Finding a Foothold in Tech: How Smoothstack Helped Javier Launch His Tech Career 

Background

In 2022, Javier graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a degree in Software Engineering. However, the post-COVID job market was still in recovery, making it difficult for even experienced engineers to find stable employment. As a recent graduate, Javier faced significant challenges in securing a job in the tech industry. 

Challenges

Javier’s primary struggles were typical for many novices in the tech field: 

• Getting noticed in the application process
• Securing interviews
• Gaining a foothold in the industry

Despite applying to numerous positions, Javier found it challenging to stand out in a highly competitive market. During a two-year gap after college, he worked in retail, stocking shelves overnight to support himself. This job offered the flexibility he needed to continue his tech job search during the day, but it was far from his ultimate career goal. 

The Turning Point

Javier discovered Smoothstack during his job hunt, and the opportunity caught his attention for several reasons: 

• Paid training
• A job lined up at the end of the training

Determined to break into the tech industry, Javier decided to fully commit to the Smoothstack process. He was placed on a DevOps track, which, although aligned with his foundational skills, exposed him to new areas like cloud computing and DevOps practices. The training he received at Smoothstack proved to be transformative. 

Training Experience

The rigorous training at Smoothstack was reminiscent of Javier’s college experience, where he had learned to grasp and apply small snippets of information to larger projects. This familiar approach allowed him to excel. 

Javier recalls numerous “lightbulb moments” during his training, stating, “Smoothstack gave me years’ worth of experience in a small fraction of time compared to what I learned in college.” 

Smoothstack’s Unique Approach

Smoothstack’s philosophy is to guide trainees towards their career goals without excessive hand-holding. Javier appreciated this approach, saying, “As long as you’re committed and you actually want to learn the information, and it’s something that you’re aspiring to use and do, it’s golden from there. So you just take it in, leverage it, and embrace the workload.”

Outcome

After completing his training, Javier secured a position with a major federal contractor, where he now works on applications for a large government agency. The skills he developed at Smoothstack continue to serve him well in his current role.