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In this month’s feature, we had a sit-down with one of alumni, Henry as he shares his inspiration and love for all things coding!

Before we begin, tell us more about yourself. How did your journey in coding start and what do you like about coding?

Henry: I began coding in university, driven by a keen interest in application development. I am fascinated by and like how thoughts and ideas can be visualized on a computer screen, allowing us to interact with and transform the digital space and impact the physical world. My passion lies in leveraging technological advancements to enhance daily lives and routines.

Why did you choose to pursue the Diploma in Web Application Development with Trent and thereafter a career in technology?

Henry: A friend recommended me this course (Software Development Bootcamp). Since I was also interested in picking up an application-building skillset, that encouraged me to take on the course.

How did the course prepare you for your career?

Henry: The course has equipped me with up-to-date knowledge of the latest tech stacks, including React for front-end development and Node.js for back-end development. Additionally, the exposure from the course has prepared me for what I can do to continue my learning in software application development and understand what to look for when exploring other tech stacks.

Technology is constantly developing, meaning your skills should be too, How do you keep your technology skills current?

Henry: Well, listening to tech related podcasts like CoRecursive and Tech Meme Ride Home has been a great avenue for me to catch up on the latest tech related news and practices. I participate in tech meetups/gatherings (eg. AWS Tech) to build a community among like-minded individuals in the tech space. In my own free time, I search for YouTube tutorial videos to keep up with the latest frameworks used.

Tell us about a tech project you’ve worked on. What were the responsibilities and challenges that you faced?

Henry: I worked on a project that provides real estate property information to brokers. My key responsibility is to build and deliver features for each sprint, ensure that the software functionality is not compromised by any newly developed feature, ensuring a successful deployment upon the release of the software.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of working in a Tech environment?

Henry : Benefits- Get exposure to improving your soft skills. As a developer, we do not only just code. We have a say in the things that we build. We usually speak to the business acquisition team and product manager to develop the requirements for each sprint, which allows us to work remotely.

Drawbacks-  Extended periods of sitting can lead to poor posture and back problems.

Where do you see yourself  in the next 5 years? (eg, industry of interest)

Henry: I see myself working in a healthcare related organization, where I was inspired during my Final Year Project to problem-solve and discover innovative solutions to develop tools that can meet the needs of different individuals.

What advice would you give to those considering pursuing higher education?

(Henry accompanied by his course mates at their orientation day)

I find that computational thinking is a growing topic and would like to suggest taking up courses to help develop and expose themselves to methodologies to resolve problems through the help of IOT (Internet of Things).

Lastly, fun question ..

What technologies could you not live without? And if you were a tech brand, which one would you be and why?

Technologies I would not be able to live without:

Hmm, that will be the phone call function and google maps.

I am quite bad with directions myself, and heavily rely on google maps to get around even in Singapore.

I think I would be Apple, I am highly accustomed to the ecosystem in which apple provides by connecting various devices through a singular sytem.

We are delighted to be a part of Henry’s journey of learning and self-discovery here at Trent Global College, we hope that his story continues to inspire individuals who are considering on making a career change or even trying something new to enhance their career.

Find out more about our Technology courses here.

 

 

 

 

 

In this month’s feature, we had a sit-down with one of alumni, Shiv as he shares his life story with us.

Before we begin, tell us more about yourself. How did your journey in coding start and what do you like about coding?

Shiv :  I would describe myself as someone who has a passion for both the arts and the sciences. Ever since I was a kid, I enjoyed problem-solving. I played numerous different video games growing up, becoming completely immersed in the beauty of the imaginary worlds these games created.

My journey in coding began when I was 14 years old, when I had just started high school. I discovered the subject of Computer Science in a school fair the summer before Grade 9, and I thought it would be very fun to try out, due to my interest in video games. The innovative nature of the subject combined with the way you had to approach challenges with the tools you had was very alluring to me, and it became an instant match. My first programming language was Java, and I worked on various projects and created many applications with the language. I was very fortunate, too, because I was taught by the head of the Computer Science department for the next 4 years.

I absolutely loved Computer Science in high school — I thoroughly enjoy problem-solving and creativity. It became my best subject grades-wise throughout my iGCSE course and subsequently my IB Diploma. I enjoy learning about and understanding computers – their inner workings, logic, and algorithms. Best of all, I truly love being able to create anything I want with the technologies/concepts I have learned. The ‘subject’ never felt like a class to me; it was always just what I enjoyed the most. This is why I will be pursuing Computer Science for my undergraduate studies in university as well.

Coding aside though, my biggest passion project in life is my YouTube Channel. To me, creating content is one of the greatest joys life has to offer. I’ve created so many different channels over the years, with my first endeavor starting as early as 2009 — I was only 8 years old! Now, my main YouTube Channel, “sk_555”, has over 24000 subscribers, and over 8.6 million total video views. I primarily make content on a mobile game, Clash Royale, and I’m an official partner Supercell Creator — Supercell is the company that developed Clash Royale. My long-term life dream would entail being able to balance my content and my coding skills to be fulfilled in life.

Why did you choose to pursue the Diploma in Web Application Development with Trent and thereafter a career in technology?

