Juneteenth Fireside Chat: Breaking Into Tech in Today’s Market

In June, Jamaica Bryant, Director of Content & Community at Codesmith, sat down with Codesmith alums Lea Fox and Qwen Ballard to discuss their journeys into software engineering, the job search process post-Codesmith, and their advice for standing out in today's job market.
Meet the Panelists:
Lea Fox: Lead Software Engineer at Mint Mobile
Qwen Ballard: Software Engineer at Smartcar
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:27 - Panelist Introductions
06:24 - Can you tell us about your journeys into software engineering?
10:49 - How can prospective Codesmith residents leverage community, networking, and mentorship opportunities inside or outside of Codesmith to enhance their chances of successfully breaking into tech?
16:41 - Lea, were there organizations or communities you found helpful in your journey breaking into tech?
18:35 - Qwen, did you have a target industry list prior to joining Codesmith?
21:21 - For folks considering a coding Immersive, how beneficial is it to have personal coding projects or to contribute to open source products?
25:14 - What advice do you have for folks preparing for a coding Immersive?
28:54 - What resources or tools from Codesmith or elsewhere had an impact on how you are able to compete in today's tech market?
34:00 - Lea, did you consider re-entering your previous industry in a technical role?
36:14 - Qwen, how do you stay motivated, productive, and keep up with the latest trends and demands in the software engineering market?
37:43 - Lea, when folks are considering software engineering roles, can you explain what it means to be a full-stack engineer versus a front-end or back-end engineer, or a lead software engineer?
41:19 - Audience Q&A
Join the Codesmith community
• Learn JavaScript for free and join a supportive coding community on CSX, our self-paced learning platform: csx.codesmith.io/
• Join our weekly JavaScript workshops: app.codesmith.io/coding-events
Follow us to stay updated
• Facebook: / codesmithhq
• Instagram: / codesmithio
• Twitter: / codesmith_
• LinkedIn: / codesmith-llc
• TikTok: / codesmith.io
#softwareengineer #coding #JavaScript #softwareengineering