From Technical Consulting to Software Engineering: How Logan Miller Transformed His Career

When Logan Miller embarked on a software engineering bootcamp in 2022, he brought with him a wealth of experience from his previous career in technical consulting. Over an intensive six months of study, he added a slew of in-demand programming skills to his arsenal, transforming himself into a competitive candidate for coveted software development roles. His hard work paid off when he landed a Lead Developer position at My.Suit just a few months after graduating.

Logan‘s experience is far from unique. Across the country, professionals from diverse backgrounds are choosing to invest in coding bootcamps to break into lucrative careers in tech. The numbers speak for themselves – the coding bootcamp market is projected to grow by 17% annually, reaching $1.1 billion by 2031. And with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasting 25% job growth for software developers this decade, it‘s clear that demand for these skills will remain hot.

So what exactly does it take to go from coding newbie to professional programmer in a matter of months? Let‘s retrace Logan‘s journey to see how he leveraged both his past experience and newfound technical chops to rebrand himself as a software engineer.

Consulting Skills Lay the Groundwork

Before his shift into software, Logan spent five years as a pre-sales engineer at a New York-based technical consulting firm. In this client-facing role, he honed crucial skills like:

• Translating complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to move projects forward
• Managing relationships with high-profile clients
• Delivering polished presentations and demos
• Troubleshooting issues under pressure

While these abilities may not seem to directly relate to writing code, they gave Logan a major leg up both during his bootcamp and later as a developer.

"My consulting background taught me how to be an effective communicator, which is so important as an engineer," Logan notes. "Being able to explain your code, document your work, and collaborate with designers or managers is a huge part of the job. I‘m really grateful I had the chance to sharpen those skills before becoming a programmer."

Accelerated Learning in Bootcamp

In early 2022, Logan enrolled in Programming School‘s full-time, immersive Software Engineering Bootcamp. Over the next six months, he underwent a grueling crash course in full-stack web development, mastering fundamental programming concepts and building increasingly complex applications.

Some key topics covered in the curriculum included:

• Object-oriented programming in Ruby and JavaScript
• Building web apps with popular frameworks like Rails and React
• Querying and managing databases with SQL and ORMs
• Deploying applications with cloud platforms like Heroku and AWS
• Following Agile development practices and using version control with Git

"I treated my bootcamp like a full-time job, often putting in 60+ hour weeks," Logan shares. "The pace was intense, but I was determined to absorb as much as I could. Anytime I got stuck, I would pair program with my classmates or call over an instructor for help. Making the most of the hands-on lab time was crucial."

This immersive structure is common in bootcamps and a major draw for students looking to quickly upskill. A 2022 survey by Career Karma found that 85% of graduates felt their bootcamp prepared them for a job in tech, with 73% employed within six months.

However, bootcamps are not for the faint of heart. The fast pace and heavy workload can be overwhelming. To succeed in this accelerated environment, Logan recommends:

• Time management: Treat your bootcamp like a full-time commitment. Make a schedule and stick to it.
• Advocate for yourself: Don‘t hesitate to ask questions and request extra help from instructors when needed. Be proactive about your learning.
• Lean on your cohort: Your classmates are your built-in support system. Pair program, trade resources, and commiserate together. A rising tide lifts all boats.
• Prioritize your mental health: It‘s a marathon, not a sprint. Make time for breaks, exercise, and self-care to avoid burnout.

Building a Job-Ready Portfolio

A strong portfolio of projects is essential for aspiring software engineers to showcase their skills to potential employers. Throughout his bootcamp, Logan built numerous applications to demonstrate his growing technical abilities, including:

• A Ruby on Rails e-commerce platform complete with user authentication, shopping cart functionality, and Stripe payment processing
• A JavaScript single page application that pulled data from a third-party API to display weather forecasts based on user geolocation
• A multi-user task manager app with a React frontend and Rails backend, deployed via Heroku
• A sleek personal website and blog built with Jekyll and hosted on GitHub Pages

"My favorite part of the bootcamp was collaborating with my peers on group projects," says Logan. "Working together to design and build an app from scratch gave me great practical experience for the kind of teamwork that happens on the job as a software engineer."

Indeed, a 2021 analysis by Burning Glass found that 25% of software developer job postings also called for collaborative development skills like pair programming and code review. Logan‘s group projects gave him ample opportunities to practice these key competencies.

Acing the Technical Job Search

After graduating from Programming School, Logan was faced with the daunting task of landing his first job as a professional programmer. He leaned heavily on the career services resources provided by his bootcamp, which included:

• Resume and portfolio reviews to ensure he was putting his best foot forward in applications
• Mock technical interviews to practice common coding challenges and behavioral questions
• Personalized job search strategy sessions with a dedicated career coach
• Access to a hiring partner network of companies open to considering bootcamp grads

Logan also leveraged his consulting experience to stand out in interviews.

"Coming from a client-facing role, I was really comfortable speaking to my problem-solving process and explaining technical concepts to non-technical folks," he explains. "I think that communication ability gave me an edge, even against candidates with more formal computer science training."

And Logan is not alone. A 2021 HackerRank survey of over 116,000 developers from 162 countries found that 32% of hiring managers prioritize problem-solving skills over programming language proficiency when assessing candidates.

After several months of applications, interviews, and a few rejections, Logan‘s dedication paid off when he accepted an offer to join My.Suit as a Lead Developer. In his new role, he collaborates with a team of engineers to design, build, and maintain the company‘s e-commerce platform and mobile apps.

Continuing to Grow as an Engineer

Now several months into his software engineering career, Logan is thriving in his new role but knows his learning journey is far from over. To continue sharpening his technical skills, he:

• Participates in weekly lunch-and-learns with his engineering team to share knowledge and dive deep into new technologies
• Sets aside time for independent study and building side projects to explore different programming languages and frameworks
• Attends local meetups and conferences to network with other developers and stay on top of industry trends
• Gives back to the bootcamp community by mentoring current students and recent grads

"One of the things I love most about being a programmer is that there‘s always more to learn," Logan shares. "The field is constantly evolving, so you have to stay curious and be proactive about developing new skills. It‘s challenging but also really energizing."

This dedication to continuous learning and skill development is a hallmark of successful software engineers. The Stack Overflow 2022 Developer Survey found that 85% of professional developers learn a new technology at least once a year.

For aspiring programmers looking to follow in Logan‘s footsteps, he offers this advice:

"Embrace the challenge and don‘t be afraid to fail. Learning to code is hard, especially in a condensed bootcamp environment, but it‘s so worth it. The tech industry is full of opportunities for those willing to put in the work. And remember, your past experience is an asset. Leverage those soft skills to become a more well-rounded engineer."

Key Takeaways

• Coding bootcamps can be a great option for motivated career transitioners looking to quickly gain in-demand programming skills
• Applicants with prior work experience in adjacent fields like consulting often have a competitive edge in the job market
• Building a strong portfolio of diverse projects is essential for landing that first software engineering role
• Successful programmers embrace continuous learning and proactively seek opportunities to grow their skills
• Soft skills like communication, collaboration, and problem-solving are equally as important as technical aptitude for thriving in a software development career

Feeling inspired by Logan‘s journey? You can learn more about Programming School‘s immersive Software Engineering bootcamp here.