Junita learned more than technical skills at CYF, she also gained important communication skills
Junita works in IT, but this wasn’t always the case. After the Covid-19 pandemic, she was raising her one-year-old daughter full-time, having previously worked in the hospitality sector, and was searching for something which could provide the flexibility she sorely needed.
“After having my daughter, I wanted to have a flexible job which would provide me with a balance between work and family life.” It did not become clear to Junita what that job could actually look like until she had a conversation with a friend who had trained at CodeYourFuture (CYF), and who encouraged her to give the training course a go.
“I had doubts about myself, but CYF provided all the support to overcome that.’
With zero coding background, Junita initially struggled with self-doubt. But with the help of the volunteer community at CYF, she was able to overcome this.
“CYF did not only help me with technical skills, it helped me to grow as a person too. With the help of personal development sessions, the buddy support system and volunteer support, I have learnt so many skills that will help me throughout my whole life.”
In a typical week, Junita self-learnt during weekdays, and was able to lean on the CYF support system if there was anything she was stuck with. On Saturdays, there was a face-to-face class where “wonderful volunteers helped us to work through any blockers in our coursework.”
“Now I am confident about myself and feel that with hard work, I can achieve anything.”
For Junita, looking back over the course has made her realise the true extent of her progress. “I have come very far in this journey with CYF. From having zero coding knowledge to having a job in the IT industry still feels like a dream to me.”
Before the programme, Junita was “unsure” about her capability, but says that by completing coursework tasks she built confidence and enhanced her communication skills.
“I did not have a ‘can do’ attitude before CYF. But now I am confident about myself and feel that with hard work, I can achieve anything.”
And it didn’t end with the training course. When asked about the support she received after the course, Junita pointed to “help finding jobs, writing my CV, applying for jobs, doing mock interviews, presentation skills and more.”
Junita’s advice for anyone considering training with CodeYourFuture?
“Believe in yourself and work hard. You will get all the support you need if you get stuck. Just don’t give up.”
Want to pursue your own career in tech? Not sure if you could be eligible for a CodeYourFuture programme? Click here to find out more.
With CYF, Junita found a community as well as a career in tech