Shiv:  I was looking to do an in-person software development course for 3-4 months, and I found a lot of courses that were much shorter (1-4 weeks). The DWA course with Trent looked like a much more intensive course, it seemed to cover the realm of web development in a deeper fashion. Personally, I learn much better when in-person as compared to remote, and I was not looking to self-study alongside a virtual course curriculum. Ultimately, learning from my lecturer, Paul, as well as interacting with the friends I made in the class contributed to a positive learning experience.

How did the course prepare you for your career?

Shiv: The course taught me skills that I was able to understand and apply in all my bootcamp projects. These skills — especially React — are industry-relevant and are very sought-after by employers in Singapore. Even though my career is just getting started since I am going to study at university before committing to working full-time, I believe this course can equip students with the principles they need to pursue a career in technology.

Technology is always developing, meaning your skills should be too, how do you keep your technology skills current?

Shiv: In my opinion, technology and programming will continuously evolve and change. What was relevant in the scene 10 years ago is quite different from what we do now — and I wholeheartedly believe we will be saying the same thing 10 years from now. What I would advise you to do is focus on the core principles and lower-level fundamentals of programming, rather than the higher-level aspects of a programming language.

The concepts you learn are interchangeable; variables, functions, and loops will likely exist in any programming language. For example, I started with Java and worked with it for four years, but for this course, I learned and solely used JavaScript. Once you’ve gotten started, your skills will be transferrable — you just need to stick to the core concepts and be ready to try and learn anything new. No one can predict the evolution the tech scene will undergo, but we can do our best to be prepared for it.

Tell us about a tech project you’ve worked on. What were your responsibilities, challenges that you faced?

PM: The second project in the bootcamp was one where we had to develop a website that had both Backend and Frontend functionality. Using Express and Node.js, we had to create a database to store data related to the scope of our project, and we had to create our own API that allowed any website to interact with the data in this database. We also had to use React to create the Frontend aspect of the website, displaying everything nicely and making things appealing for the end-user. Ultimately, the goal was to allow for CRUD functionality — creation, reading, updating, and deleting with the database.

Of course, I made my project about my favorite game, Clash Royale. I created a forum for users to build their own deck and create a post about it. This project was very difficult but doing it about something I was very passionate about made the process feel so much more enjoyable.

In terms of functionality, I would say the biggest challenge I had when creating this project was figuring out how to balance the work between the Backend and Frontend functionalities of the website. With both being very different in terms of scope and design, it was difficult to manage between the two. It felt like a project with two mini-projects — so I decided to approach it that way.

Overall, the biggest challenge of this project (and all my bootcamp projects) was the time crunch. Only having three weeks to complete everything felt very difficult, because there is simply so much work you need to do in such a short period of time. Time management is crucial for this kind of work, and you probably can’t take any vacations while working on something like this…

I made a YouTube video about my class presentation for this project, since it was my absolute favorite one. Here is the link if you would like to watch it! https://youtu.be/rkFHlyYRKLg

What are the benefits and drawbacks of working in a Tech environment?

Shiv: The benefits of being in a tech environment are getting to be creative and innovative in most of the work you perform. After having worked at DBS for a few weeks already, I have also found that you get to surround yourself with people much smarter than yourself. I personally believe that being in this kind of environment is what will allow you to learn from others and truly thrive.

The biggest drawback for me is that you spend way too much time in front of a screen. Technology is already a major part of our lives — smartphones, personal computers, and so much more. Working in tech means you will have to do this for the majority of your workday, too. As ironic as it might sound, I think one of the best things you can do to help with this is to take frequent breaks during work, and to spend time with friends or in nature completely free from any kind of technology outside of work

Where do you see your IT career going in the next 5 years? (eg, industry of interest)

Shiv: For the majority of the next five years, I will be studying in university. Computer Science is one of my passions, so I hope to learn a lot more about algorithms, optimization and probably AI as well. I will try and do a summer internship during each year of my university studies as well.

In terms of industry, the sky is the limit. I just want to be able to solve problems and apply my skills, and work alongside talented people while doing it!

What advice would you give to those who are considering to pursue their higher education?

(Shiv accompanied by his coursemates)

I would say that this bootcamp is certainly NOT going to be easy. I think there is a lot of pressure that can come with this kind of work, so it’s important to keep that in mind while going into it. It is very important to surround yourself with people who have similar goals as yourself, so that you can get through the toughest of times together. Some of my friends dropped out, and I was very disheartened to see it. With that being said, I was able to complete my final project and, in turn, the bootcamp, by working alongside my good friends who remained. Although we had to complete three individual projects, I personally believe there is still a lot of importance in asking for help when you need it and bouncing ideas off your friends.

Lastly, fun question ..

What technologies could you not live without? And if you were a tech brand, which one would you be and why?

Technologies I would not be able to live without:

• The internet: everything is interconnected, and the world runs on it today.
• My computer and phone in tandem with the internet, for numerous reasons:

1) Content creation and making YouTube videos is one of my biggest passions, so getting completely cut off from this would make my life very sad 🙁

2) I have a lot of friends all around the world, whether they were from my high school and went away to study (the U.S., Canada, the U.K, etc.), or whether they are friends I met through other online communities. I can’t see them in person for most of the year, unless they either visit Singapore, or I visit them. Therefore, the internet allows us to keep in contact and talk whenever we want, really 🙂

If I was a tech brand, I would be Alphabet Inc. / Google. They own so many incredible companies, including some of my favorites: YouTube and Android Inc. I’m extremely loyal to the brands I love, and I could not go without my Samsung Galaxy phone

We are delighted to be a part of Shiv’s journey of learning and self-discovery here at Trent Global College, we hope that his story continues to inspire individuals who are considering on making a career change or even trying something new.

