Thloks had a Business Management degree, an Honours in Strategic Management, and years of corporate experience — including a role at Eskom. But she felt completely under-utilised and saw no path for growth. In 12 months she went from strategy manager to Full-Stack Java Developer at BMW South Africa, through Code College's Java bootcamp.
Key result: Thloks moved from a parastatal corporate role to a full-stack developer position at BMW — her new employer matched her previous salary from day one.
Her Journey Before Code College
After matriculating, I graduated with a Business Management Degree from UKZN. I then started working in the banking industry and continued studying for an Honours Degree in Strategic Management. I moved to a parastatal company hoping to grow my career. I was sadly disappointed — I was completely under-utilised and there was no growth at all.
What Inspired Her to Study Software Development?
I always loved using spreadsheets and macros. Yes, I was a passionate Excel user and always felt a need to learn more. My husband is a software developer specialising in COBOL, and he influenced me to consider a career change.
Why Code College?
I researched a lot, and Code College seemed most attractive to me. I liked the real-life success stories. I was amazed at how life-changing the Java Bootcamp was for many students.
Did She Need to Know Coding to Apply?
No, I did not know anything about coding at all. The Introduction to Programming course was an eye-opener and I was immediately hooked.
What Was a Typical Day Like?
It was very hands-on — you get a feeling like you are in the workplace. We did stand-up meetings, code reviews. It was definitely not your typical textbook study like at normal tertiary institutions. We were encouraged to collaborate in learning and practising. We cultivated discipline and the more senior students influenced the more junior students.
How Many Hours Per Week?
I am also a mother, but I made a point of spending at least 6 hours minimum per day on my studies. The commitment was significant but the progress kept me motivated.
What Was the Teaching Style Like?
Collaborative and interactive — you get very involved. Not one-way teaching. The task-oriented nature of the course kept us engaged.
What Did She Learn?
To know the tools and to use the tools to build solutions. I made sure I implemented as much as possible what I learned in order to understand it better. I also learned to find resources on the internet, use the best of different components, change apps and customise them.
Projects Built in the Bootcamp
- Memories app in React — allowed users to post interesting events in their lives (like a social media journal)
- Weather app (React)
- Soccer App (Java) — built from scratch, her favourite
- Coronavirus app (Spring Boot REST API)
The Interview at BMW
I had an online panel interview attended by 6 people — a mix of technical, managerial and HR staff. The interview lasted an hour and 15 minutes. After the normal HR interview, the technical interviewer asked very specific technical questions. My Code College bootcamp experience was discussed in detail throughout the process.
"I felt not restricted to junior jobs and was comfortable applying for Full-Stack Java Developer roles. My new employer matched my previous salary scale."
Inspired by Thloks' story? Learn about Code College's bootcamp for beginners → or read our career change guide →