Sometimes coding isn’t your first choice. It happens to a lot of people, including Phoebe. Phoebe shows us that its still possible to come back to coding. Regardless of how difficult can be, she knows that learning is part of the process of success.
(Interviewed and written by Akiko Iwai)
—— Introduce yourself to the Zuitt Community.
Hi! I’m Phoebe, 30 years old. I’m a former musician who has transitioned into a career as a Front-End Web Developer. I was also part of Batch 322 of the Zuitt Tech Career Program.
—— How did you end up in Web Development?
Back in high school, I studied under a different curriculum at Philippine Science High School. I wasn’t sure why, but I found myself excelling in Computer Science, even though it wasn’t the course I pursued in college. During the days when Friendster and Tumblr were popular, I became fascinated with customizing blog themes which actually sparked my curiosity for web development. That experience made me realize how much more complex the field really was. Before joining the Zuitt Tech Career Program, I had already envisioned myself working as an application developer for non-profit organizations.
—— What made you enroll in a tech career program?
Around January 2023, I started learning HTML and CSS, and I explored a bit of Figma as well. But when I discovered frameworks, I realized how much more complicated things were beyond what I initially learned. I also came across JavaScript, which makes websites and apps look and function so much better. That’s when I thought to myself that I needed an extra push.
With self-study, the learning isn’t really structured—it only takes you as far as what you choose to focus on. So when I joined Zuitt, there was a clear structure. Every day, I had something new to learn, and there were also times when I got to collaborate with my groupmates. I really felt that my skills grew significantly because of their learning system.
—— How was your career search as a web developer?
They were looking for someone with experience in a specific framework. It wasn’t the same one I learned at Zuitt, but I wanted to give it a try, so I started studying. By the third day of learning, I had already built an app which I submitted. Two days later, I received a job offer.
Even though the framework was different, I wouldn’t have been able to learn that quickly without Zuitt. At Zuitt, we studied React, which was very similar to the framework required for the role. Because of that foundation, transitioning to new technologies essential for my work became much easier.
At first, I just wanted to see if I could build an app. I relied on online tutorials, like YouTube videos, and read available documentation. What I learned in those three days wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to create something functional. In IT, learning never stops. There will always be new things to discover and master as you continue your journey forward.
—— What did you think of Zuitt’s Tech Career Program?
The lessons at Zuitt are really good for beginners. The pacing takes some time to get used to, but once you get the hang of it, everything becomes more streamlined. The instructors are all very supportive and even the substitute teachers were great. For me, the best part was collaborating with my groupmates. They were amazing and very helpful in my web development journey. Even now, we still keep in touch.
After completing Zuitt’s program, I feel much more confident in my skills. Now that I’m employed, I sometimes experience a bit of imposter syndrome, but I remind myself that if I was able to make it through before, I can definitely do it again.
—— How have you grown as a web developer?
Personally, I did grow to become a more confident developer but sometimes you can’t help but cry. It’s actually no joke how difficult it can get and how it’s not always so fun. There are really tricky parts in becoming a programmer. Sometimes, it’s even hard to say that you can even call yourself a programmer since there are a lot of things you still don’t know. But like I said, it’s a continuous learning. When you entire this sort of field, you can’t stay stuck in place forever. You have to keep staying curious.
—— Any advice for those who are unsure of learning IT?
Just try. Give yourself the chance to see if you enjoy learning in this field. Once you do, and you find that spark that keeps you hooked, you’ll know it’s for you. Based on my experience, programs like Zuitt are really great for beginners. Even though I had some prior knowledge of coding when I started, Zuitt’s structured approach made the learning process much easier and that’s why I truly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn.
Give it a shot. There are so many possibilities waiting to be unlocked when you take Zuitt’s program.
If you have a similar experience to share with our boot campers, drop us a message at marketing@zuitt.co.
