From a Construction Industry to a Software Developer

My name is Lee Fowlow. I'm from English Harbour, Trinity Bay, and am a software developer with Webonise Canada Technologies.

‍What did you do before Get Coding?

I attended Memorial University out of high school and completed a B.Sc. in Psychology with a minor in Mathematics.

After convocation, I then moved to Alberta where I worked in the construction industry for eight years: first as an operator and lead hand on my crew, and eventually as a foreman.

‍What made you decide to switch your career?

During Covid, not being able to come home to visit lead to me deciding to make the move back to The Rock. I decided that I also wanted to move into a different industry as part of the transition, and was fortunate enough to stumble across an article about Get Coding right around this time.

Did you ever think of switching your career to tech?

I hadn't ever considered a career in tech until, as a 32-year old, I found that article. Neither my work background, nor my hobbies, had prepared me for this new field.

At first, the decision was a little daunting, but as I spent some time familiarizing myself with coding, I knew that it was meant for me.

Why did you choose Get Coding?

There were several factors that lead me to eventually decide on Get Coding as the path that was best for me to take.

The connections and roots they had already established in the province that I wanted to live, the ability for me to take on tasks at my own pace, and the infectious enthusiasm of both Jan and Sahand, were all major selling points that pushed me to submit that application.

Were you working during Get Coding?

I was working for approximately half of my time during Get Coding. I intended to work for the majority of it, but with Covid slowing down the construction industry, I decided to take that opportunity to make the move back to Newfoundland while I was still completing the course.

What did you build during Get Coding?

The first project I took on with Get Coding was a sports betting app that allowed bettors to input advantage bets along with some applicable variables to get a list of parlays with maximized edges.

My second, and more in depth, project was a simple number/strategy game in which the user could play against the CPU. It was with this project that I explored the backend for the first time, and eventually spent time learning AWS.

What are you doing now?

I'm currently living and working in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland. The company I'm employed with is based out of the States, and there are only two developers in Newfoundland for the time being. I work from home, and most of my teammates are based in Nova Scotia or India.

What would you say to people considering switching their career to tech?

I would advise anybody who is considering to make the switch, to ensure that they do so with careful consideration.

There are plenty of times when programming can be frustrating, difficult work; and it's important that you find fulfillment from each breakthrough and each solved puzzle. That said, this is the best decision I've made in my entire life; and for anybody who is seriously considering making the move to the tech industry, I cannot recommend Get Coding highly enough.

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