Techonology – Darren Pham

Why Choose a Berkeley’s Coding Bootcamp

Fremont, California resident Darren Pham’s interest in technology has translated into a viable career at eBay. After graduating from the Year Up program, Darren Pham enrolled in Berkeley’s Coding Bootcamp in San Francisco.

Launched in 2017, Berkeley’s Coding Bootcamp is a great alternative for those who want careers in data analysis and analytics. The Bootcamp is offered through UC Berkeley’s Extension program and lasts between 12 and 24 weeks with classes scheduled during weekday evenings and on Saturday. The program focuses on four areas-front-end advanced frameworks, front-end fundamentals, server-side and database architectures, and data structures and algorithms.

Berkeley’s Coding Bootcamp works for those who want a trade-in technology but do not necessarily have the time or money. It is also a good option for those who are transitioning from a non-technical to a technical career, looking to boost their freelance careers, launching their tech venture, or just wanting to improve their skills.

Two Sides of the Same Coin – Coders and Programmers

Professional programmer working late in the dark office Free Photo

California-based IT professional Darren Pham works as a systems engineer and event management team member for eBay in San Jose. In addition, Darren Pham is enrolled in UC Berkeley’s Coding Boot Camp.

The full-stack web development boot camp teaches a range of technologies, including HTML, MongoDB, and MERN Stack. To many people, coding and programming mean the same thing. However, the two terms are not interchangeable.

The word “coding” refers to the specific process of creating codes in a language a computer can understand. Specifically, coding is the creation of codes in binary language, a series of ones and zeroes.

All commands must be translated into binary so the computer processor can understand them. This requires the use of a text editor and basic knowledge of a programming language.

However, programmers create more than code. While coders follow specific instructions to write code in binary, programmers use their analytical skills and imagination to solve various problems by writing data structures and algorithms.

This requires high-level thinking and in-depth knowledge of computer systems. To operate effectively, programmers also need to understand coding. Because of this, all programmers are coders, though the reverse is not true.

Who Can Apply to Year Up and How Does it Benefit Students?

For more than five years, Darren Pham has been working as an IT professional in California. Over the years, he has worked for companies like eBay and Splunk. Darren Pham began his career in tech shortly after completing an intensive IT training and development program through Year Up Bay Area.

Dedicated to helping young adults reach their full potential, Year Up provides young adults with the experience and skills they need to succeed. In doing so, the program works on closing the Opportunity Divide, a gap created by the unequal spread of opportunity throughout the United States.

The program is open to individuals between the ages of 18 and 24 years old who have either a GED or high school diploma. The maximum age of applicants is increased to 26 for young adults who have served in the Armed Forces. Beyond this, applicants must have a legal right to work in the country and not hold a bachelor’s degree. They must also have a specific interest in working in the business or tech industries.

Young adults who are accepted into the Year Up program can enjoy a high rate of employment and internship placement. According to the organization, roughly 90 percent of graduates in the Bay Area earn around $45,000 a year or are enrolled in college full-time within four months of completing Year Up. Meanwhile, 100 percent of qualified students are placed into internships through the program. These individuals are in good standing and show career readiness.

Year Up Closes the Opportunity Divide

Bay Area systems engineer Darren Pham first gained experience in the IT sector through his participation in the training program Year Up. After graduating, Darren Pham was able to secure a position with e-commerce retailer eBay. Year Up was established to address a phenomenon known as the opportunity divide.

The opportunity divide refers to the ratio of skilled workers needed to the number of young people who are not employed. Many of these young people don’t have access to higher education or job training programs due to their backgrounds. Programs such as Year Up close this divide by working with private sector companies and providing highly motivated youth with the skills and experience to excel in the workforce.

Year Up students learn essential technical skills that apply to areas such as customer service and IT. Participants also build competency in in-demand soft skills such as communication, collaboration, and time management.

After six months in the classroom, Year Up participants take on a six-month internship at some of the largest companies in the world, including Accenture, Amazon, and Capital One. According to one program evaluation, more than 80 percent of graduates are gainfully employed after four months of leaving Year Up.