My Journey to becoming a Software Engineer | Bouncing back from Academic Exclusion | UCT Graduate

[@lunarjournal]

Great video. Never been academically excluded but failed a couple of courses during my undergrad. I graduated in electrical and computer engineering at UCT and now work as a software engineer.

[@sithabilegwala8139]

It's so refreshing to see more South African KZbin Tech channels that we can relate to 🔥. Looking forward to more content 💃🔥

[@Napo4k]

Hi Sithabile, thank you so much for watching. More content coming your way 😊

[@KeketsoN01]

100% especially when just generally youtube is plagued with doctor content

[@relenkem2943]

I am a self taught front-end developer, I have been looking for a job for a while now, you really did help with this information

[@Napo4k]

Hi Relenkem, Thanks for watching and I'm glad you found this video helpful 🙏🏾

[@almasshussein6999]

Hi, have you found a job yet?

[@meandtheotheri8177]

The South African job market is fueled with nepotism. If you don't know anyone, you will need to sit countless of psychometric tests just to get 1 single interview and you will be abused for no more than 15 k per month (if that much). The reality of finding work in STEM in South Africa is far different to what society believe it to be.

[@thando__dyasi]

my goodness, I am only watching this video now and even though I am not in the software engineering space, I relate so much to your university journey as well as your working and studying case. I also started, a while back, at UCT doing ActSci and I resonate so much with your first year experience. It's so refreshing to watch someone, who hasn't had the smoothest of journeys, do so well for themselves in the end. Nah bro thanks for sharing your story with us. 🙏

[@Napo4k]

Thanks for watching bro, we made it out 🙌🏾

[@Gojo_S]

Thanks for the inspiration. I am currently majoring in Comp Science and Comp Engineering which is very scary for me since i have the fear of failure everyday. I am interested in software but i know nothing, like literally NOTHING. But this was inspirational and i hope everything works out for me too.

[@Napo4k]

Thanks for watching 🙏🏾. KZbin is the best place to start learning about software, but you’re already on the right track. All the best with your studies 🙏🏾 and I hope everything works out for you 🤞🏾

[@bhekindlovu8128]

We in the same boat broe...but its gonna happen...either way

[@ziziafrica4265]

Thanks for sharing this Napho, UCT showed most of us flames. Glad you made it ultimately & looking forward to more of your videos

[@Napo4k]

Hey Zizi, thanks for watching 🙏🏾. UCT was a lot 😧😮‍💨

[@sanembasa9907]

Bro I am currently studying Dip in ICT in Dut......It makes me so happy to see these videos you inspired me so much thank you

[@Napo4k]

Thanks and all the best with your studies bro 👊🏾

[@energy_positive]

good video......Bro thanks for the honesty.... def UCT(pass_mark): if pass_mark == 50% print(I_love_coding) else: print(I_dont_know_what_am_doing) To be honest I really like to enroll for computer sciences, but i dont meet min requiements.

[@monkisethojane2218]

Failing sucks.. Jo did computer engineering maths and electrical engineering was a nightmare.. I'm blessed that my family was around and helped me get my mind right.. being academically excluded is painful

[@Napo4k]

I'm glad that you made it through 🙏🏾🙌🏾

[@Beast-mw5bs]

You sir have just gained a subscriber. Cool Story man

[@Napo4k]

Thank you, really appreciate it 🙏🏾😁

[@YandaniMv]

Thanks alot for the video , Im also doing Bcom IS 2nd year , im glad I found this channel early.

[@Napo4k]

Welcome!

[@mabuzafrance8449]

Where are you studying

[@mafanedzanephawe9505]

also deregistered from actuarial science, I am now doing a data science learnership.

[@Napo4k]

All the best with your learnership 🙌🏾

[@janephaladi8234]

Hey,please plug me with the learnership program

[@KeketsoN01]

Love authentic South African content

[@Napo4k]

Thank you 🙏🏾!

