Alumni Spotlight: Isaiah Carter

Guest User post

After a co-worker made the connection to a code school alumnus, this month’s alumni highlight, Isaiah Carter, found his way from sales jobs to a career in technology. Check out our Q & A with Isaiah and how his time at Carolina Code School prepared him for his first job as a Software Engineer!

What brought you to Greenville?

My wife and I moved here from Atlanta almost 5 years ago. We wanted something different. Greenville is family and dog-friendly which is fun! 

Can you share an interesting/fun fact about yourself? 

I really enjoy singing. That would be my thing. Most people don’t think about that when they look at me. I’m a pretty big James Arthur fan, though. I also used to lead worship at Christian Assembly Upstate where my wife’s grandfather has been a pastor for 40 years. 

What kind of experience did you have with technology before CCS?

I always enjoyed technology but never thought about it as a career. Previous sales jobs provided a surface-level understanding of design work, but that was it. I’ve always been someone who just enjoys learning, but I did not think there was a way to gain a deeper understanding of how the technology worked without years of schooling.

How did you end up at Carolina Code School? 

A co-worker noticed my ability and general interest in technology and made a connection with his son about his experience at the local code school that proceeded CCS. It was fun! The more questions I asked him, the more excited he got about his answers about his time in the program. He passed along advice that he wished he had known before going through the boot camp. I immediately applied after our conversation and saved for a year before attending the program.  

What was your experience like during the 12-week boot camp?

It was challenging but in a good way. I loved being able to bounce ideas off my classmates. My teacher, Mady, didn’t want to change the way I thought about writing code, either. She encouraged me to think about why I was building/writing code the way I was. We didn't have to fit into a specific style of writing, but rather learn how to write coding language as a whole.  

What was the most valuable takeaway from your experience with CCS?

Networking means a lot. I really believe that, especially after going through this program. I think that going above what somebody requires/asks of you to do is going to make that difference in the job search or hiring process. 

Tell me a bit about the process of applying to work at Kopis?

Mady recommended looking at this company, Kopis, and I had support from others at the school to put together a project to show them what I am capable of. I was able to present a new project and was lucky to be hired right as COVID shut everything down. I felt so lucky. So I’ve been with Kopis now for a year!

What was the transition like from CCS to working at Kopis? 

It’s been awesome. I’ve been able to have my hand in a bunch of different projects as a Software Engineer, which has been really fun. I work on whatever our customers are looking for, and if I don’t know what it is they are wanting, I learn it! Because of how Mady and CCS taught us how to learn languages instead of learning a specific language(s), it has set me up to be able to take on a variety of different projects. 

Have you enjoyed this move from a position in sales to a career in technology?

I’ve loved it. It’s taken some time to get used to the culture of the industry, but it has been cool to learn a new kind of work life. I love that I can create my schedule versus long hours and having to be “on” when the customer is “on”. Kopis, specifically, is really supportive, which is great. They are very communicative and often provide support and praise on projects, etc. 

You recently returned to teach the Foundations Course at CCS. How was that?

It was kind of surreal. I remember having that class a year ago and being able to come back as the teacher was a great kind of validation. It was really rewarding being able to see the “click” when people start putting something they didn’t understand together. I know exactly how they felt since I was just in that same position a year earlier. I would absolutely come back and teach again.

Do you have advice for those thinking about applying or currently in the program? 

I would say when school is done, your work is not done. Continue the habit and routine that the program helps you get into. If you give it 100% and don’t just meet the bare minimum, you will see results out of your work, truthfully. They are great people. They care and want to see you succeed as a person, not just in the profession. 

I am forever grateful for Carolina Code School. I think that it’s fantastic especially for people who like or have always been interested in technology. Anybody who has a genuine curiosity about how technology works should consider this program. It’s an underappreciated field because many are intimidated by the word “code”, but this program teaches and equips you with so much more than that.