Code Labs Interview with Graduate, Kyle Steinmann

Helping Kyle go from self-taught coder to pro software engineer while achieving a healthy work-life balance.

July 15, 2024

As a self-taught computer programmer, Kyle found that a couple of things were missing from his toolbox to support his desire for a career in software development:

1. Mentorship from experts and
2. Peers to learn from, challenge one another, and work alongside.

After we got the chance to catch up with Kyle, past participant and grad of our Full-Stack Web Developer program,¹ we knew we had to share about his experience with the program, the challenges and successes he faced, and where he’s at post-graduation. During our reflection, we learned that although Kyle is a man of few words, what he did have to say was really insightful and we’re excited for you to hear from him. Read on to learn more about his experience and how you can join the next cohort of the Full-Stack Web Developer program!

Q & A with Kyle

Codefi: Kyle, congrats on graduating from the Code Labs Full-Stack Web Developer program, and thanks for taking the time to tell us more about you and your experience. We like to kick off these conversations by starting at the beginning before the Code Labs program. What was life like before the program?
Kyle Steinmann: Before discovering Code Labs, I spent the majority of my career in sales and sales management before transitioning to an IT/tech support role about four years prior to joining Codefi.

What was a day in the life of a program participant? What was the time commitment?
While enrolled in Code Labs, I worked full-time. My work day would start by tackling any pending tasks from the morning, then I'd spend the remainder of my shift coding and learning as much as I could. As the course progressed, I began developing a simple web application for my employer.

After returning home, I would spend a little time with my wife and three kids (now four) and then dedicate most of my evenings to personal coding projects or watching both class-related and unrelated tutorials. Typically, I devoted about 4 to 6 hours to coding on weekdays. Weekends were spent with my kids, handling typical chores, and coding for a couple of hours in the evening, totaling about 20 to 30 hours of study and coding each week.

What challenges did you face when it came to the course offerings?
My greatest challenge was not knowing where I stood compared to expected progress at various stages of the class, largely due to my own high standards and a touch of imposter syndrome.

What excited you most about enrolling in the program?
The opportunity to work in this field was certainly what excited me the most and the ability to learn while working full time was great too. The prospect of transitioning into a new career was incredibly exciting. Although I enjoyed aspects of the sales industry, the changing culture and demands no longer suited my family life. This led me to pursue a more technical role and eventually, Code Labs opened the door to this great opportunity.

What was it like to have support and mentorship from the Code Labs team?
Access to a dedicated code coach was invaluable. Although I am mostly self-taught, having someone to turn to when I hit a snag was essential. Zack was an excellent instructor, and the other coaches were always eager to assist.

What was most beneficial about the employer capstone projects?
I ultimately ended up getting hired by the company I developed my project with, which was a rewarding outcome. It was eye-opening to work with a new team on a project that wasn't my own design, pushing me to explore new libraries and tools that I wouldn't have otherwise considered.

What has life been like post-Code Labs?
I am now employed at BioKyowa² as a software engineer and thoroughly enjoy my work. The company promotes a learning and growth-focused environment, and I cherish the balance it brings to my family life, especially with the ability to work remotely two days a week. I'm progressing through my career tiers and look forward to becoming a full software engineer in the near future. We've also welcomed our fourth child, which has been a blessing.

What part of the program has had the most impact on your life?
I would say the people I met through Code Labs had the biggest impact. The community and connections I've forged through Code Labs have been invaluable. I still regularly communicate with people I met during the program.

What advice would you give to a future applicant?
It's natural to feel overwhelmed or underprepared. Remember where you started and appreciate how far you've come. Remember, even the best programmers rely heavily on resources and tools to work through a continuous stream of problems. Over time, the nature of the problems you solve may change, but problem-solving remains a constant. Good programmers aren't just those who can write code; they are those who can effectively use the tools at their disposal. Don’t hesitate to experiment and learn from what works and what doesn’t. Enjoy the challenge; often, the struggle before solving a problem is where I have the most fun and learn the most.

If you're considering coding, give it a try. It might be different and more challenging than you expect, but the rewards are well worth the effort. At worst, you'll gain a new skill and move on with life. But you won't know until you try.

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