[@onlyukhona]

Thank you for sharing your story❤❤❤, praying that this reaches out to the youth that needs this encouragement ✨

[@marothimohale4539]

Inspiring story bro💯 I'll be at uct next year for computer science ready for the challenge

[@Napo4k]

Thanks bro. All the best!

[@riam184]

Thanks for the information man! Your story is amazing and inspiring! I hate how they make us do accounting thou 😭all I wanna do is code and code 😂 I'm still studying first-year IT but I have a huge feeling I might start working here and there soon due to the demand in this field and I am also taking certification courses to increase my skills that universities do not offer. Thanks for this!

[@Napo4k]

Ahh thanks for watching and thanks for the kind words. The sooner you start working, the better 🤞🏾. All the best with your studies and I hope you get a job soonest 🙏🏾

[@Luthando_Mavundla]

Learnt a lot from this video, please upload more video based on Certifications. I studied at an IT college attained Microsoft certificates but I thought company's would prefer people with degrees over certifications. As I've now applied for a diploma in IT at Dut hoping I get accepted

[@Napo4k]

Hi Luthando, Thanks for stopping by. I will note down the idea for upcoming videos. Did you study software development in college? I don't think companies prefer degrees over certifications, I'd say companies want people who'll bring value, and if your degree prepares you for that then so be it, same goes with certification. I vouch for certifications mainly because you need tons of preparation to pass the exams in most cases and that could count as experience and that's something I never got from university.

[@lunarjournal]

Certifications are certainly better than nothing. In my personal opinion I do think there is a slight bias towards degree holders but overall if you're a good developer you will eventually break into the market. I once interviewed at this financial services company and the lead developer told me he studied at CTI so go figure...

[@simphiwerini9652]

Look at the curriculum at DUT n figure if its worth it. Someone said He only leant Data structures algorithms only in third year in DUT diploma.

[@sthokomasuku6089]

Thanks for the video, please do expand on other options a person may have on becoming a software developer. Academy's or even KZbin channels to follow that amy assist us in our quest to become Software Developers. Oh and please indicate what equipment or material one needs to study (i.e laptops, desktops, software, books etc)

[@Napo4k]

Hey Sthoko, thanks for watching 😊. I’ve filmed a video that touches on what other options are there to becoming a software developer kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJu9d4J_a5aMq5I. I don’t have a specific channel to recommend but I’m sure there’s plenty. You’d definitely need a laptop that has at least 4 gigs of ram. There’s an array of ebooks you can get depending on the programming language you want to learn, I personally learnt programming with python. I’ll do a video expanding more on this 😁

[@djay_kiddox]

Congratulations I'm the 190 subscriber

[@Napo4k]

Thanks for subbing 😁

[@angiengubane4543]

Consistenty 🔥🔥🔥

[@Napo4k]

Thank you Angie 😊.

[@andilemhlongo9121]

This video is so so helpful 🙉👌 thanks a million. Oh and personally I do want to know more about university courses that are worthwhile and open a lot of doors for you once you have the qualification. Or alternatively more about Torque IT

[@Napo4k]

Hi Andile, thanks for watching and I’m glad you found this video helpful 🙏🏾. I’ve filmed a video where I touch on certifications, please check it out and let me know if there’s anything in particular you would like to know kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJu9d4J_a5aMq5I

[@tokelomatile8778]

I studied mechanical engineering and to be honest when I got to work its not what I expected. I am contemplating switching to software engineering/computer science.. however I don't have 3 years nor the money to go back to university

[@Napo4k]

Hi Tokelo, thanks for stopping by. I’m sorry to hear that mechanical engineering isn’t working out for you. However you don’t need a degree to get into software engineering, I have a video on the way where I’ll be talking about exams you can write to get certified and apply for that software engineering post 😉

[@diugach8838]

You can become self taught too, internet has got you covered.