Find out more about our Technology courses here.

 

 

 

 

 

On this month’s feature, we had a sit-down one of our in-house lecturers, Patrick Melvin as he shares his teaching journey with us.

Before we begin, tell us more about yourself. How did your teaching journey start and what made you interested in teaching this course?

PM: Hi, my name is Patrick and I am a lecturer as well as the  Head of the Food and Business Faculty at Trent Global College. I would consider myself a generalist as I have previously worked in various industries. The roles within these industries have strongly influenced my academic career hence the disciplines I take on are in the disciplines of Business, F&B and Hospitality & Tourism. Just a couple of fun facts about me:

• My biggest fear used to be public speaking
• I have an introverted personality
• I am Dyslexic

How did you find out about TGC? Why did you choose to play a part in educating the next generation?

PM: My mentor, Timothy Tan (currently a lecturer in TGC as well), introduced me to the world of teaching and coincidentally to TGC as well. A couple of years ago, I was discerning a vocation that would align with my true purpose. The more lectures I conducted, the more I found myself drawn to the world of education. It felt like this is where I was called to be. Perhaps those who share their talents and experiences find meaning in the lives they have lived. As a pracademic (practitioner and academic), I intend to help the future generation develop essential skills, knowledge, and values that can influence their future paths.

Share with us how you keep your classes engaging for everyone.

PM: I am a storyteller (my 2 ½ year old son can attest to that) so I incorporate real life examples and metaphors into my teaching. I also infuse gamification to make the learning more enjoyable and immersive, capturing the student’s attention and motivating them to actively participate.

What’s a typical day as a lecturer for you?

PM: A typical day for me starts at 7am, where I prioritize my physical health by practicing Muay Thai at the gym. I aim to reach the office by 8am to prepare for my classes. Before each lesson, I review my deck of slides, no matter how many times I have taught that module. I tend to research quite extensively to ensure my curriculum is up-to-date and in line with current trends. Additionally, there are administrative tasks to complete, such as grading papers and moderating exam results. When I am not lecturing, I also serve as a mentor to students in the areas of academic supervision, possible career paths, or further studies.

 Share with us a memorable event in your teaching career at TGC which motivate you.

PM: Once a student came to me after completing his module to tell me that initially, he was not interested in coming to school but after attending my lecture he was motivated to want to come to class to become a better version of himself. That event has made a deep impression on me, and it keeps me going on tough days. I always tell my students that no matter how high this ‘mountain’ ahead of us is, we will conquer it together.

Share with us which (ONE) of the following ‘T’ or ‘G’ adjectives you relate with the most from your teaching journey in TGC and why it stood out to you.

‘ G – Gratitude.’ 

PM: I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to teach, inspire, guide and be a beacon of hope and light to these students in TGC. I advocate that the best way to learn is to teach. And believe me when I say I learn each and everyday.

As we close off, we got Patrick to share his final thoughts about his teaching journey here at TGC.

PM: There is a unique personal story behind every student, young and old. You are pursuing your studies for different reasons and you are facing different circumstances and challenges. You’re unique, and so is your particular educational journey.

‘ Have faith and recognize that as long as you do your best and work in a way that is true to your motivations and personality, you will reach your destination.’- Patrick Melvin

We are delighted to be a part of Patrick’s journey of purpose and growth here at Trent Global College, we hope that his story continues to inspire all the educators that as you sow a seed of knowledge into the present, it shall reap a bountiful harvest in the future.

Find out more about our Food Business courses here.

Change isn’t always easy.

For some of us, the notion of change could be something we are afraid of or just something foreign that we wish not to embark on. But not for Kwok Cheong (fondly known as KC), a Programmer Analyst with Cognizant Singapore and a recent bootcamp graduate of our FullStack Development Bootcamp. He not only embraced change in his own way, but excelled in it.

KC’s journey began with a leap of faith, where he withdrew from his first year Business Management degree to pursue a Part-Time Business Analytics degree in the National University of Singapore.

‘To be completely honest, it was a tough route to take as many of my course peers possess prior programming knowledge and had that head start over me.’ It all started when KC was exposed to coding through an entrepreneurship programme in university where he had to work with tech developers and needed to understand the processes required to develop a feature. ‘I like how coding gives you the opportunity to create amazing things and the more I do, the more I learn.’ – KC exclaimed zealously while sharing with us.’

It was not a walk in a park for KC, as he realized that passion alone is not enough to keep him going but acquiring the right set of knowledge is. Having learnt C/C++ in his degree programme, KC felt the need to bridge the gap in practical programming and explore the different frameworks widely used in the industry. This motivated him to look out for programming courses that could provide him industry relevant skills and to build his foundational knowledge. ‘This is where I stumbled onto the FullStack Bootcamp Programme offered by Trent Global College which was exactly what I needed to stay on track and prepare me for my career.’ KC went on to elaborate that key topics taught during the bootcamp such as JavaScript, Django and Node.js were helpful and applicable in his job as an analyst.

