When Sheldon Mall lost his job in October of 2019, he could never have imagined what the next few months would have in store — and neither could the rest of the world.  “I was actively interviewing for a new role, and had several opportunities coming my way,” Sheldon said. “But the companies I was talking to were hesitant to officially make offers, because they wanted to see what would come of COVID.”  Sheldon knew the pandemic wouldn’t be over anytime soon, and that he needed to come up with a new plan for finding employment. With a background in tech, he decided it was time to upgr ..read more

For decades, video games have entertained children and adults alike. Today, 64 percent of U.S. households own a device used to play video games, says the Entertainment Software Association [PDF]. Video games have evolved rapidly from the early days, offering increasingly realistic experiences that no longer resemble the pixelated screens and 8-bit games of past generations.  Today, the field of video game development is a lucrative one offering plenty of career options. According to a report by Juniper Research, the gaming industry generated $155 billion in revenue in 2020 and it is pred ..read more

Early last year, Marcel Thiemann left the San Francisco Bay Area and settled in Toronto, where his partner had just landed a new job. With an entire continent separating him from his previous home on the West Coast, Marcel didn’t waste time getting to know his new terrain. He picked up right where he left off — and continued building his tech skills at the UofT SCS Coding Boot Camp. Marcel’s new coding skills helped him land a job in a brand new city in under two months. If you’re interested in product management, Marcel’s path demonstrates what it takes to build a successful career in this co ..read more

Coding may seem like an abstract concept, but if you take things step by step and start learning the basics, it becomes easier to understand. In this article, we’ll cover the coding 101 essentials: why it’s important, how to learn programming, and the possibilities of a career in coding. Why Learn Coding? Coders are currently in high demand; in Canada, for instance, coding is among the fastest-growing employment avenues across countless different industries. Governments, schools, financial institutions, utility companies, security firms, retailers, and more need coders to help run their infr ..read more

In the world of coding, adaptability is key. Processes change, technologies evolve, and new challenges can arise at any time. As someone who attended UofT SCS Coding Boot Camp between January and July of 2020, Daniel Slobodscoy knows this firsthand.  When COVID-19 struck, Daniel had to adjust to remote learning while also navigating the immigration process to move back to Israel with his wife and newborn baby.  He had a well-established career in Toronto as a partner for companies such as Aroma Espresso Bar and Metropolitan Movers, but wanted a job that would allow him to work from a ..read more

While not all software developers can shift seamlessly between different programming languages, that doesn’t mean they aren’t multilingual to some degree. Talented software developers are almost always fluent in a swath of programming dialects and technologies. For any aspiring dev, the learning opportunities are nearly endless. But, given the sheer volume of open-source knowledge out there, new learners might wonder: Which software developer skill sets should I prioritize? Yes, it’s an intimidating question — but don’t fret! In this article, we’ll outline which software developer skills you’l ..read more

Want to make it as a software developer? You’re going to need Java.  No, we’re not referring to a cup of fresh-brewed coffee (though you can’t go wrong stocking up on some of that, too!). Instead, we’re referring to Java with a capital “J” — a versatile programming language that stands as one of the central pillars of all modern software development. So, you might be wondering: What’s the best way to learn Java? and, How do aspiring developers learn Java quickly? Don’t worry; in this article, we’ll explain all the tried-and-true ways to upskill and gain industry-grade Java skills fast. If ..read more

“Learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.” Learning doesn’t occupy a finite space in time, and it isn’t just a four-year, pre-career commitment — at least, not for Andy Durette.  If you want to be successful in work or in life, you need a genuine passion for the process — rather than the product — of learning. Andy understands that better than most. Put into practice, this attitude helped him achieve top marks in UofT SCS Coding Boot Camp — and land his dream job in technology.  Evolv ..read more

You’ve probably heard the term full stack developer tossed around by in-the-know coworkers or on tech forums, especially if you’ve started considering a career in coding. But what is a full stack developer, and what do they do?  Put simply, full stack developers are the Swiss army knives of the development world. As masters of multiple programming languages, these savvy professionals are capable of transitioning seamlessly from one development environment to the next. A boundless sense of curiosity drives full stack developers — it’s not enough to know that something works, they need to u ..read more

Having moved from India to Saudi Arabia to Canada, Anas Qazi was no stranger to change. But when he first arrived in Toronto hoping to break into the city’s growing IT industry, he realized just how much was different from his previous experience in the field. Anas had years of experience working with physical servers in Saudi Arabia, but in Toronto, most technology companies had moved to the cloud.  As he searched for career opportunities, Anas realized he needed to update his skill set for the Canadian job market. Seeking a program with comprehensive career services, he spoke ..read more