[@yandi3054]

I'll be camping here for that exam info. Thanks for the video too

[@quant_in_sa]

I thought I recognized you. I studied Actuarial Science at UCT in 2013 as well.

[@Napo4k]

Hi Thando, I do remember you. Thanks for watching 🙏🏾

[@sibahlemolphy4062]

Thank you so much for the video and information!

[@Napo4k]

Thanks for watching 🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@blackchild8365]

Was doing Chemical Engineering there in 2005 at UCT it was hell . Was excluded left to go to CPUT got my degree I am good now even did law and chemistry via UNISA . UCT was the worst especially in the 2000s the university was very untransformed. Imagine being a B Student in all 8 subjects higher grade from grade 12 and struggling 🤣

[@Napo4k]

Ahhh, I'm glad you managed to obtain your qualifications despite the adversities. Well done 🙌🏾 and thanks for watching 🙏🏾.

[@nosiphosiwono7936]

Hi I recently discovered your channel, your content is amazing

[@Napo4k]

Hi Nosipho. Thanks for joining 🙏🏾, I'm glad you're enjoying the content 😀

[@erpktiwari]

Excellent sir

[@erpktiwari]

Please consider subscribing and sharing

[@iMeme-q6x]

Lols. Varsities be throwing accounting at everyone. It's hilarious!!!

[@Napo4k]

Yoh 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@sbut4095]

you know?.... it's actually sooo ridiculous! 😂😂😂

[@realsandilemanyoni]

I hate accounting, worse I only got to learn it from varsity but I managed to pass it for semester 1 and 2 in my BCom IS first year

[@Napo4k]

@@realsandilemanyoni account sucks, I’m glad you were able to pass 💪🏾💪🏾

[@iMeme-q6x]

It never troubled me, but I don't think I needed it. I did it up to fourth year. Hahaha.@@realsandilemanyoni

[@sakhilemkhize338]

Hey Napo. I am happy you reached where you had always wanted to be ❤. I am inspired. I also wish to become a software engineer and I was doing matric last year, I did a bit well, enough for meeting the minimum requirements for Computer Engineering not Computer Sciences, because of the subjects I was doing. I need your advice as to I should continue with Computer Engineering should I get accepted or do a bridging course with Engineering then start Computer Science the second year? I don't know which one I need to be able to find employment when I finish my degree.

[@coletterapudi6954]

Good morning Napo,my daughter is very much interested in soft wear engineering, her matric subjects are pure maths,physics, life science and accounting. Which course should she take at university?is computer science what you'd recommend?

[@angelaberkies9474]

Hey I'll be studying Bsc in Math Computer science next year at UNISA , and I would like to start getting experience /full time job / learnership, any resources you recommend , and any technical skills I should be developing to improve my CV -

[@Napo4k]

Hi Angela, I'd recommend that you sign up for a udemy/plural sight account and then find a course of your choice. Depending on what you'd like to do there's different courses on both platforms, if you want to become a software developer, just decide on the programming language and then get started with a course. Once you've completed the course, you can then start aplying for jobs and doing technical assessments just to see how much you know and what you need to improve on. I hope that helps.

[@angelaberkies9474]

@@Napo4k Thank you so much , which language do you recommmend to start with , where do you get access for technical assessments for programming languages.

[@abdul-khaaliqdollie5244]

I really enjoyed the video. Well done for everything you have achieved. I took the other route and not cs degree of becoming a software developer. I recently got a job in the industry. Do you have any tips for someone who has never worked in a work environment, only an internship?

[@Napo4k]

Thanks for the kind words Abdul-khaaliq 🙏🏾. And congratulations on your new job 🙌🏾. One thing I'd say is to never stop investing in yourself, don't get ever get comfortable. Work on getting certified on cloud technologies etc, don't limit yourself to just doing dev work, never stop upskilling; in a year or two you'll get really far. All the best with everything 🙏🏾

[@giftkarabo9953]

Can one go into data analysis or data science with IS degree ?

