S25:E2 - The Journey from a Bootcamp to a FAANG (Alex Lee)
Aug 23, 2023
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Alex Lee, a Frontend Engineer at Amazon, shares his journey from mechanical engineering to coding through a bootcamp. He talks about his passion for career coaching and empowering others. The podcast covers topics like transitioning to Amazon, imposter syndrome, starting a YouTube channel, and the role of a career coach for software developers.
Alex Lee transitioned from a mechanical engineering background to coding through a coding bootcamp and YouTube tutorials.
Working at a startup after bootcamp allowed Alex to gain confidence in his coding abilities and exposed him to different types of projects and problem spaces.
Deep dives
The Journey from a Bootcamp to Amazon
Alex Lee shares his journey from being an engineer at Amazon and discusses his transition from a mechanical engineering background to coding. He talks about how he initially avoided computer science classes in high school and college, but eventually found himself drawn to coding. After working in the semiconductor engineering field and realizing he didn't enjoy it, he decided to explore coding as a career option. He discovered coding through YouTube tutorials and eventually enrolled in a coding bootcamp. After graduating, he started as an intern and later worked at a web agency before landing his current role as a front-end engineer at Amazon.
Challenges and Growth in a Startup
Alex Lee talks about his experience working at a startup after bootcamp. He highlights the exposure to different types of projects and problem spaces, giving him the opportunity to learn and grow as a software engineer. He reflects on the importance of gaining confidence in his coding abilities during this time. Alex also shares the challenges of working on various projects for different clients and the need for adaptability in an agency setting. He believes that having a startup experience provided him with milestones of accomplishment and allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of the software development process.
Transition to Amazon and the Importance of Leadership Principles
Alex Lee discusses his transition from the startup to Amazon as a front-end engineer. He shares his initial hesitations and feelings of imposter syndrome during the interview process. Alex emphasizes the significance of understanding and embodying the leadership principles of Amazon when applying for a job at the company. He highlights the need to demonstrate how your experiences align with these principles in order to stand out to recruiters. Alex also acknowledges the presence of intelligent and talented colleagues at Amazon, which pushes him to justify his design decisions and think more deeply about his code.
Being a Career Coach and Navigating the Changing Landscape of Breaking Into Tech
Alex Lee talks about his role as a career coach for software developers and addresses the evolving landscape of breaking into the tech industry. He emphasizes the importance of personal branding and networking, advising against quick applies on platforms like LinkedIn. Alex stresses the need for a strong and well-crafted resume that highlights a software developer's skill set and achievements. He also advises aspiring developers to look for industries they are familiar with, as they may have better chances of getting hired. Alex notes the increased supply of software engineers in recent years, making it essential for individuals to go above and beyond in their job search efforts.
Meet Alex Lee, Frontend Engineer at Amazon. In this episode, we learn why Alex pivoted away from Mechanical Engineering and we follow his journey of transformation, opting to learn to code through a bootcamp over multiple law school offers. Alex also talks about his passion as a dedicated career coach and we learn more about Alex who not only excels in the realm of cutting-edge technology but also empowers others to navigate their career paths with confidence.
Alex is a Frontend Engineer at Amazon based in Los Angeles. He also is a career coach dedicated to helping new and seasoned Software Developers change or advance their career.
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