From Finance to Full Stack: How Programming School Helped This D.C. Professional Launch Her Software Engineering Career

The Programming School campus in Washington, D.C.

Sarah Johnson never predicted that she would become a software engineer. With an undergraduate business degree and six years of experience working in finance, making a drastic career change wasn‘t on her radar. But as she progressed in her finance career, Sarah increasingly found herself drawn to the tech side of things.

"At my last job, I worked closely with the engineering team to develop analytics dashboards and financial software tools," Sarah explained. "I became really fascinated by what they were building and how they approached problem-solving. The more I learned about coding, data structures, and software development, the more I could see myself wanting to do that kind of work full-time."

Realizing that software engineering could be an exciting and rewarding long-term career path, Sarah started exploring how to go about making the transition. She began teaching herself JavaScript and Python through free online courses in her spare time. While she enjoyed learning to code, she knew that to really make the career change, she would need to committed training to build her skills and credentials.

"I looked into master‘s programs in computer science, but I didn‘t want to spend years back in school while working full-time," said Sarah. "That‘s when I came across Programming School and the immersive software engineering bootcamp model. It seemed like the perfect option – an intensive program that could teach me the practical skills to get hired as a software engineer, without years out of the workforce."

After extensively researching different bootcamps, Sarah decided to enroll at Programming School‘s Washington, D.C. campus. She was drawn to Programming School‘s project-based full-stack web development curriculum, experienced instructors, and proven track record of graduate job placements.

"When I visited campus, I felt an immediate sense of energy and community," Sarah recalled. "It was clear how much the staff cared about each student‘s learning and success. Seeing the amazing projects that students were building also made the idea of becoming a software engineer myself feel achievable."

The Programming School Journey

In early 2023, Sarah began Programming School‘s full-time Software Engineering program in Washington, D.C. The immersive 15-week course would teach her full-stack development including Ruby, Rails, JavaScript, React, and SQL, as well as key computer science concepts.

From day one, the program was intensive and fast-paced. A typical week included:

• 40+ hours of class time including live lectures, group discussions, and hands-on coding labs
• 15-20 hours of independent project work and study
• 1-2 hours of career services workshops on resumes, personal branding, networking, and technical interviewing
• Ongoing support and check-ins with instructors and classmates

"It was definitely a challenging experience – I was pushed out of my comfort zone every single day," said Sarah. "But it was also incredibly empowering to realize how much I was capable of learning and building in such a short period of time. The curriculum was extremely well-designed to introduce concepts in a logical way and reinforce learning through practical applications."

Some of the notable projects Sarah built while at Programming School included:

• MealMatch – A recipe suggestion app that allows users to input ingredients they have on hand and get matched with recipe ideas. Built with Ruby on Rails and React. View on Github

• ArtShare – A social platform for artists to share their work, connect with other creatives, and discover new inspiration. Artists can upload images of their work and users can like and comment. Built with Node, Express, and SQL. View on Github

• FundrUs – A Kickstarter clone where users can create and back crowdfunding campaigns. Includes user authentication, image upload, and a payment integration. Built with Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, and Stripe API. View on Github

"The experience of taking an idea from concept to a functional, deployed web application was incredibly rewarding," said Sarah. "It gave me the confidence that I had the technical skills to build meaningful, complex software."

Launching Her Software Engineering Career

As graduation approached, Sarah worked closely with her Programming School career coach to prepare for her job search. This included:

• Refining her software engineering resume and cover letter to highlight transferable skills and Programming School projects
• Updating her LinkedIn and Github profiles to showcase her work
• Practicing technical interview skills like whiteboarding, pair programming, and talking through her code
• Attending virtual career fairs and networking events with Programming School‘s employer partners
• Identifying and applying to open software engineering roles aligned with her interests and goals

"The career support at Programming School was truly excellent," Sarah said. "I felt very well-equipped to navigate the job search process, even as someone changing careers. Programming School has built relationships with so many great companies that are eager to hire bootcamp grads."

Sarah‘s hard work paid off, as she landed a job offer within two months of graduating from Programming School. She now works as an Associate Software Engineer at a commercial real estate software company, bringing together her finance background and newly-developed coding skills.

"Getting that first software engineering job was really a dream come true," Sarah reflected. "I‘m so grateful for my experience at Programming School and how it launched my career transition. The skills and mindsets I developed there have set me up for long-term success in tech."

Outcomes and Outlook

Sarah‘s story is not uncommon among Programming School graduates. In fact, the most recent Programming School Jobs Report shows that 86% of graduates landed a job within 6 months, with an average starting salary of $75,000 in 2022.

The software engineering field in particular has a very bright outlook. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of software developers is projected to grow 25% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual wage for software developers was $120,730 in May 2021.

Tech opportunities in the Washington, D.C. area are especially strong and growing. The region is home to a diverse array of tech employers, from large corporations to innovative startups, government agencies to non-profits. Amazon‘s HQ2 in Arlington, VA is expected to create 25,000 jobs over the next decade. Microsoft, Google, and Meta all have large and expanding presences in the D.C. metro as well.

This all translates into high demand for skilled software engineering talent – and bootcamps like Programming School are playing a key role in meeting that need. With its project-based learning approach, career-change focus, and deep employer relationships, Programming School has earned a reputation as one of the top bootcamps for launching tech careers.

"I‘m excited to see how my career continues to grow and evolve, and I know the foundation I got at Programming School will serve me well," said Sarah. "For anyone else considering a career change into tech, I would highly recommend exploring Programming School. It was a truly life-changing experience."

To learn more about Programming School‘s software engineering and other tech bootcamp programs, visit flatironschool.com. Scholarships, payment plans, and financing options are available to make career transformation accessible. With campuses in D.C., New York, and more, plus a remote option, Programming School might just be your launchpad into a great tech career.