Hey you- future SWE (software engineer), if you aren't already. Welcome to my little blog about my journey and also I am here to help you if you have just joined ALX.

My story

So I am Banele, 25 years old. I come from a small town, Newcastle. After I matriculated I went on to study for a Diploma in hospitality management and I graduated in 2019. A week after that I landed my first job at a hotel in the Drakensberg and I worked there until covid hit in 2020. I then moved to Durban later that year to work at a call center. I left that job and became a production manager at a factory, but due to some factors, I had to leave that job as well. I was unemployed for a few months when I was scrolling and came across the advertisement on Facebook - it said "become a software engineer in 12 months". Now I had been toying with the idea of transitioning into tech for a while now- but I always doubted myself and thought I wasn't smart enough. Or that it's for 'geeks' like portrayed in the movies. I come from a hospitality background- hotels and the like. Tech or software engineering has never crossed my mind as a career I would pursue.

I applied and a few days later I got an email letting me know I have been accepted. I didn't know how to feel - I was excited yet also nervous because this was extremely new territory for me. Induction commenced on the 15th of August. This went on for two weeks before formal probation started- where you had to get an average of 80% to be allowed to continue in the program. I'm 4 months in now and it's been a journey and a half. Hours and hours of sitting in front of a laptop can be so draining. I also suggest getting Bluelight readers to protect your eyes. I got mine from Factorie for R150 (if you are in South Africa).

I will address some questions I have been asked by peers joining the 23 Jan 2023 cohort.

Frequently asked questions

Is it really 70 hours a week?

This is all up to you as a person. It definitely will take that long if you are a complete beginner (like me). But some catch on fast or have prior knowledge so it could be less for them. It also depends on the assignments for that week. If they aren't as intense you will want to spend extra time reading/watching more resources. I recommend watching youtube videos, especially on C programming.

Is the course online or do we attend campus?

The course is fully online. You also don't attend lectures as you would in another online program. There are however live learning sessions you can attend on YouTube (which are recorded if you can't join at the time) which are after the first deadline of an assignment. The mentors communicate via slack -which you will be guided on how to download in the induction. The intranet is where you will log in every day to access your assignments and scores in the program.

There are resources that you will be given for each assignment- but I will strongly advise you to look at your own as well. Such as other YouTube channels -we all understand different types of teaching. I need coloured illustrations to learn, so I look for videos that have that. So cater to your needs and it will be much easier to grasp the concepts. will also need to fill in a captains log every Friday to report back on how you found the projects and the week in general.

How much is the course?

The course is free. You don't pay anything to anybody. Of course, scammers are rife and will sell content that is available freely online. Make sure not to fall into the traps.

Is there a stipend?

No there isn't. Everything is at your own cost. Your laptop and own data/wi-fi will be used.

I work a 9-5. Will I cope?

Honestly, it all depends on you. If you can make the time before and after work I think you will be alright. Plus there is a big community willing to help if you're willing to learn and put in your all.

I have no experience in coding. Can I join?

Yes you definitely can. I have to warn you and say do a bit of reading and research because the program can get a bit tough if you're an absolute beginner. It took me a lot of time to understand things that I can now do without thinking.

How do I pass probation?

During our induction we are introduced to concepts like Git, pushing and pulling from Github, the emacs and vi editors etc. The probation period includes that and a bit more so it should be okay to reach the 80% pass mark. Always ask for help from your peers, and do research, working together is of the utmost importance you cannot do the program alone.

Can I do the program with my cellphone?

You can but I would strongly recommend a laptop. It's more efficient and way less hassle.

What do I need to install on my laptop?

I will go deeper into this in my next blog post. You can start looking at gitbash, and visual studio code- but these are just the ones I use, there are others as well.

Are there any handbooks you can share?

https://chat.whatsapp.com/FdtLmb6NMNv5bqQWkwAN0T

Yes, you can join the group and ask the admin to share handbooks with you.

Is there any group work?

Yes there is group work. In the first few weeks, you will create buddy groups where you will work together with another person. There are also peer learning days once or twice a week where you join a group of up to 10 people and discuss projects. There will be big assignments as well where you will work with your partner - so make sure to pair up with someone who won't drop you to do the task on your own. Use the induction period to make acquaintances and also motivate each other. The dropout rate is high during the first few months.

Can I defer if the program gets a bit much for me?

Yes you can defer, you will just need to send an email to the mentors

Am I guaranteed a job after this program?

No, you are added to The Room, where employers pay to have access to you. So once you complete the program you can land an interview and hopefully get hired. But it's all up to you :)

If you have more questions you would like me to answer, you can write them down in the comment section and I'll include them in the article. Thanks for reading.

I am not affiliated with or endorsed by ALX. The opinions and views I share are purely my own.