{"id":9526,"date":"2019-08-16T14:11:16","date_gmt":"2019-08-16T18:11:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.brainstation.io\/?p=9526"},"modified":"2021-08-24T11:30:39","modified_gmt":"2021-08-24T15:30:39","slug":"4-brainstation-alumni-on-how-to-change-careers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brainstation.io\/blog\/4-brainstation-alumni-on-how-to-change-careers","title":{"rendered":"4 BrainStation Alumni on How to Change Careers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Making the jump into a new career<\/a> can be an overwhelming and complex decision, but switching career paths is becoming more commonplace as demand for digital roles continues to skyrocket. Taking part in a program or bootcamp that will prepare you with the skills necessary for your career transformation can be integral to finding success.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To help you through the decision-making process, BrianStation invited diploma program graduates to talk about how they made the switch to their desired career.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a recap of what they shared about their experience in the program and finding a job in a new industry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Diverse Career Backgrounds<\/b><\/h2>\n

The panelists came from a range of career and education backgrounds, and there was at least one alum from each of BrainStation\u2019s diploma programs \u2013\u00a0Data Science<\/a>, User Experience (UX) Design<\/a>, and Web Development<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Aline Santoso, for instance, was working as a Biomedical Engineer at UBC prior to applying to BrainStation\u2019s Data Science Diploma Program and is now a Data Scientist at Teligence Capital.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy background is in engineering, and I had a lot of data that I didn\u2019t know how to deal with,\u201d said Santoso. \u201cI think that was the first time that I started thinking I need to do this more efficiently, and that\u2019s when I started searching for programming, and then stumbled upon data science. When BrainStation launched the Data Science program, I took it.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nikhila Kakarlapudi moved from London to take the UX Design program, and is now working as a Product Designer and Manager at LivNao.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy background is in tech consulting, so I was quite fortunate that I had experience across the design lifecycle so to speak. All the way from strategy to designing and launching tech products. The area I was most interested in was the design side of things so I really wanted to dig in and get more tangible skills in that area,\u201d explained Kakarlapudi. \u201cAround the same time I was thinking of moving out of London, I was researching different courses that were available and came across the UX Design program at BrainStation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Deciding on BrainStation<\/b><\/h2>\n

One thing all the alumni have in common \u2013\u00a0they did their research before deciding on BrainStation.<\/span><\/p>\n

For Bruna Garcia, a Web Development diploma graduate, she weighed many factors before finally applying to the program.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere were three things that drew me to BrainStation. First of all, I did a bit of research about the technologies that the programs use, and BrainStation focused some curriculum on React and open source programming languages which I wanted to learn more about,\u201d said Garcia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“Also, I really like the environment here, people are friendly, people are nice. And then there\u2019s the financial part, having the opportunity to have a payment plan really helped as well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Others were more focused on the fact that a 12-week diploma program meant they could be starting their new career sooner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was considering Data Science for a while, and UBC at that time launched a Data Science program, but it\u2019s 16 months, and BrainStation was only 12 weeks,\u201d said Santoso. \u201cI think that was a major decision point for me; three months versus 16 months, and I could get a job after that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Learning Experience<\/b><\/h2>\n

People interested in diploma programs often ask questions about the learning experience. What does it really mean to be in an immersive program? Is it the same as university? How do you learn so much in 12 weeks?<\/span><\/p>\n

Well, the BrainStation alumni spoke to that on the panel, explaining what a typical day looks like and how the programs differed from traditional education they had experienced in the past.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI graduated [from university] in October and came to BrainStation in January \u2013 and it\u2019s like night and day,\u201d explained Nick Abasolo.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nick studied Economics in his undergraduate degree before taking BrainStation\u2019s UX Design Diploma Program and now works as a Product Designer at Dialpad.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn college or university you show up to class sometimes, and listen sometimes, but at BrainStation, you\u2019re learning practical skills from people who do that job,\u201d said Abasolo. \u201cIt\u2019s not Professors who study the subject as a theory, it\u2019s Designers, or Developers, or Data Scientists.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The diploma programs are a collaborative, project-based environment, meaning that students are applying they skills they learn every day to complete real-world projects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe first time I came to BrainStation I was expecting more of a traditional teaching style and I was pleasantly surprised that it was more like working in a team,\u201d said Santoso.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s definitely a fully immersive experience,\u201d said Kakarlapudi. \u201cIt\u2019s really collaborative, and I liked the classroom style where you have lectures in the morning and then work on the Capstone projects in the afternoon. And you have the contact with the Educators, so if you have questions, they are really open to giving feedback and providing help.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Finding a Job After a Diploma Program<\/b><\/h2>\n

The panelists all highlighted the intensity of the program, and emphasized that it\u2019s an environment where hard work really <\/span>pays off<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All three diploma programs culminate with Demo Day, BrainStation\u2019s graduate project <\/span>showcase<\/span><\/a>, which is an opportunity for students to present their Capstone project to Hiring Partners, industry professionals, and the BrainStation community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n