With the constant development of technological frameworks, keeping abreast of the latest skills is imperative. ‘Having an open mind is extremely important in programming and we should be keen to explore new tools and frameworks.’ KC shared that he personally taps onto online learning resource such as Udemy and YouTube tutorials to pick up concepts such as Flux in React. As a participant of the recent Shopee Coding League 2020, he found that it was a good experience to get your hands dirty, (coding of course) and to work as a team to solve various real-life problems.

Speaking of real-life problems and the ongoing COVID-19 situation, KC wanted to create a useful tool consisting of a dashboard that would provide data visualization on the number of COVID-19 cases in Singapore, potential clusters as well as hospital occupancy rate of those infected. He was however faced with a setback as the pool of data for Singapore specific cases was unavailable. KC added that it was imperative to know what kind of information people look out for, and how to display the data concisely an accurately. ‘It was definitely a tedious challenge as I had to format the data manually, by adapting it from MOH’s daily report and reflect the updated numbers on the dashboard.’ 

As we wrapped up our conversation, we got KC to share what working in a tech environment is like and what are his goals for the future. ‘Working in a tech environment has its merits, as it encourages continuous learning and self-improvement, where you will be presented with opportunities to tackle new challenges, which makes it an exciting place to be in.’ ‘The drawbacks on the other hand, would be being desk bounded and experiencing screen fatigue as you spend majority of time troubleshooting codes. It would be great to incorporate some kind of exercise regime to stay healthy as well.’ (Ps. KC took part in a Half Ironman Triathlon, 90km in Bintan)

When asked about his long-term goals, he humbly indicated that he would like to contribute to the healthcare sector as a data analyst. ‘I see that there is still room for growth in healthcare technology and want to hone my skills before that time comes to make healthcare accessible and affordable for everyone.’

 In closing, we invited him to share a piece of advice to individuals who wish to further their studies in the tech industry but lack the courage to do so.

‘No one is going to be responsible for your education but yourself, consider what you want for your future and what sort of skillset/abilities are needed to achieve that.’

 We are glad to see how KC has embrace change and his heart for continuous learning.

We wish him the best and great success as he works towards his dreams in the tech industry!

As we approach the end of the year, we will be wrapping up our Tech Feature Series with one of our part-time graduates, Alexia who is currently undergoing traineeship as a Data Analyst in DBS Analyst.

Tell us more about yourself Alexia (fun facts are welcomed too!)

Hello Everyone, I am Alexia and I am a graduate from Trent Global College’s Diploma in Software Development Bootcamp! Just a little fun fact about myself, I can drink up to 5 cups of bubble tea in a week, I like to believe it is because of my Taiwanese origins that gives me this superpower.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How did your journey in coding start and what did you like about coding?

Before I joined the programme, I was exposed to coding back in Singapore Management University – but mainly in the field of analytics (R, Python Pandas) and computational thinking – and was really keen since on exploring what tech could offer. I really appreciate the fact that coding encompasses the art of thinking both logically (i.e. the logical steps to get to something) and creatively (i.e. many solutions to one goal). Not only that, the realm of coding is really limitless and can be used in ANY aspects in life – from personal benefits like automatically scrapping the internet for information, building a landing page to showcase what I have to offer to using visual analytics to make business-backed decisions.

Why did you choose to pursue the DSD course with Trent and thereafter a career in technology?

I have always wanted to dabble in the tech field but was not wise enough to make this decision before choosing my university course haha! It is hard to ignore the fact that technology surrounds us in all aspects of life, and I think that I owe it to myself to not become a technology dinosaur at such a young age! As a fresh graduate from SMU, I did not want to give up the full-time position (non-tech role) that I was offered with a software company. I was really thrilled to discover that Trent Global College offered a part-time syllabus which enabled me to work in the day and code at night! Since it is the first time, I am fully immersed in an unchartered path for myself, I’d very much preferred to have instructor guidance in my first stage of learning as opposed to listening to pre-recorded videos online. Looking back, no regrets at all! How did the course prepare you for your career? The syllabus curated were industry relevant and helpful for people who do not have any prior background in coding. With a strong emphasis in Python, MongoDB, Practical Python and Django it has not only built my skillset but also covered the basis for my current job as an analyst. The instructors have played a big part in helping us understand the infrastructure and approach to developing the software. Likewise, the milestone projects were great opportunities for us to showcase what we had learnt.

I guess, here is the golden question where everyone is curious about, how did you cope with both work and studies? What were the sacrifices made throughout the process?

It was not an easy journey, as it was energy sapping to be juggling both work and studies at the same time. My social life was also affected where I had to forgo social gatherings to concentrate on my projects. From this experience I learnt that time management is extremely vital, by prioritizing what is important and tend to those first. Keeping the end goal in mind (why I wanted to embark on this programme) was also what kept me going when things got tough and be reminded that this was only a temporary process.

Technology is always developing, meaning your skills should be too, how do you keep your technology skills current?

