Posted by Keenan Naicker always had a passion for solving problems and coding. Shortly after finishing his Matric, Keenan decided to turn his passion into a career, with a HyperionDev Software Engineer bootcamp. Over the course of this full-time and online bootcamp, Keenan pushed himself: his hard work won him a Student of the Month award during his bootcamp, which he completed with an average mark of 100%, finishing top of his class. This work ethic has paid off immensely: Keenan quickly landed a software engineer position at AppFactory, an initiative run by Microsoft. Keenan hopes that this paid internship will be the first step of a long and successful career in software engineering.
Which Bootcamp did you complete?
With Hyperion Development I chose to do the Full-time online Software Engineering Bootcamp. I completed the bootcamp being top of my cohort, finishing with 100% and getting student of the month.
Which Company are you employed with?
I am currently doing an Internship with Microsoft via the AppFactory that is hosted by OneNebula. The AppFactory is an initiative from Microsoft, which employs inexperienced graduates and assists them in gaining crucial work experience and soft skills. This program also promotes the learning of new technologies in a real-life work environment working on real-life projects.
Tell us about your hiring journey. How did you hear about it, and what was the process like?
A very close friend of mine told me about the internship and said that I should apply as I would be a strong candidate with the skills I’ve gained studying at HyperionDev.
There were several steps to the hiring process. It went something like:
- Application.
- Application code challenge.
- Interview.
- Technical code challenge.
- Technical interview.
- Final interview.
This sounds very intimidating, but honestly it was an amazing experience. The interview process was fast and very informative. I felt welcome from the first interview, giving me the confidence to answer all questions with no doubt to my answers as well as ask all questions that I might need answers to.
How did the HyperionDev Careers team help you with your job search?
Although I didn’t do the Mock Interview training with HyperionDev, the last few Tasks of my bootcamp involved interview preparations which helped a ton in getting the role. I received tips on setting up my LinkedIn account and drafting my CV, as well as building a professional online portfolio that helped display my skills.
Tell us about the job you found.
Sure! It’s a contract-based internship. It gives individuals like me the chance to expand their skills and gain work experience, and it prepares us for our future as Software Engineers or Developers. As a young Bootcamp graduate with no prior work experience my main goal was to get a job in this field to gain that experience. Fortunately for me this Internship does come with a salary – and plenty of opportunity to learn vital engineering skills. Plus I get to work on real projects!
Which languages or tech stacks do you use?
Through my journey so far I have learned a handful of skills, including Python, Java, MySQL, OOP, TDD, and Version Control in Git. In my current professional work, I primarily use a couple of technologies. These are:
- Microsoft Azure Cloud Technologies
- C#
- SQL
- Power BI
We are also gaining experience using the Agile Methodology while doing our projects.
What is the coolest thing you learned in your new role?
One of the coolest things I have learnt so far is Microsoft Azure and how powerful their services and tools are. I know that what I’ve learnt so far is just the tip of the iceberg, and that once I start using it I will get to explore and learn even more. It’s very exciting.
What did you learn at HyperionDev that helped you in your current job?
HyperionDev taught me the fundamentals of programming, which makes it much easier to learn new or different languages. One of the first things I did when starting the Internship is learning C#. Learning a new programming language isn’t easy but the skills I gained at HyperionDev – especially Java – helped lowering the learning curve to C#.
Do you see yourself growing in this company?
My goal is to join the company once I have completed the internship.
As this program there is an initiative from Microsoft in partnership with OneNebula. I work very closely with the OneNebula team, and they are one of a kind. It’s the one-of-a-kind where you want to be a part of every small success the company goes through. So far, I haven’t worked a day in my life yet because everything I’ve done during this internship is something I want to do and enjoy doing.
HyperionDev was a big decision for me. I knew it was a step in the right direction although I wasn’t sure about the outcome. I am happy to say that it was the best decision I’ve made, and thanks to the powerful course content and wonderful mentors I can now take my next steps as a Software Engineer.
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