A former salesman in the hearing-aid market, Brian decided to change career paths and become a web developer. He's presently an intern at Trott, and he explains his career path in this dedicated interview!
From salesman to web developer, a look back at Brian's career
Hello Brian! Can you introduce yourself in a few words? What was your background before joining Wild Code School Reims in France?
Before I set out in the field of web development, I was working as a salesman for hearing aids. After some time in this field, I didn't feel as though I were growing or evolving. So, I decided to search for a job offering more creativity.
It's while participating in a sort of code initiation with Pôle Emploi (the French government employment agency) that I stumbled upon the idea of web development. While looking for a way to train myself in this field, I quickly discovered Wild Code School, and I fell in love with the teaching method they offer.
You are a mobile-application developer at the moment for Trott, in Reims, France. Can you tell us more about your company, your job, and your daily missions?
Trott is a start-up created in 2019 that aims to facilitate the use of self-service vehicles everywhere in France. Our goal: to keep users from having to go through several apps by grouping all vehicles on a single app.
Today, I'm a junior developer, and I participate in the creation of the Trott application along with my colleagues from my training and a senior developer who supports us when we encounter roadblocks. We also work with a team that creates the design of the application and sends us the different models.
In this team, I also take on the role of Scrum Master. That means I have to guide the team in the choice of methodology, help solve difficulties, and oversee the big picture of the entire project. I have to organize the different meetings of the week and make sure that everyone can give their opinion and put forward their ideas. I learn a lot in this position, and I always try to give the team the desire to progress.
Why did you choose to follow our Web Developer training?
There are two big reasons I choose Wild Code School.
The first is learning by doing. We discover a concept with several discovery exercises that allow us to understand how to use a technology and especially why to use it. Once you've practiced, you'll be able to deepen your knowledge with a theoretical course and answer any questions you may have. This is quite the opposite of traditional learning, and we rely much more on our natural curiosity to advance.
The second point is the importance of the group—both for the work and mutual aid during the learning process or various projects—but also for building one's network as one goes along. You never feel alone, and you can always find a fellow Wilder or external contact who can help you when you're stuck or have a question about a difficult concept.
Tech and urban mobility: the perfect alliance?
In what ways do the skills you acquired after your training at Wild Code School help you in your daily missions?
The motto during my training was "Learning to learn." We discover how to progress in an autonomous way and adapt to the needs of the companies.
When I arrived at Trott, our team had to learn a new technology. The five-month training course enabled us to quickly adapt to this new language and share many tips to avoid development errors. The "technology watch" allowed us to quickly develop our skills and to be fully operational in the company after a few weeks.
If you had to define the challenges of tech in the transportation sector, what would they be?
Today, we use our smartphones more and more to get around. So, it's important to develop modern solutions that can be easily used by an increasingly large audience.
Do you consider electric scooters as a means of transportation of the present or the future? Why do you think so?
For me, electric scooters are a means of transportation of the future, as it is a very recent market and the way they are used is constantly evolving. I think that this more ecological mode of transportation will be more and more promoted in a few years.
What do you like about the idea of combining your tech skills in this sector of future transportation?
I really feel like I'm participating in the creation of tomorrow's means of transportation. Our team being quite young, we can really put forward new ideas and prepare for the future needs of users. We work a lot with the feedback we receive, and we try to be as reactive as possible.
A look at Brian's future prospects—and sound advice for tech enthusiasts who don't dare to dream
How do you see your career evolving?
For the moment, I want to continue to develop my skills in web development and work on other types of web and mobile projects. In two or three years, I'd like to develop my skills in team and methodology training—and why not become a trainer? In the next ten years or so, I expect to develop more interest in project and team management.
Do you have any specific advice for people who want to transform into web developers?
Don't hesitate to try introductory code courses or small discovery courses. You can find them everywhere—even here at Wild Code School—to help you grasp the basics. Don't hesitate to contact developers around you or on social networks; it's a great community that won't hesitate to help you with any questions.
Thanks for all your answers! Do you have any last words for the Wilders?
For new and future Wilders, don't be afraid to make mistakes, share your mistakes with your colleagues, and develop your project ideas in a team environment. In this fashion, you'll learn quickly and improve your ability to work as a team once your training is complete.
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