I watch a lot of YouTube videos and I enrolled myself into Facebook and LinkedIn groups where experts bounce of ideas and discuss about the latest tech trends! It is true that technology is always reinventing itself and it is extremely important to not be phased out. Thankfully, the internet provides a rich amount of resources and I am also always on a lookout for free if not affordable courses to make sure I have the opportunity to learn!

Tell us about a tech project you have worked on. What were your responsibilities, challenges that you faced?

As part of our curriculum, for our fourth project we were required to compile knowledge acquired learnt over the past 6 months and deliver a functional platform-both frontend and backend. As a part-time educator myself, I wanted to create a passion project by building a landing page which allows users to purchase math lesson topics and exchange their opinions over a forum.

One of the main challenges faced was designing the database for the landing page. While the entity relationship diagram was a useful framework, it is one without a ‘correct’ way of approaching it and hence encompassed a lot of uncertainties and iterations before I could settle on the final design of the database. It was a struggle, as I had little sleep and needed to meet a dateline in addition to my existing workload. This was when I decided to take a step back to re-evaluate the main objectives I want to achieve and how I was going to implement it efficiently and effectively.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of working in a Tech environment?

The tech environment is an ever-changing one and there is always something new to learn! As an industry who experiences ‘paradigm shifts’ much more frequently, it is useful for individuals who are hungry for knowledge. However, on the flip side, a fast-changing environment would indicate that it is easy to get left behind. Competition is particularly stiff, as a framework used today could be deemed as old-school tomorrow, thus it is important to keep up to date and expose oneself to the latest technologies used.

Where do you see your IT career going in the next 5 years?

I have big dreams! In the area of software development, I hope to run a webpage of my own representing a service or a product that I am keen on launching. On the other hand, I hope to pursue data science and land a masters in this!

Lastly, what advice would you give to those who are considering pursuing their higher education?

As cliché as it may sound, do not be afraid to venture! The tech industry presents many opportunities for individuals to discover your strengths and find your niche.

So, step up and go for it!

Find out more about our Software Development Bootcamp Here. 

HI JOSH, BEFORE WE BEGIN, TELL US MORE ABOUT YOURSELF. HOW DID YOUR TEACHING JOURNEY START? WHAT MADE YOU INTERESTED IN TEACHING THIS MODULE/ COURSE?

Josh (bottom left) and students during a field trip visit.

JN: I have been teaching with TGC for almost 15 years since the time when TGC was located originally at Bestway Building in the early 2000s. I have taught numerous modules of Heriot Watt University. LJMU as well as TGC in-house diplomas and advanced diploma programmes.

What sparked my interest in teaching was initially to earn extra income, which later became a career. One fun fact about myself is that there are several TGC lecturers who used to be my students.

Q1. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT TGC? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO PLAY A PART IN EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION?

JN: I found TGC purely through web search. This was where I made the decision to take that plunge to teach then. I found such a satisfying return to the effort invested seeing that students are eager to earn their degree.

Josh conducting a orientation session with our new intake of students.

Q2.SHARE WITH US HOW YOU KEEP YOUR CLASSES ENGAGING FOR EVERYONE?

JN: Student Engaging students is an important element in classroom learning. I encourage active classroom participations and case studies discussions, to keep students engaged.

Q3.WHAT’S A TYPICAL DAY AS A LECTURER FOR YOU?

JN: A typical teaching day for me would be to prepare the delivery by mentally rehearsing it before class. I try to pace the delivery according to the class dynamics and a simple lesson plan.

Q4.SHARE WITH US A MEMORABLE EVENT IN YOUR TEACHING CAREER AT TGC WHICH MOTIVATED YOU?

JN : I feel motivated to see my students coming back to TGC for a second or even third time in their academic pursuit. There was a particular student whom I taught the advanced diploma programme, followed by his undergraduate and later on his Masters course.

Q5.WHAT DOES TGC MEAN TO YOU AND HOW HAS IT IMPACTED YOUR TEACHING JOURNEY?

“T is for teaching and G is for giving.”

JN : What is central to a school is teaching. It encompasses students giving up leisure time to immerse themselves in learning. It’s also the lecturer’s duty to give off positive energy to enliven learning.

Q6.LASTLY, ANY CLOSING WORDS TO OUR READERS OUT THERE?

JN: I am most grateful to TGC. For without it,

“I will not be who I am today in my career.”

We are delighted to be a part of Josh’s teaching journey here at Trent Global College and we can’t wait to see how his passion of teaching and impacting the next generation can impact the various communities here in Singapore.

Find out more about our Built Environment and Food Technology Courses and how you can be a part of the Built Environment Landscape.

HI WESLEY! BEFORE WE BEGIN, TELL US MORE ABOUT YOURSELF. HOW DID YOUR JOURNEY IN CODING START? WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT CODING?

WC: Hi, I am Wesley. I enjoy cooking in my free time and aglio olio and carbonara are some of my favorite dishes to cook.

Q1. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO PURSUE THE DWA COURSE WITH TRENT AND THEREAFTER A CAREER IN TECHNOLOGY?

