Alumni spotlight: Joe Powers

Question: What inspired you to go to coding school?

Joe: I enjoy music and play in a local band. One of the band members was a software developer that introduced me to his work and specifically a video game he was working on. While browsing through his game code, I helped him find and fix a bug. After that I was hooked. I did some research and found a great fit at Carolina Code School.

Question: Why did you choose Carolina Code School specifically?

Joe: I desired the in person instruction and the accountability of full day classes. I really regained my enthusiasm to learn from being back in the classroom with a strong drive to succeed.

Question: How much technical experience did you have before attending CCS?

Joe: Honestly, a lot. I had graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in mechanical engineering. I also gained some knowledge of coding and physics from my previous work experiences.

Question: What was your favorite part of the course?

Joe: The moments where the concepts clicked after not clicking for hours, days, and occasionally weeks. I also enjoyed doing victory laps around the classroom with my fellow classmates after resolving issues within our code.

Question: What was the greatest challenge for you during the course?

Joe: Being on time was always a challenge, but I think the mental fatigue building over the timeline of the course was the greatest challenge.

Question: What does your current workday look like?

Joe: First off, fantastic! I enjoy what I do and my team. On a typical day, I tackle bugs in the morning and spend the afternoons and early evenings working on larger projects and discussing code and life with my team. I also find myself wanting to work longer hours because I care about what I am doing.

Question: What advice would you give to someone thinking of entering CCS’s program?

Joe: First of all, go! Secondly, reflect on your proudest moment as a professional and decide if you truly owned it. Your career should inspire you and fulfill you as a person. That’s why I decided to change my career path.

Question: Are there any additional comments you would like to share?

Joe: Just a quick plug…my team at BandWagon is hiring now, come work with us! Bandwagon Website