Diana Tineo

Diana Tineo lost her job during the lockdown, and the uncertain future was overwhelming for her as a single mother. Fortunately, while stuck at home, Diana received an invite to join a Career Karma webinar. This eventually gave her the confidence to finally join a coding bootcamp and change careers.

Diana shares with us how balancing parenthood and the 10-week Software Engineering Career Course at Boca Code paid off.

Tell us about your background. What were you doing before attending the program?

Before attending Boca Code, I worked in the real estate and construction industry as a property manager for private real estate investors. During the lockdown, I got laid off from that job, and as a single mom, that left me with a lot of uncertainty about what lies ahead. I dreaded the thought of going back to this type of work and knew I needed a more fulfilling lifestyle. I wanted the possibility to do something creative while also working remotely.

What motivated you to explore a new career, and why did you decide to pick Boca Code?

I had been first introduced to the possibility of becoming a software engineer through Career Karma back in 2018. And I had been toying with the Grasshopper app for a few weeks before I gave up due to my lack of confidence. It wasn’t until the pandemic hit, and we were all stuck at home that I received a call from Career Karma inviting me to join a webinar with [its co-founder] Ruben Harris. I showed up at the webinar and took as many notes as I could.

I was serious about a career change at this point, so, of course, I asked a million questions. I went through the career track, interviewed with five bootcamps… Fortunately, I found Boca Code, which offered me everything I was looking for and more. I graduated after 10 weeks and got hired in Week 10.

How did you finance your education?

I financed my education by using one of the bootcamp’s payment plans.

What did you like about the program? Are there any highlights that stood out to you?

I loved how invested the staff was in each individual’s success. I really appreciate their effort to promote you as a professional and put you in front of potential employers. They coach you every step of the way on what to do to be successful in this industry.

How did you fit the program into your schedule?

I made sure to block the next 10 weeks off my schedule to devote myself to the program. I can’t say that the balancing act of taking care of my kids was easy. That’s why it was important to be able to count on the people around me to carry a little bit of the weight during those 10 weeks.

Can you give us any examples of projects that you worked on during the program?

The school offers many opportunities to get involved in tech-related events, and through one of their efforts, I joined the South Florida Tech Hub Hackathon for Diversity and Inclusion. We put together a team of five developers and created a chrome extension to help the visually impaired have a better experience on the web. We used Azure’s computer vision API and JavaScript to describe images using the screen reader in real-time. We won first place!

Do you have any advice for someone considering this program?

If you’re serious about becoming a developer but have absolutely no technical background, you should start learning the fundamentals on your own before joining. This will give you some traction when you start, as it is a steep learning curve. You will be learning a lot and fast.

How did the program help you advance in your career?

The program taught me the essential skills that I needed to find a new job.

How did the program support you in finding a job?

During the program, they do mock interviews and technical interviews. They coach you during mock interviews and hold career fairs where they invite various companies to interview all of the graduates.

Was the job search process different from what you expected?

I didn’t have to search for a job. I was hired on the spot by one of the companies that were invited to the career fairs that they held at Boca Code during the last week of the cohort.

How many companies did you interview at? How did you choose which one to work with?

Because we get to interview with all of the companies that show up to the career fairs, I was able to interview with over 12 companies. I decided to accept a position at a local Ad Tech company, Playwire, in Boca Raton. I decided on this company because they have an amazing culture, and I knew it would be a fun place to work.

How are the skills you gained from the course useful in your current career?

I am currently applying many of the skills I gained at Boca Code in my current position. The bootcamp is heavily centered around JavaScript, Node.js, React, etc. These are amongst the technologies we use in the company where I am currently working. I believe this bootcamp really gave me the tools needed to succeed in my current and many other tech roles.

What do you think is different about your life now versus before the program?

Before the program, I felt a job was just a job. Now, I feel that I have a career that I’m truly passionate about, in which I can grow professionally and be creative. I feel more of a sense of job security, which for me, was one of the driving forces behind upskilling.

What do you find fulfilling about your current line of work?

I am really enjoying being part of a diverse team and having the skills to solve complex problems and come up with creative solutions every day as part of my job. I love being challenged and that I get to be creative for a living.

What do you enjoy about working at your current company? Are there any specific perks you enjoy?

I love the fact that my current company offers me the lifestyle I was hoping for. I get to work remotely, and I get to code and learn new things every single day. We have a really fun company at Playwire and constantly host BBQs, happy hours, and even cooking competitions.

Do you have any job search advice for someone considering a career in your field?

Once you are ready to look for a job, polish your resume and tailor it to your desired position. Make sure you work on projects which you can show to potential employers. Get involved in as many tech-related events as possible and network, network, network.