Prior to joining the bootcamp, I was working as an Economics Research Assistant at NUS (National University of Singapore). My coding journey started around two years ago. Interestingly, it
started while I was helping my younger sister, who enrolled in an online course called CS50X Introduction to Computer Science. Through that experience, I was intrigued by the applications of coding and loved the problem-solving aspect of it. So, I decided to enroll in the exact same course to expose myself to code. Since then, I have developed a passion for coding and desire to create something of my own.

I started small with a simple web application to record the blood glucose levels for my grandmother who is diabetic. After many trial-and-errors, and feedback from family members, I finally got the web application to work. That’s when I decided that I wanted to do this as a career and later joined the bootcamp at Trent Global College.

Robert Walters Tech Career Insights Talk

Q2.HOW DID THE COURSE PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR CAREER?

WC: The course took us through Basic Coding Fundamentals and slowly built on the concepts that we had learnt into more advanced frameworks. Throughout the course, our instructor, Paul, always took time and care to ensure that we understood the concepts before moving on. The hands-on practices and materials given were a great way for us to apply what we have learnt and explore the concepts further.

As a coding beginner, having started with Python it was a little challenging getting use to the quirks of JavaScript. But I came to like it more due to its versatility in being used for both the front and backend.

Q3.TECHNOLOGY IS ALWAYS DEVELOPING, HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR TECHNOLOGY SKILLS CURRENT?

“Personally, I feel that there is still a lot for me to learn and improve in this ever-changing tech industry.”

WC: This has inspired me to work on more personal projects like a financial budget tracker and to explore creating my own CSS frameworks and templates using SASS instead of relying mostly on BootStrap in my future projects.

Q4.TELL US ABOUT A TECH PROJECT YOU’VE WORKED ON. WHAT WERE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AND CHALLENEGES YOU FACED?

WC : In my opinion, our final project was by far one of the most challenging projects, because it combines all the things we had learnt and we had to manage our time and energy well. As our programme manager, Alex, pointed out, ‘It’s is a marathon’. Given the timeframe, we had to design an e-commerce web application with an administrative panel (on the backend). For me, I tend to be ambitious in implementing cool features and designs to my projects, which can be a challenge in to fit within the timeline well.

Q5.WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS OF WORKING IN A TECH INDUSTRY?

WC: Personally, I think one of the benefits would be that you don’t need much to get started. It only takes a laptop, notebook and pen to start on an idea and craft something from there. Secondly, I learnt that there are different ways of implementing code solution and having something new to learn from others. As for drawbacks, it would be screen fatigue due to long hours facing the screen. It helps by taking regular breaks, through walks or bouncing ideas off my bootcamp classmates to gain a different perspective.

Q6.WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR TECH CAREER GOING IN THE FEW YEARS?

WC: There is still a lot for me to learn and grow now, but I do hope to become a FullStack Developer in a team that develops products that benefits everyone. Something like what GovTech does with the TraceTogether application.

Q7.WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE CONSIDERING TO PURSUE THIER HIGHER EDUCATION?

“I would say go for it! You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take and may regret not taking a leap of faith to try something new.”

WC: Due to the intensity of the course, it would be ideal to be mentally prepared and stay committed to finish the bootcamp. Remember why you chose to pursue it in the first place.

Wesley (third from the left, 2nd row) and his course mates during a company visit to Wantedly Singapore’s Office

 

One of my biggest takeaways in this bootcamp, would be my classmates! Throughout the bootcamp, they have been my biggest supporters as we overcome different challenges and conquer various
milestones together.

We are happy to be a part of Wesley’s coding journey, and we can’t wait to see how he will impact the communities at large with his new skills. 

Find out more about our software development bootcamp here

Most of us set out with a plan for our careers, setting out our education paths in-line with what we want to do for the future. But for most of us, these plans often take a different route and while it may not be what we expected, we do have to make the most of it regardless. Take it from Dinah, a graduate of our Advanced Diploma and BSc in Facilities Management courses who shifted her sights from a career in the arts scene, to becoming a Facilities Manager and enjoying it.

DR: I’ve been working in the Facilities Management (FM) field for 5 years now, primarily in private residential areas and managing several project works simultaneously. I’m very interested in joining Commercial FM though and someday I hope to manage my own team of FM individuals! Outside of work, I love music and attending live concerts.

In fact, it was her interest in music that led her in the direction of taking up a Diploma in Arts Management after secondary school.

DR: I’ve always been interested in becoming a backstage director, but after my diploma, I was rather unsuccessful in applying for full-time positions. Back then the arts scene wasn’t as booming as it is now.

While still searching for a job, Dinah worked part-time at a bar, much to the disproval of her family due to the nightlife environment she was in. It was at this point that they prompted her to try out an admin role in an FM company.

DR: I never thought about working as a Facilities Manager prior to that, but with the opportunity I naturally became interested in understanding the FM industry and started asking some of my colleagues about it more and more.

Eventually, Dinah had made the decision that FM was the career that she wanted to build her career in, and the first thing she set out to do was to find the qualifications she needed to kickstart her career.

DR: In today’s day and age, having the proper qualification is one of the most basic requirements when applying for any position. It was crucial for me to get my higher education sorted out as I wanted to excel in this industry, and I wouldn’t be able to progress without an advanced diploma or degree.