[@Napo4k]

Hi, yes you can get into those fields with an IS degree.

[@khanyomnamatheli1667]

What are the subjects needed to be able to study software engineering,and what is the difference between Software Engineering and Computer Science?

[@Napo4k]

Hi Khanyo, the requirements to study computer science would vary per university. But i'd say maths would be the major prerequisite. Computer science is a course/ degree and software engineering is a qualification that is encompassed in computer science, I hope that makes sense.

[@omphilemohlala5321]

So you can for real become a software developer with a Information Systems degree

[@Napo4k]

Hi Omphile, yes you can. Majority of my classmates went on to become software developers. It seems to be the most common choice for IS graduates.

[@omphilemohlala5989]

@@Napo4k so you got to learn bout algorithms and data structure or you had to learn this type of things along the way of being a software developer .

[@KeketsoN01]

@@Napo4k that's really awesome yoh but I wonder if it's uct information systems only? Because I'm currently at wits and I can see they differ quite a bit

[@irenexplores]

Woohooo, Napo!!!

[@KeketsoN01]

Subscribed shem

[@Napo4k]

Welcome to the family 🙏🏾✨

[@zuney5268]

Hi there thank you for this video. Extremely helpful! I'm doing a Bcom IT degree, learning coding is fun and I'm also learning how to code outside of school. Which graduate program were you in please?

[@Napo4k]

Hey Zuney, thank you so much for the positive feedback 🙏🏾😊. The name of the company is FDM, it’s a UK company I’m not sure if they still recruit South Africans but you can check www.fdmgroup.com/careers/graduates/technical-graduate-programme/ . I hope that helps 😀.

[@zuney5268]

@@Napo4k Thanks so much your feedback was very helpful.

[@takundasm]

your story is so inspiring. do you have more advice on where and how uct information systems graduates can find dev jobs? i would love to hear from you.

[@Napo4k]

Hi Takunda, thank you! I'll make a video very soon speaking on that.

[@killerzane1796]

What were the requirements for admission information systems

[@Napo4k]

Hi Ubaydullah. Here’s a link to the 2022 prospectus, I believe the requirements are the same across the commerce faculty. www.students.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/image_tool/images/434/prospective/ug_prospectus/ug_prospectus.pdf

[@ntuthukomathebula4720]

I'm currently a first year DUT student doing a diploma in ICT. Your videos inspire me, I literally jus found you today but I got interested in your channel as soon as I saw ur thumbnails cause we are from the same race, country and sort of the same courses in terms of wat u learnt and what I'm learning so this is inspiring and motivational brother, keep up the good work and keep grinding..

[@Napo4k]

Thanks Ntuthuko, I really appreciate the support and all the best with your studies 🙏🏾

[@TheGreatKatski-K9]

at 34 is it likely to study and get into software engineering with no background or experience in it? I mean I would love to study code and development technologies. I dont have the money for a degree but would still like to get into the field and then progress and study further once established. How possible would you say this is? or how Likely is it to become a success in South Africa of all places. im based in Cape Town

[@Napo4k]

Hi, I'd say you can become a software engineer at 34, it all depends on how much you want to become one. if you really want to become one, I'd say try and get a subject that you're interested in and study that subject. If you need information on where to get all of this information, you can let me know.

[@TheGreatKatski-K9]

@@Napo4k I would like that. When you say subject what would that entail? Studies at uni or you mean subject as in what I would deal with in the day to day working class tasks?

[@Napo4k]

Hi, I meant what programming language you’re interested in learning etc. I’d say do some research on programming languages and pick one that you like. After that try and enroll for something like a udemy course on that language. I’m currently taking udemy courses for the C# programming language, you can get the links on my latest video on the description box. Let me know how it goes, I’m really excited for you 🤞🏾

[@katlehoseatlholo9666]

Bro so if you dont have a "good" academic record ...does it become difficulty getting a job?

