Alumni Q & A with Ben Hungerford

Carolina Code School Alumni, Ben Hungerford tells us a little about himself, his journey, and his advice to others looking to become software developers.

Can you share an interesting/fun fact about yourself?

As a huge Office fan, I always tell people that my interesting fact about myself is that I was born in Scranton, PA. Get's a laugh, like, a quarter of the time.

What was your professional/educational background before attending CCS?

So, I attended college but never felt like anything I was learning was interesting or fulfilling. I didn't graduate with a degree, so I had to work whatever job was available to me. Every job I had taught me valuable lessons that I took with me. Before attending CCS I was working at a label printing company in Greenville.

What motivated you to seek a career as a web developer?

Over time I found myself hitting a ceiling in a few of the jobs I had. I knew that I needed some kind of skill I could hone to be able to take into a job that I could grow in. As I learned more and more about myself and the type of work I do best, I finally came to the realization that web development checked a lot of those boxes.

Why did you choose CCS for your bootcamp experience?

I actually know a couple of guys who have gone through the program. It was also important to me that I have an in-person experience. There's something extremely valuable about having a teacher to ask questions of and fellow students to bounce your thoughts and ideas off of. CCS definitely proved that it was worth it.

What has your experience been like since graduation?

After graduation we were off to go find jobs. Career services were helpful to keep me on track for building a portfolio and resume. I was fortunate to have some connections in Greenville to get my foot in the door at an agency. Having gone through the course was proof to them that I had what it took to understand how to be a web developer and made it a smooth transition for them to bring me on.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I really enjoy the agency type of work. Being able to work with different companies and help build relationships with them through what I do is where I'm focused. So, in five years I hope I will have a stronger network of relationships, a deeper understanding of my craft, and a group of people I love getting to do it all with.

Would you recommend the bootcamp pathway to others thinking of becoming developers?

Absolutely! For me, the value came through being able to work alongside others going through the same things as me. It goes by fast, but by the end, I felt equipped with how to keep learning. That's more valuable than just learning the information and I'm really grateful I had the opportunity to be a part of the cohort!