CCS Alumni: Where are they now?

Demo Day is one of the best days around here. The energy from the graduates, community members and alumni is contagious as we celebrate another successful cohort. What could possibly be better? Hearing about the success of our alumni maybe? We think so!

We first talked with Patrick about his experience with CCS just after completing bootcamp back in April 2021 (you can read it here). Read more to learn about what Patrick is up to a little over a year after his own Demo Day!

Remind us, where are you working/what’s your job title?
I’m currently a software engineer at Somo Global based out of the Charleston office. At present, it’s a lot of front-end work.

You’ve been out of CCS for a year now, what lessons from bootcamp are you keeping with you in your role?
Without a doubt what I learned about coding with others on group projects and knowing when to ask for help.

As a CCS alumnus, have you been involved with any of the cohorts or recent graduates?
Attend Demo Day to listen/watch the new graduates and their presentations.

What are you looking forward to most with your role/job?
I'm looking forward to growing and gaining more responsibility.

Do you have any advice for current students or those looking to apply to bootcamp?
My biggest regret is not asking questions sooner. One of my classmates asked questions any time there was even the slightest doubt about something. Be more like that. Don’t wait towards the end of the cohort to ask questions.

Lelia King, Executive Director of Build Carolina, reflects on Patrick’s path of becoming a software developer with these thoughts:

“Patrick’s story gives us a great example of the grit and persistence it often takes to make a successful career change. There are many different pathways into the tech industry, and following up a coding bootcamp with an internship at a company like Somo Global is a fantastic option. It may be hard to lose motivation if you aren’t immediately offered a full-time job right after graduating - but internships and apprenticeship programs are a great fit for entry-level developers who need experience on a software team. Congratulations to Patrick!”