After William Ku, a former mobile-apps developer, was retrenched twice over a period of three years, he decided to embark on the NUS-ISS StackUp – Startup Tech Talent Development programme’s Full Stack Foundation course.
“Since the full-stack developer role involves a much wider technical scope as compared to that of a mobile-apps developer, I felt that it would provide me with more job security,” William shared. “More importantly, I had the opportunity to learn new skills and update myself on the recent developments in the ever-evolving technology landscape.”
William is currently working at Maltem Asia, an IT consultancy firm focusing on services within the finance industry. While he was initially hired to work on internal IT projects as a full-stack developer, he had recently been assigned as a front-end developer to one of the clients. On how the programme has helped him in his current role, William said, “The course has equipped me with the basics of a technology stack, and built up my confidence in working with all the different facets of a development stack.”
Diving into the world of internet apps
The Full Stack Foundation course, which William completed earlier this year, is aimed at equipping individuals with basic coding abilities, and the full technology stack, to design and create an internet app for tech products.
Comprising of four modules, this 40-day course provides participants with inter-disciplinary skills that equips them with all the competencies needed to build an app in its entirety.
The lessons are delivered through hands-on workshops, in which students learn methods and concepts through simulation of real-world scenarios. They will then practice them with case models and by creating their very own product. Live coding and demos in class, as well as group and individual coaching, are also provided.
Helping hands
The journey has not been all smooth-sailing for William. “I took up the course as a private individual, and at that time, I was unemployed. Besides forking out the course fees on my own, I also had to look for jobs in the meantime. It was an anxious period of time, as there were many uncertainties that I was facing in that situation, and this made me very distracted,” he explained.
However, the biggest takeaway from the course, according to William, is that he is not alone in the lifelong learning journey. “I was very fortunate to have instructors such as Kenneth Phang and Lee Chuk Mun, who have helped me a great deal by sharing their industrial experience and providing relevant insights. I also received a lot of support from friends and my family.”
Moreover, William added, the coursemates made the journey all the more enjoyable. “It had felt like a mini-throwback to my varsity days at NUS. I made friends with the like-minded individuals in the course. Even though the course was quite short, we developed some camaraderie, which made the experience memorable.”
Preparing for further disruptions
Even though the course has been completed, William is acutely aware that this is not the end of the learning journey. “In the face of rapid technology changes, the job market is becoming more and more competitive. We need to be mentally prepared for the somewhat ruthless technological onslaught,” he said.
With an overwhelming number of new technologies emerging in the market right now, one dilemma would be that it is hard to decide which one to learn, and the best approach to do so. “I would say the NUS-ISS Full Stack Foundation course helped a great deal in this aspect. Being an established training institution, NUS-ISS provides training in a curated series of skillsets, and offers a network of industrial connections that helps to open doors of opportunities.”
For people who are looking to taking up the Full Stack Foundation course, or courses in other areas of technology, William advises that it is important to have a genuine interest in the technology. “I don’t think that it is practical to simply think of it as a rice bowl. Lifelong learning is something that everyone needs to adopt – especially in the current digital economy. Besides equipping one with the relevant skills for the next job or career progression, it also lends a sense of purpose and progress.”
Moreover, “perhaps in 20 years’ time, there would be no need for programmers anymore, because computers would be able to do programming on its own. Hopefully by then, I would have found another job,” William concluded jokingly.
For more information on the NICF - Full Stack Foundation course, click here