There weren’t many schools offering FM degrees or advanced diplomas, but Trent was an easy choice. Their advanced diploma helped me to enter straight into a bachelor’s programme and the staff were really helpful and responsive during my queries, they even advised me on which bank to take up an education loan! I felt very supported by the team since day 1 and it felt like a safe space for me to embark on my education journey.

As many have faced, juggling work and studies is no easy task, but Dinah decided to pursue her degree immediately after taking her advanced diploma, prolonging her studies even further whilst balancing her budding career.

DR: It was extremely challenging, 2018 – 2020 were some of my busiest years as a Facilities Manager. I had back-to-back upgrading / enhancement projects and it got really stressful managing these things on my own. Of course, I had expected that working full-time while studying would be crazy, but somehow through all that I managed to pass all my modules without having to repeat any subjects!

I have many people to thank for helping me get through this period of time, my teachers always responded to my emails whenever I had questions and my classmates shared notes and guided me along the way as well. I was also blessed with supportive and pragmatic clients at work, they really gave me the confidence to push through the really stressful situations.

On top of the environment, Dinah also had a unique way of coping with the constant pressure.

DR: At the time I was just starting out on my meditation practice, and it helped me to concentrate on both my studies and work responsibilities. I can’t say enough about how reading these meditation and self-help books helped in managing my personal life and well-being, as well as having the best sleep ever. I recommend the mobile app Calm, that can guide you through heartbreak, loneliness, anxiety and stress in general.

Following her graduation from both programmes, Dinah recalls how the course had helped her in recognizing the broader scope of the FM industries and improve her current scope of work.

DR: Subjects like procurement and the various group activities helped in areas like tendering documents, managing maintenance schedules and other security-related aspects. Again, I want to reiterate that because FM is a very broad industry, you do need to take up a course to educate yourself on the different sectors.

As we ended the conversation, it was clear that Dinah had much to credit in the various people involved in her life for the strides she’s made in the industry and overcoming her numerous challenges. It was no surprise that her biggest takeaway was not academic, but rather the friends she made.

DR: My greatest takeaway has been meeting my classmates who have all become really close friends with to this day. Trent was a great platform for me to meet others in the industry and they’ve helped me so much in my work. If you’re thinking of pursuing higher education, I’d say go for it. Yes, there will be stressful and difficult moments, but it’s all part of the journey, and you’ll find the rewards of your struggles just so satisfying.

We’re happy to have been a part of Dinah’s journey and as with all our graduates, we can’t wait to see how they will excel in the industry and play a part in maintaining Singapore’s structures.

Find out more of our Built Environment Courses Here.

To date, we’ve had several students who’ve shared their stories with us, on their experiences of joys and struggles alike while going through our bootcamp. However, we’ve only had one pair of students to-date who have had the benefit of joining and going through the bootcamp together as a couple.

It’s a little early for a Valentine’s special, but that’s not going to stop us in catching up with Linda, who’s currently working in DBS as a Developer and went through our Software Development Bootcamp with her husband Jimmy, whom we also spoke with on his experience in the programme.

LH: Hi everybody, I’m Linda and I spent several years in the media industry as a video/audio editor before attending a fullstack web development bootcamp with Trent Global College. In my free time, I like to cook up a storm in the kitchen, go for long walks and watch non-fiction programs.

 

For Linda, her journey in coding started when she stumbled upon several advertisements promoting easy-to-build websites. This combined with the evolving tech landscape led her to explore coding on her own to find out where it might lead her.

LH: It was quite exhilarating to see something come alive from lines of code, and I didn’t want to stop there. I also tried out Freecodecamp; a free online resource, to try out it’s web development track. Again, I felt like an artist or a creator being able to see things come to life from the code I wrote as I managed to develop a one-page website at the end of the curriculum.

 

However, that wasn’t enough for Linda as she continued to look into developing her coding know-how even further. After hearing about Trent Global from one of our graduates, she decided to enquire further with us on our Software Development Bootcamp.

LH: I had a day job with a shift schedule, so I could only attend classes outside of work hours and the schedule of the part-time programme was well-suited for me. However, even though it
was a well fit, I must stress that it was still a struggle to balance the different aspects! As with most working adults, it was a challenge to juggle shift work, family commitments, assignments and fitting in the 3-4 days’ class schedule in a week. Needless to say, I didn’t have much of a social life for the duration of the course.

 

On that note, it must’ve been fortunate for Linda that she had newfound quality time with her husband, as they both went through the course in the same batch.

LH: It was so interesting to see a different side of him in class as, he was always the class clown that lightened the atmosphere and overall it added a deeper dimension to our relationship. We spent time visiting cafes to do our projects together, helping each other with our coursework and working on assignments together. Even though we disagreed in some areas like visual preferences, we were able to iron out our differences and collaborate with one another. On hindsight it gave me a foretaste of what it’s like to work in a team.

 

As with many students we’ve heard from, going through the course was not a walk in the park, especially since Linda studied in communications and arts. She mentioned how she had to learn to structure her thoughts in a logical manner, to take a top-down approach with coding which was not what she was used to.

LH: What helped was doing small coding challenges during my off days, as practicing bit by bit goes a long way in my experience. I constantly reminded myself that sacrificing one’s time is expected for the duration of the course and that I would reap the rewards as long as I stuck with it.

