{"id":132363,"date":"2023-04-24T22:19:11","date_gmt":"2023-04-25T05:19:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/?post_type=stories&p=132363"},"modified":"2024-05-17T06:34:29","modified_gmt":"2024-05-17T13:34:29","slug":"marion-lessington","status":"publish","type":"stories","link":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/stories\/marion-lessington\/","title":{"rendered":"Marion Lessington (Mell), III"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Despite a lucrative job as a branch manager for a bank, Mell<\/a> had a strong urge to step out of his comfort zone and pursue a new passion \u2014 software engineering. To gain the skills to succceed in the field, Mell enrolled in General Assembly<\/a>\u2019s Software Engineering program, and he\u2019s never looked back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow, I get to show up to work, whether virtually or in the office, as my authentic self.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s his story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tell us about your background. What were you doing before attending General Assembly?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was a Branch Manager at a local Atlanta bank before attending General Assembly. At the time, I had been working in the banking industry for 10 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What motivated you to explore a software engineering career, and why did you decide to pick General Assembly?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was helping my nephew navigate through the college process, [looking for] colleges with a good Computer Science program\u2026I became curious about careers in Computer Science, and I learned that [you don\u2019t need a] four-year college degree to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I stumbled upon General Assembly\u2026[and completed a couple of] free workshops<\/a> on HTML and JavaScript. They challenged me in ways I haven\u2019t been challenged in a long time and reminded me of what was possible. After the pandemic hit, I enrolled in the Full-time Software Engineering Immersive<\/a> and fully embarked on this journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What did you like about General Assembly? Are there any highlights that stood out to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I loved the structured approach to learning and the connections I made in the bootcamp. But what stood out to me the most was that I learned how to learn again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did you fit the Software Engineering Immersive program into your schedule?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I treated it like a full-time job. Studying and practicing [after class] was my part-time job. It was a huge sacrifice and commitment, but I reminded myself that it was only for 12 weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you give us any examples of projects that you worked on during the program?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I created an [inventory] app called The Liquor Cabinet<\/strong>, which can electronically keep track of my quarantine<\/em> spirits. I also worked on a group project called Fork It<\/strong>, which allowed users to input ingredients and get different recipes they could follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you have any advice for someone considering General Assembly\u2019s Software Engineering Immersive Program?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Give it everything you\u2019ve got, and you won\u2019t be disappointed. What you learn at General Assembly has the potential to shift your career in an impactful way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did General Assembly support you in finding a job?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Career Coach<\/a> did not let me be lazy and held me accountable to my goals. She was committed to ensuring that I put in the work to land my first job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Was the job search process different from what you expected?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Absolutely. I came out thinking that there was a line of recruiters waiting to pass out jobs. But [in reality], you have to put in the work and effort to demonstrate [that] you have the skills to succeed in the profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With how many companies did you interview? How did you choose which one to work with?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was interviewed by about 10 companies. I chose my company based on the work culture and the compensation package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How are the skills you gained from the course helpful in your current career?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest skill I learned was problem-solving. In essence, it\u2019s what a Software Engineer does all day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you think is different about your life now versus before the program?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everything. I used to show up at work in suits and ties every day to do a job that was mundane, repetitive, and unchallenging. I was overweight and unhappy. Now I get to show up to work, whether virtually or in the office, as my authentic self. I\u2019m 40 pounds down and I get up every day motivated to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you find fulfilling about being a software engineer?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No day is the same. No challenge is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you enjoy about your current company? Are there any specific perks you enjoy?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The retirement package, health insurance, and the $1,500 stipend every year for personal expenses, like my gym membership, Netflix, vet bills, and others. The company pays for any certifications I want to get, too. But the greatest perk is the work-life balance. We actually have one!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you have any job search advice for someone considering a software engineering career?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t give up. Work on a project every day and network, network, network!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":132366,"template":"","class_list":["post-132363","stories","type-stories","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMarion Lessington (Mell), III - Career Karma<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Giving up a lucrative career may sound crazy. 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