[@Napo4k]

Hi Katleho, you do not need a good academic record to get a programming job. The more programming you know, the better your chances of getting a good paying job, although most companies will have a 6 month graduate programme to get you up to speed. I hope that helps.

[@simphiwerini9652]

Thanx Napo

[@d3fault2.0]

Hello,do you think if I can do an online programming course in python and look for jobs will it be easier for me to get one when compared to the one that went to university?

[@Napo4k]

Hi, It will all depend on how much programming experience you have. Anyone can do an online course, what will set you apart from everyone is the amount of actual programming you've done and that will be tested when conducting a technical interview. So my short answer would be, do as much programming as you possibly can before you can apply for a job. I hope that helps.

[@d3fault2.0]

@@Napo4k thanks for the feedback

[@snenhlanhlangcobo3369]

Hi! which bursary were you using?

[@Napo4k]

gptaf.ekurhuleni.gov.za/

[@YandaniMv]

Hello, is getting a certification from udemy accredited in South Africa? I am currently doing Full web development BootCamp on udemy.

[@Napo4k]

Hi, i think it varies from company to company. You’d have to check with the company you’re applying to.

[@gautamatodzi3040]

As for acc1006 and eco1010 in final year🤣😅No I get it

[@Napo4k]

If you know you know 😂

[@sindilekhumalo9871]

Hi Napo. Watched the whole video as it was so interesting. My son already has a B degree in Cognitive science from UKZN; recently he has been teaching himself programming - Python and Java. He says he wants to do a programming course, so he can get certification. Please advise on what would be the best course he can do to become a skilled computer programmer? Thanks in advance.

[@Napo4k]

Hi Sindile, thanks for watching 🙏🏾. I'd suggest that he join a coding bootcamp, as they are very comprehensive. I know of a few in Cape Town, but i'm sure there's more in the country. Please let me know if you need more info.

[@sindilekhumalo9871]

@@Napo4k Yes, please - I'd appreciate info about the bootcamps in Cape Town and Johannesburg. How long do they take and how do they work? Thanks again.

[@kgomotsomdagane2123]

WHAT ROUTE CAN ONE TAKE, {NOT UNI} TO BECOME A SOFTWARE ENGINEER ???

[@Napo4k]

Hi, you can checkout this video I created just to get an idea of what route you can take kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJu9d4J_a5aMq5I

[@thembamatseletsele9716]

Does it matter where you got your Bsc Computer science, or the curriculum is the same?

[@Napo4k]

Hi Themba. It shouldn’t matter, especially you’re looking into getting a job in the tech space, most of curriculum becomes a bit irrelevant ( tech companies focus mainly on the dev stack/ programming language). Just make sure you know how to code and you’ll be sorted. I hope that helps 🙏🏾

[@nashnyabe7470]

but at least you have a degree for security

[@amahlemokoena1134]

Would you recommend a college

[@Napo4k]

Yes most definitely, what courses where you looking at?

[@amahlemokoena1134]

Computer sciences - SE

[@dailydose7151]

Great video ,I wanted to ask what the name of the company from the uk

[@Napo4k]

The name of the company is FDM Group.

[@clips9294]

Stats is the reason I stopped

[@Napo4k]

Stats was hectic but very interesting so I continued with it. Intros was the culprit for me🤦🏾‍♂️

[@clips9294]

Uploaded this video in my WhatsApp status cause it was relatable. A friend of minds says you ran with him for Adidas

[@Napo4k]

Oh yea 😃? It's a small world. Yes I did run for adidas, what's your friend's name?

[@kekeletso3958]

😭😭yuuu!!💯

[@healinbeet]

Hi man :) I'm looking to do a BA in Film and Media & Informatics at UCT next year. I'm just wondering what languages you know at the moment and if you were learning any while in Uni? Thank you!

[@Napo4k]

Hi, I'm currently coding in C# (dotnet stack) and I've taught myself how to build web apps using ReactJs & Angular. I did some C# programming in varsity. All the best with your studies 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