 

Apart from my own motivation, it helped to have classmates who were very passionate about coding so we could spur each other on through the struggles. It also helped to have great teachers who shared their experiences in the industry and coached us in preparing for our interviews.

Now that she has managed to make her career-switch, she now finds herself in the position to help share with others who are exploring a career in coding as well, answering LinkedIn messages about her experience in the bootcamp from time to time.

LH: My greatest takeaway from this unforgettable journey is that given time, effort and opportunity, anyone can learn to code. It’s also not something that you have to experience alone either, as you can find supportive communities like the school’s teachers and support system, to finding support groups online. People from Junior Developers Singapore and Women Who Code were very encouraging and willing to share their knowledge as well.

 

Having someone to go through a bootcamp programme with you is certainly not the norm but clearly rewarding as Linda has put it. We’re happy to see both her and Jimmy embark and continue in their coding journeys together.

For the rest of us who may be thinking of starting their coding journeys, perhaps there’s someone in your life who you can ask to go for a coding class with, you might be surprised to find someone who’s looking to make a career switch too!

Find out more about our Software Development Bootcamp Here

Hi Jerry,

BEFORE WE BEGIN, TELL US MORE ABOUT YOURSELF AND HOW YOUR JOURNEY IN CODING STARTED.

JC: My coding journey started 5 years ago when I was studying as a business undergraduate, I got rejected for an internship opportunity within a bank because I did not know Excel VBA. So from there, I took some time to learn VBA and some HTML & CSS. That was where I started –a young man feeling indignant after being rejected for an internship position.

But coding has since helped me further my career and land jobs in some large MNCs, which is why I decided to plunge even deeper into the coding world by joining the bootcamp.

Q1. WHAT DOES A DAY IN CLASS LOOK LIKE?

JC: A day in the bootcamp can be summed up as breathing codes in and out, every minute that we have. Our lecturer Paul is really good, taking us from the basics and building up towards more sophisticated systems.

He would typically start by explaining the theoretical concepts before doing a coding demonstration, where students will code alongside as he does so. Following this, he would then explain each line of code in detail, making sure every student can understand what was covered.

Q2. WHAT’S THE CULTURE OF THE SCHOOL? HOW SUPPORTIVE ARE THEY TO THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE NO BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE IN FIELD OF STUDIES.

JC: Our program manager, Alex has cultivated a very supportive and inclusive culture in the bootcamp. For example, to help the weaker students in our class, he enlisted help from various sources to help them in their learning, even extending to help on the weekends. So far there have been many initiatives to allow students to build bonds together and I would say the students feel that we are surely in good hands.

Jerry (top right) and his course mates after their first project presentation.

“Even though some days can be really tough and intensive, we often lend a helping hand to one another out of camaraderie. I would say everyone feels that we are surely in good hands.”

Q3.HOW INVOLVED IS THE SCHOOL IN PREPARING ME TO USING MY EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM?

JC : The school has prepared:

• Workshops with HR personnel us on how to draft a tech resume and helping to review our own resumes
• Right after our 2nd project, the school already began to help send our resumes to potential employers
• After each project, we are given an opportunity to present our projects in a manner similar to an interview setting

Q4.WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACED DURING PROJECT WEEK?

JC: My biggest challenges so far have been down to time management. Sometimes I get a bit over-ambitious and want to try to build some advanced features, but I eventually learnt that it’s not feasible within the given timeline. For example my 1st project was a disaster, I did not plan my time properly due to my inexperience and the results showed. But it was an important lesson for me and I did much better on my subsequent project.

“My advice to any new bootcamp students is to always aim to complete a basic project scope and don’t be overambitious. Once you’ve done with what you set out, you can look at adding on new features.”

Q5.HOW MUCH PERSONAL/FREE TIME DO YOU HAVE? AND WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST SACRIFICE YOU HAD TO MAKE?

JC : To be honest, for me the sacrifice is quite minimal. I think boils down to being crystal clear with your priorities and aware of how you prefer to learn in a productive and sustainable way. For example, I used to code at night but it turns out that was not productive for me, so I changed my schedule to work on my code in the morning. Of course everyone is different, so you will have to find what works best for you.

As for my personal time, every weekend I am still running a cell group on Saturdays and making time for family day on Sundays.

Q6.WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST SURPRISE /SHOCK TO YOU SO FAR IN THE BOOTCAMP?

JC: Even though I read through the syllabus beforehand, the depth and quality of this course has surpassed all my expectations. I have no regrets in signing up for the bootcamp.

Q7.WHAT LASTLY, HOW DO YOU FIND THE BOOTCAMP EXPERIENCE SO FAR AND WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHERS PLANNING TO JOIN THE BOOTCAMP?

“Know your motivation for joining the bootcamp.”

JC : This bootcamp is intensive, there’s no dancing around that fact. So if you are coming into this course for some other motives (e.g. money) rather than learning, that may not be a motivation that is good enough to see you through the tough points in the course or even at your job!

That being said, it can be hard to know your passion until you try it yourself. Some graduates from the bootcamp eventually become product managers, instead of writing codes on daily basis. This has also worked out for them as an alternative.

We are happy to be a part of Jerry’s coding journey, and can’t wait to see how he will end up shaping the communities at large with his new skills.