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Summary
Alumni Advice
FAQs
Advice from our Alumni
Advice from our Alumni
Over the years we had many different Alumni Talks. In these talks our alumni gave great insights into their daily work and gave great advice to our students.
To also make this knowledge available to everyone who was not able to attend the events, we gathered all the experience and advice from our alumni in this document. To protect the privacy of our alumni, all responses here are anonymous.
Daily Work in Web Development
Daily Work in Web Development
“My day starts with a daily stand up meeting where we talk about the backlog of tasks. After that I work on understanding the tasks and then start programming and problem solving. I also have mentoring sessions and pair programming for difficult problems. Throughout the week there are several meetings and I engage with other team members all the time. “
“I have a daily kick-off meeting with tasks for the day and then a lot of teamwork for the rest of the day, either remotely or in the office.”
Expectations vs. Reality in Web Development
Expectations vs. Reality in Web Development
“I had the expectation that after the one year course I would be ready for the job market and that the technologies I learned would be sufficient for all junior positions. The reality however is that there is a lot more to learn apart from programming like for example Jira, tickets, pipelines… DCI is a great place to start but it’s not enough. You have to be proactive and learn from real-life projects as soon as possible.”
“I expected to be really well prepared through DCI because of the skills I had learned like working in teams, learning quickly on different projects and JavaScript. In my actual work however, I have to write code in an existing code base and I have to understand other people’s code. In reality I spend more time on testing and debugging and I have to multitask different projects at the same time while also learning new programming languages.“
Application Process in Web Development
Application Process in Web Development
“Already at the beginning of my course at DCI, I started looking for interesting fields and companies. I looked at their job offers and the specific requirements. I participated in the Application Workshop from DCI and worked hard on my CV and cover letter. Once those were ready, I started to apply for positions with a nice and clean application. Usually the application process consists of a phone interview, a coding challenge, talking to a senior about code and tech questions before you get the approval. For me, I only had one interview with some general tech questions and then got the approval right away.”
“The application process was really discouraging at first because of many rejections for full time positions even with recommendations through LinkedIn contacts. Thus, I decided to focus more on finding an internship. With a successful internship on my CV, applying for full time positions became a lot easier and companies started reaching out to me.”
Advice for Web Development students
Advice for Web Development students
“My advice would be that your previous knowledge from former jobs is actually really useful and could be very relevant and valuable for certain positions so make sure you include all your skills and knowledge on the CV, not just the tech skills acquired within DCI. Stay active in learning and community engagement to create what I call ‘social proof’ of your skills and experience that recruiters can’t deny.”
“Prepare your CV and always update your portfolio with many projects because if you can’t show your skills you are of no interest to a company. While you are at DCI, work together in teams, join hackathons, learn additional frameworks, take advantage of all DCI services and don’t forget to enjoy your time. During an interview, focus on sharing your passion, show who you are and don’t be afraid of challenges. Once you get a job, be brave enough to ask questions and give your opinion, don’t stress and doubt yourself if you don’t know something right away, emotional intelligence and soft skills are also very important. Be loud and share your thoughts, keep a positive attitude and never stop learning.”
“Teamwork is an important skill you learn in DCI because you always work in teams in a company. Talk to the DCI teachers during the course and learn from their great experience. To be attractive for companies you need to show that you are willing to learn. I would recommend either to focus on Frontend or Backend and master the relevant skills with projects. Overall my advice would be to never give up, be flexible, never stop learning and stay curious. Take projects seriously as they are a great learning opportunity and always ask for feedback, it will help you grow.”
“My advice for virtual interviews would be to really have a good internet connection and good audio, it’s just more professional. Try to be precise and calm during the interview, listen to the questions carefully and trust in yourself and the skills you have. Prepare well for the interview by having some notes about the company and questions you want to ask. Also research the company and try to adapt your interview style according to their style. Bigger corporations are usually more formal than start-ups for example. While in DCI, gather experience through voluntary work, create projects and a good portfolio and make sure to include previous experience and certificates in your application.”
“You will never feel ready for an interview so just go for it. Keep applying for jobs and see interviews as something positive, a chance for your career. Once you are on the job, find your personal way to learn and don’t be afraid to ask for feedback and to ask questions because people actually like to help and it’s better to ask dumb questions than to work on the wrong project all day because you didn’t ask for advice.”
“I would say that a good internship is more important than the final project. Nevertheless you should work on different projects and make sure to push them live on Github. DCI is a great choice but it’s not enough.”
