Jenny Veens is a Front-End Developer at Playground Inc. and graduated from our Web Development Bootcamp in the Winter of 2015. She also returned to Juno College to become a Lead Instructor of our Part-Time Web Development course. We sat down with her to hear a bit about her journey into Web Development and her experience at Juno.
Why are you passionate about Web Development?
I've always loved solving problems. As a child, I would curl up with a book of logic puzzles and be busy with that for a whole afternoon. It was great. It would be so satisfying to arrive at the final solution, starting with very little information and having to put the pieces together. As a web developer I get to do that constantly, and getting to the right solution is still just as satisfying. Everyday is a new challenge!
What is the most important quality of a successful Web Developer?
I think the most important thing is to never stop learning. There is so much information to be absorbed in this industry, and things are always changing. If you're always learning, you're constantly sharpening your tools, and adding new ones to your set.
What’s your favourite Juno memory or favourite Juno tradition?
That would have to be Show & Tell (during Bootcamp). It was a great way to end off our week and send us into the weekend. Alumni would show up, drinks would be served, and we would all get to learn something new, or show off something we discovered and wanted to share. It's really an amazing example of what the Juno community is all about: Great people learning new things and sharing their knowledge.
Tell us something you’ve learned during your career that you wish you knew when you were starting out.
No one expects you to know everything. You need to be comfortable with not having all the answers, but also know that you're resourceful enough to figure it out - and sometimes that means asking for help!
What is your advice for someone who is thinking about switching into the tech industry or becoming a developer?
If you find that you're thinking about making a switch into any new career, I would suggest first making sure you're moving into that career for the right reasons. It can't be just about office perks or a better salary. Before becoming a web developer I worked in marketing and struggled with not feeling challenged by my position. Web development requires a penchant for problem solving, and a strong resourcefulness - two skills that I had enjoyed in the past, but was not getting a chance to utilize in my position.
Prior to Juno, I spent a year learning on my own and through Ladies Learning Code workshops. The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn. That lead me to realize that I could make this could be a satisfying, successful career. I would encourage others to spend some time talking with developers in the community, and participating in workshops to make sure it's the right change for them.
Ready to make a career change into tech like Jenny did?
Our Coding 101 Workshops are the perfect place to start. You'll learn the basics of coding and leave with a beautiful website you built yourself. RSVP now to save your seat!