to look for work. My wife had done a data science bootcamp the previous year and recommended that I try something similar for software engineering. That’s when I started looking at different bootcamp options in Barcelona.
What convinced you that Ironhack was the right choice for you?
Finding the right bootcamp took quite a bit of research. Coming from an entirely different background, I wanted to make sure that when recruiters were looking at my resume, they would recognize my bootcamp as reputable. I spoke to some friends that worked in tech in Barcelona, and asked if they had heard of Ironhack. I received consistent responses that Ironhack tended to produce quality candidates and provide a solid foundation for people new to computer science.
Why did you decide to study in Barcelona instead of your hometown?
When I started my program, I had already been living in Barcelona for 5 years. Unfortunately we had to leave Barcelona when I finished the bootcamp because I received a wonderful job offer in the United States.
Ironhack's Web Development experience
What was your experience like on the course?
The bootcamp was intensive, and I would not recommend it to anyone who wants to have a social life or has other many other commitments at the time. With that said, it was an incredible experience to be a part of a group of people all experiencing the same thing: transitioning from one career into the intimidating world of tech. My colleagues were the best part of the experience. They make the all-nighters not only bearable, but fun and exciting. And we have all kept in touch since the bootcamp, helping each other throughout the job hunt and beyond.
What interests you most about your bootcamp topic?
I studied Web Development because I’m interested in building things from scratch and finding out how different pieces fit together. I was also aware that there were a lot of open job roles (and continue to be) in web development in Barcelona, and wanted a skill set that was likely to land me a good job. Working now as a software engineer, I really enjoy the collaborative component of working on a massive codebase. When you build a new feature, you become the expert on that topic, and people come to you for advice on how to work in that area! It’s a great way to feel ownership over your work.
Studying during the summer
And how was your experience studying during the summer?
I chose the summer program because it was the first one available to me! Also, I had no obligations in my life at the time and wanted to quickly gain the skill set that would allow me to start applying to jobs. The 10-week program FLEW by, which was perfect for the goals I had in mind. Barcelona is also a wonderful place to spend the summer, with lots of life in the city and beaches to cool down from the heat.
What would you say to those people who have doubts about studying at a bootcamp in the summer?
You have nothing to fear! Summer is a great time to dedicate yourself to something, and a great time to meet new people! I’m also a huge advocate for bootcamps to career-changers. Tech bootcamps offer an opportunity to quickly pivot, learn something new, and springboard into a new field.
Life After Ironhack
What have you been up to since graduating?
Shortly following my bootcamp, I was accepted into an apprenticeship at Microsoft. Upon concluding a 4 month program with them, I was interviewed for a full-time job in Washington and was extended an offer! This led to my family moving across the world and starting the next phase of our life. I have kept in touch with my classmates and see them whenever I am back in Barcelona. Lots of things happened in a very short time!
What are you looking forward to in the future?
I have a wonderful job at a fantastic company, with an amazing team. My career goal is to continue growing and learning every day, using the incredible resources available to me. My new job has allowed my wife and I to begin the next stage of life. We have moved closer to family, started saving for retirement, and are finally thinking about purchasing a home! I couldn't be happier with where my path has led me, and the doors that opened with my career change.
You can connect with Daniel on LinkedIn or check out his GitHub to follow his journey and learn more about his current projects.
Interested in switching careers to Web Development, like Daniel did?
We look forward to seeing you in class!