“Don’t focus too much on the programming languages and platforms themselves, but rather get a good understanding of how systems work, understand the different building blocks (almost like Lego pieces) and how they work together. Get the mentality of a software developer instead of mastering single tools because that is what will get you a job. Software developers can work in so many different fields, that’s why you can combine your previous knowledge and experience with software development to find your specific area of interest. You need perseverance, stamina and passion in this industry because you will face many rejections but it is important to keep going. If you don’t try, the answer is always no, so try to apply for many different positions and don’t be shy. If you don’t know the answer to a technical question, that’s not necessarily a problem, what is important is that you know how to find the solution.”
Recommendations by Alumni for Web Development students / Empfehlungen von Alumni für Web Development Studierende
Recommendations by Alumni for Web Development students / Empfehlungen von Alumni für Web Development Studierende
FAQs
FAQs
Over the years we had many different Alumni talks. Part of these talks was a Q&A sessions, where students were able to ask questions.
To also make this knowledge available to everyone who was not able to attend the events, we gathered all the questions and responses from our alumni on this page. To protect the privacy of our alumni, all responses here are anonymous.
Web Development
Web Development
What skills that you learned in DCI do you actually need in your job?
Everything you learn is useful but it is only the fundamentals, keep learning and acquiring new skills. DCI teaches you how to learn which is a very important skill.
What are good projects to have on your Github for Web Development?
Overall, you should make sure you have 1 or 2 projects that are really pretty and done. Examples could be a fake bank website with a front- and backend or take an existing idea but put a spin on it like Instagram for cats. It makes sense to create a project based on your previous career and interests because it’s more personal. It also makes sense to have both front- and backend projects, unless you are certain which area you want to focus on.
How many projects did you have in your portfolio at the end of the DCI course?
In my case, I had about 21 repositories on Github and around 4 projects on my CV. It is important to have projects on Github to show what you are capable of, push your projects live so people can really look at them.
When should I start making my own projects on Github?
If you have time at the beginning, you can definitely start because you will not have much free time later during final project and internship applications.
How many lines of code are you writing on a daily basis?
It’s not so much about how many lines of code you write but more about what features you work on, that’s what counts at the end of the week.
What was the starting position and what did the first months on the job look like?
My starting position was Frontend Developer and the first month was not on a project but just to settle into the company. I had a lot of time to learn new tools and programming languages and was involved with relatively easy projects to learn how to work in a team.
Did you have a mentor in the company and what kind of support did you get?
For some projects you do have a mentor, especially at the start you will usually get a lot of support. In other companies you might not, then you can always ask friends or colleagues.
Do you have any tips on how to pass a coding challenge?
Passing a coding challenge is not easy but possible. Comment your code and explain why you did something a certain way to show that you understand the task. Take all the time you are given to make something really good and if you can’t finish, just let them know it’s not done. Use these challenges on your Github later as a portfolio project.
Would you recommend joining an agency for freelancers?
Probably not, especially as a Junior it is really important to have people that can review your code and teach you new skills. As a freelancer you are on your own and it is much harder to learn because nobody tells you about mistakes. Freelancing is good when you have experience.
How feasible is a fresh DCI graduate to work in tech after learning coding for one year?
You don’t need to have the best programming skills to get a job, what you need is a developer mentality, passion for programming and willingness to learn. Companies usually give you around six months to fully adapt into a company before they expect you to be productive because companies know you need time to learn. Don’t think that you have poor skills, you can be proud of what you have achieved in one year, you are fully qualified for Junior positions.
What makes the ideal Web Development Candidate?
The ideal candidate has a great understanding of JavaScript, can work independently and solve their own problems. A good developer knows how to learn things quickly, he can collaborate and discuss issues with other people and has a zen mentality about getting stuck.
How did you develop personally in one year in Web Development?
I became much more confident in meetings and I became much better at problem solving, testing, debugging and German. I got better at understanding other people’s code, working with different tools and fast and effective learning.
Language
Language
If a job offer is in German, can I also apply for it in English?
If a job offer is in German, they probably require you to know at least B2 in German and it is better to then also apply in German. Your language skills should be very clear on your CV. You could also contact a recruiter directly with this question to get in touch with the company.
I can speak German at C1 level but I can’t read and write at this level. Is that a problem?
Speaking is actually much more important than being able to write in German. Just be honest about your skills in the interview but with speaking at C1 level, you should have no problems.
Is it possible to find a job if the German level is not that good? How crucial is it to have good German language skills?
It all depends on our inner strength, don’t let German language requirements scare you away. Clearly mention your skills in the application and be transparent about it, people don’t expect you to have perfect German skills. Especially in Berlin there are many jobs where you only speak English and there are always colleagues and Google to help you. However, German is important, since you are in Germany and it is definitely a useful skill. Knowing German increases your job opportunities, helps you to create meaningful connections and allows you to participate in important discussions.
Application
Application
How hard would you say it is to start a career in tech?
