John was feeling demotivated and tied to the office in his former role as a Support Analyst. So when his workplace offered a chance to upskill with a software development apprenticeship with Makers, he jumped at the chance. Now a Back End Developer with a different company John tells us about his apprenticeship journey and how it’s taken him to new shores.
John Haythorn, Back End Developer @ Apotea.se
What were you doing before you applied for the apprenticeship, and what was your motivation to consider the apprenticeship and apply?
Before I applied for the apprenticeship, I had around 20 different jobs — cleaning, call centres, basic administration. I didn’t really have much ambition.
Just before I applied for the apprenticeship I had got a role as a support analyst at MAJORITY. I was on the first-line support help desk for the call centre I was working for.
I was motivated to apply for the apprenticeship because the bank of desks in front of me were all developers and they seemed to enjoy their work, and from what I heard they were paid fairly well. So I thought, you know what, I could do that. Fortunately, the opportunity came up, and I thought I’d give it a shot.
What was your experience of code before applying?
My experience of code was almost nonexistent. In my previous role, I had to occasionally get some information from a database. But that was about the extent of my knowledge. I remember quite clearly a couple of weeks before the bootcamp I had to ask my manager what a variable was and how to declare it. So it was all gobbledygook to me, to be honest.
What was your experience like on the Makers bootcamp?
I really enjoyed the bootcamp experience. Before Makers, my experience of learning was quite a rigid and boring learning atmosphere. Although we studied hard at Makers, the atmosphere was quite relaxed. I didn’t feel under too much pressure and it definitely wasn’t boring. That is largely due to the staff and the other members of the cohort.
We had a really good camaraderie within our cohort. There was a definite feeling that we’re all in this together and the staff was really approachable and friendly. After studying, we often just stayed behind to socialise. So it didn’t feel like it was hard work even though we studied hard.
How did you find your placement time?
I feel my situation was fairly Unique as I worked in the company for a couple of years before I actually went on to my apprenticeship placement. In my previous role as a support analyst, I was supporting the people that were doing the job that I would eventually go into. So I enjoyed it because I got to see the role from a different angle.
I’d experienced the front-end customer services side of the job but actually making things happen and implementing the changes was really quite exciting. I enjoyed learning it, we had a good team and I had a good line manager who taught me a lot.
What was the support like on the bootcamp and throughout your apprenticeship?
On the bootcamp the tutors and mentors were very supportive and very approachable. There was never a time when I didn’t feel I could go to them, even if it was a little while after the official lessons or workshops were finished.
It’s not just the tutors themselves but some of the other support staff as well. I had regular contact with somebody from Makers who came to visit us in Peterborough, which is like 50 or 60 miles away from London. Someone came regularly to help us with our portfolios and give us a timeline and a roadmap as to what we could expect during the apprenticeship.
What has happened since completing the bootcamp?
So I completed the bootcamp and I immediately got to work on my portfolio and studied for exams, which I think a lot of people started doing. Then I put everything in for final submission. It was maybe a year and a half after bootcamp and unfortunately, I didn’t pass the first time round, so that dented my confidence a little bit. But then I focused and tidied up my knowledge, resubmitted my portfolio, and passed with a distinction. So I was really happy with that.
And following that, I was promoted from junior software engineer to mid-level software engineer, which was really good. I managed to lead a couple of projects and be a really valuable member of the team.
Right now, I’m on a balcony in Stockholm, which is where I do a lot of my work . Before bootcamp… before learning to code, that just wouldn’t be possible. I’d be tied to a desk where I’d be calling people from eight till five. But since learning to code I’ve moved my family to Stockholm, I’m in a job that pays me quite well and I can experience a different culture entirely.
What difference has taking the apprenticeship made to your life?
So essentially it’s just opened some doors. I don’t want to get too philosophical, but if doors open then you have to make a certain effort to go through them. So the fact that they opened the doors was really quite amazing. Like I said, before this, I would be tied to a desk, where I’d be on the clock.
Obviously, I still have to work hard. But the flexibility! I could never just get a job in a different country. So the freedom to think of any city in Europe and just go and know I could probably work there. That’s amazing.
What are your future ambitions?
I’ve already ticked something big off my list and that was moving abroad. If I’d stayed in England I would be progressing toward a senior developer position at this point. But right now I’m still settling into a new culture. I hope to be a senior developer in the not too distant future.
Beyond that, I really like working with other people and I think that’s something that a lot of developers probably don’t enjoy. So, if I can be a tech lead then that would be great. Not because I love the title, but just because I love guiding and teaching people.
What advice would you give to anyone thinking about applying for an apprenticeship with Makers?
I would say you get out of it what you put in. So I would 100% recommend it. But, as I said, it opens so many doors for you but you do have to walk through those doors.
So if you can just give yourself that little push, that little momentum at the start to get on the learning journey and develop the habit of learning, then 100% go for it. And enjoy it. That would be my advice.
If you would like to learn more about Makers apprenticeship opportunities follow us on LinkedIn to be notified of all our new opportunities with some amazing hiring partners across the UK. Or if like John, you would like to work for the same company then you can find out more about running tech apprenticeships with us by speaking with Kate Crichton our Head of Partnerships.
