How Sarah Jacobs Landed Her Dream Job in Tech After Completing Our Full Stack Web Development Program
At Cape Town Institute of Technology (CTIT), our mission is to empower individuals to transform their lives through technical education. One such inspiring story is that of Sarah Jacobs, who went from a complete beginner to a successful Full Stack Developer at BrightCode Technologies.
Sarah Jacobs enrolled in our Full Stack Web Development program with no prior experience in coding. As a business graduate, she always wanted to transition into a tech career but didn’t know where to start.
Through a combination of comprehensive course material, hands-on projects, and mentorship from our industry professionals, Sarah quickly built a solid foundation in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React. One of her favorite parts of the program was the capstone project—a fully functional e-commerce website she designed and coded herself. The project showcased her ability to integrate front-end and back-end technologies seamlessly, and it later became a key feature of her portfolio.
"It wasn’t easy juggling a full-time job and the coursework," Sarah recalls. "But the flexibility of the program and the support from my mentor kept me motivated." CTIT’s online platform allowed Sarah to access resources anytime, enabling her to pace her learning according to her schedule.
Sarah also faced challenges in debugging her projects, particularly when working on complex JavaScript algorithms. With the help of the institute’s active student forum, where peers and instructors collaborated on problem-solving, and through personalized mentorship sessions, Sarah gained confidence in troubleshooting issues independently. "I learned that every problem is an opportunity to grow," she shares.
During her time at CTIT, Sarah also leveraged opportunities to connect with her peers and industry professionals. The institute regularly hosted networking events and webinars with tech leaders, which helped Sarah understand the broader tech landscape and build meaningful connections. "I met my future colleague at one of these events," she shares. These events featured speakers from companies like BrightCode Technologies and CloudSys, giving Sarah firsthand exposure to industry practices and trends.
After completing the course, Sarah secured a role at BrightCode Technologies as a Junior Full Stack Developer. Today, she is part of a team developing innovative web solutions for e-commerce companies. "The skills I learned at CTIT not only got me the job but also made me feel ready to excel from day one," says Sarah. She attributes her success to the program’s emphasis on real-world projects, which mirrored the challenges she now encounters in her professional role.
Beyond her role at BrightCode, Sarah continues to contribute to open-source projects in her spare time, often collaborating with developers worldwide on GitHub. She has also started mentoring aspiring developers through CTIT’s alumni network, offering guidance on building portfolios and preparing for technical interviews. "I believe in paying it forward. The support I received at CTIT was life-changing, and I want to help others experience the same," she explains.
Sarah’s advice for anyone considering a tech career is, "Take the leap! With the right guidance and dedication, you can achieve your dreams. And remember, learning never stops in tech." She emphasizes the importance of staying curious and continuously improving, citing her ongoing journey into learning new frameworks like Vue.js and Svelte.
CTIT’s Full Stack Web Development program continues to transform lives, just like it did for Sarah Jacobs. Whether you’re looking to switch careers or enhance your technical skills, our program is designed to help you succeed in the ever-evolving tech industry. Start your journey today and take the first step toward your dream career.