The beginning is hard but it only takes one good opportunity to start your career in tech. Once you can get your foot in the door and have a permanent position with a company, recruiters will likely reach out to you with various job offers.
How many applications did you send out?
Maybe 20-30 applications, other candidates sent out close to 180 applications, just never lose hope, start early enough and what is meant for you will find you. Expect that you will not get responses from all your applications. Overall, it is not so much about the number of applications but about their quality. Make some really good and meaningful applications, instead of sending out generic applications to as many companies as possible.
When should you start to apply for jobs?
You should start early, maybe the halftime of the course would be a good starting point. Start once your CV is finalized and definitely before the final project.
What is a clean application?
A clean application means you only put relevant information on your CV and cover letter which relates directly to the job offer.
How to stand out and personalize your cover letter?
Include relevant experience for the job and show that you know what you are talking about. Relate your skills and experience directly to the job offer to show you are right for the job.
Where did you find your current position?
Companies usually have a job section on their website which is very helpful. Otherwise there are many good job platforms out there like LinkedIn and Xing, and DCI also provides useful links to job offers.
How do you choose which jobs to apply for and what do you do if you don’t have all the requirements?
You don’t have to fill in all the boxes of a job description. If you are very good at some of the skills required, go for it and give it a try, you can always learn when you are on the job as well.
Would you apply for an internship or a permanent position right away?
Rely on DCI as a resource, they have a lot of relevant information when it comes to applications. If you get the chance, do an internship because it’s a great way to learn and experience the business world but there is no harm in going for a full time position right away.
Is it appropriate to visit companies that you like?
That depends on the situation. Interviews are often held at the office so you will get to see the space anyway. You can also use Meetup.com or Linkedin to connect with people in interesting companies and ask them for a coffee chat in the company. Unless you have a personal connection or an invitation for an interview, I would say it is inappropriate to just show up.
How important is it to have a proper portfolio when applying?
It is really helpful to have projects and a portfolio and to use as many technologies as you know to really show your skills and to have something to talk about during interviews.
What to do if a company doesn’t reach out after an interview?
If they don’t reach out to you it either means the company is really busy and didn’t get around to it yet or you didn’t get the job. If it is a company you really like, you can wait about a week and then send an email and check up on the application process.
How to deal with rejections?
Don’t take rejections personally and for every rejection you get, send out another application to another company. Make sure to reply to the rejection emails, who knows what conversations might come from it.
What salary can we expect for a first position, what can we ask for?
What you can ask for depends on your geographical position (in some regions salaries are higher than in others), previous skills and how much the company wants you. Don’t stress about asking for a certain salary too much because for you it might feel like a big deal but recruiters ask this question all the time. If you feel like you can deliver, you shouldn’t be too shy to ask for the salary you want. Asking for a salary that is higher than their expectation will not disqualify you for the job. However, often companies have a set salary they will offer you. Generally it is somewhere between 30-50k so asking for 40k is probably a good option.
What would be a good way to deal with the fear that I have no prior experience in tech and not much on my CV?
It’s normal to be scared and it’s fine because you will never feel ready! If you don’t even try then the answer is of course no. Maybe just create a one-page CV with 1-2 really good projects and coding examples that make you stand out, recruiters want to know why you are qualified for a position and if you can’t show that with past experience, show it with work examples. Also start with an internship instead of a permanent position to gain even more experience.
With a lot of great work experience, how can you make sure to not be seen as overqualified?
If you feel overqualified, maybe apply for a higher position. There is a high demand for leadership positions in tech. If you have a really impressive CV but want to start at a Junior level you can always shorten your CV and not include all previous work experience. But don’t hide your qualifications, bringing different perspectives to the table is very valuable for companies.
On the Job
On the Job
Is there something you did in DCI that turned out to be super useful later?
Working in teams is very useful. Also just being present in class and really participating. Put in the extra hours, ask a lot of questions and use the expertise from the teachers. Work on projects outside of class to practice.
Do companies offer some kind of internal training for employees?
That depends on the companies. As a beginner you are firstly trained on working in a professional environment, after that you can request different types of training but you need to be able to justify why you need it.
How do you deal with not doing good work?
It is normal to make mistakes so don’t worry too much. It is important to own your mistakes and stand up for them. Ask for help to do it right the next time.
Are you in the office or work remotely? Do companies support home office?
Home office is usually not a problem, however some companies require a certain amount of days in the office. Communication is key when you work remotely, especially at the start it is very beneficial to go to the office. You are usually provided with basic equipment for home office like a Laptop and Headset.
Would you do a longer unpaid internship?
If I didn’t find a job then probably yes because it is a great way to learn but if you can get a paid position, I would definitely switch to that job.
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