It is expected that by 2025, 85 million jobs may be displaced by a shift in the division of labour between humans and machines, while 97 million new roles may emerge that are more adapted. This is according to the Future of Jobs Report 2020 released by the World Economic Forum.
Knowing that the tech industry offers a gateway to increased career opportunities and job security, Olifantsfontein resident Thabiso Hlatshwayo set his future into motion by studying to become a software developer in 2019.
“As a developer, I knew that my skills would always be needed and it would allow me to forge my own future-proofed career,” explained Hlatshwayo.
Explaining how his journey began, Hlatshwayo said that while working as a waiter at Jacksons Food Stores in Gauteng, he had the opportunity to complete some training in systems development. “This opened the door to an internship at Condurre (Pty) Ltd where my new-found passion for programming deepened.”
The more Hlatshwayo learned about the opportunities in the tech sector, the more attractive the industry became. “I wanted to develop skills for an in-demand and well-paid job because I know that most companies need programmers,” he said. “I also wanted to work remotely as I love the idea of being able to control my time and being able to work from wherever I want.”
Accessible education paves a path for the future
To make the jump to become a professional full stack developer from his intermediate-level understanding of coding, Hlatshwayo knew he needed in-depth practical tech skills to break into the industry. “This is when I decided to enrol in a full-time HyperionDev Software Engineering bootcamp,” he said. “I chose this option instead of university because it offered me the exact skills I needed and university fees were out of my price range.”
In just a few months, Hlatshwayo graduated and found work in his dream role as a full stack developer at Kartoza where he was able to put the skills he learnt into action.
Mentorship is key when learning a new skill
Learning to code wasn’t easy, Hlatshwayo admitted. “It took hard work and long hours, however, the mentorship I was given as part of my course helped me to make consistent progress.”
“Having a mentor is extremely helpful because you don’t have to struggle on your own when it comes to understanding difficult areas,” said Hlatshwayo. “My mentor was there whenever I needed help with what I was learning and he even taught me to trust in myself.”
Now that he’s officially started his career as a full-stack developer, Hlatshwayo has big plans for his future. “First, my goal is to be appointed as a group manager and then one day I definitely see myself opening up a company in the IT industry. This will allow me to take advantage of the jobs of the future, create opportunities for other South Africans and ignite their love for coding,” concludes Hlatshwayo.
For more information on how to enroll in a HyperionDev coding bootcamp visit https://www.hyperiondev.com.
