rwilliams659/careerjournal.md

## careerjournal.md

      
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    Career Journal Template - 2005 Cohort

Overview


What is a career journal? The journal will help guide you through the process of discovering who you are as a new developer and how that translates into your career goals.  It’s a way to check in with yourself through self-reflection, prompts, and questions, organize your targeted job search, and remember who you met as you build a professional network.
Make it your own. Add questions and areas to reflect on each week. Just don’t forget to share all of your successes and achievements along the way!
Ongoing progress checks. Throughout the module, you'll respond to the other prompts and update your progress in your document during professional development workshops and set aside work time.
Module Expectations. A completed career journal is required for successfully passing the module. The career development team will be assessing your progress throughout the module, and you will submit it for final review in week 6. You will also include highlights from your progress in your end of module portfolio presentation.

Directions


Copy the following into your own gist or Google Doc. You'll be sharing this with the Career Development Team.
At the end of week 1, you'll submit the link to your journal in a survey provided to you by Allison. Please DM her with any questions you have.

Mod 1 Week 1: Understanding your strengths


Describe one of your strengths.


What is something you have learned to do well (list a skill)?

I have learned how to work well with others in several ways, such as better communicating my needs and concerns, as well as learning how to mentor others to help them solve problems or make progress.


What is something you know about (list some knowledge/expertise you have)?

I am very organized and know how to keep track of my assignments and prioritize my time.


What is something you have a natural ability to do well (list a talent)?

I have the natural ability to focus on the details of a project and on getting each small piece right.


How do those combine to create a specific strength?

These all combine to make me very reliable. I can be relied upon to complete quality work on time, thoroughly, and with minimal guidance.


Read through your Top 4 results from Pairin


In your own words, what do these top 4 qualities tell you about yourself?

These qualities tell me that overall, I approach life in an analytical manner, valuing organization, planning, and discipline. Additionally, I am detail-oriented and care about getting things as close to perfect as possible. And while I am intellectual in my approach to learning, I am empathetic when interacting with others and am generally able to understand their feelings well while also being respectful of their boundaries.


Do they resonate with you? Why/why not?

Overall, these qualities do resonate with me. I am definitely very organized, detail-oriented, and analytical in my work, and I do value discipline and consistency. I also do tend to be quite empathetic. While I am introverted, I value the relationships I do have tremendously and am very conscious about being as kind and respectful of my friends and acquaintances as possible. I do also like to have goals to puruse, and a clear path that I'm on. However, I do feel like I don't display these qualities in all situations or at all times. While I am analytical, organized, and disciplined in many ways, I can also be lazy, unmotivated, and unfocused at times, so I think it's important to acknowledge that even dominant qualities are not always present.


How do they relate to the strength you wrote about in Prompt #1?

These qualitites directly relate to being reliable, as you must be organized, disciplined, and detail-oriented in order to ensure that what you must get done gets done and gets done well. I think empathy plays into this as well, as empathy is important for good communication, and others must feel they can easily communicate to you what they need and know you will communicate back any concerns or questions.


Challenges with strengths


What can make it challenging to recognize your strengths? How can you work through those challenges?

It can be challenging to work through your strengths because it's much more in human nature to focus on our weaknesses. We tend to take what we're good at for granted and lament what we struggle with. I think it's important to take time out of every few days at least to acknowledge what you've succeeded at, and what characteristics of yours have helped you get there. This helps you realize that you do have strengths, and puts the weaknesses in perspective.


Do you ever see yourself overusing certain strengths? In what circumstances would you want to use them less and amplify other strengths? How could you adjust your approach in those instances?.
Sometimes I let my strengths of being reliable and detail-oriented get in the way of delegating work or voluntarily working with others. I tend to want to have full control over the outcome of work and because I know I am capable of managing my work solo, I rely on my personal strengths to avoid doing things I am less comfortable with. I think in most cases, it's good to use your strengths whenever you can, but only up to the point when you start using those to mask your weaknesses. It's important for me to try harder to lean into these weaknesses rather than avoid them, so I can develop skills in areas that don't come as naturally to me. I have done this in the past - I used to be quite terrified of public speaking and never asked questions or spoke in meetings except when completely necessary. I worked on this by challenging myself to start being more vocal little by little, and now I don't consider public speaking a weakness of mine anymore.


4. Strengths in action


Write 1-2 sentences describing how you like to work (i.e., Do you pre-plan? Do you talk through your ideas first? Do you work better with deadlines? How do you stay organized?)

I generally like to be as organized with my work as possible. If I have time, I do like to pre-plan and lay out steps of the project so I can make a timeline for myself. However, sometimes if I'm stressed under a tight deadline, I do just jump in and try to figure it out more as I go along. That being said, I do generally work better with deadlines, as I am more motivated to work, and i definitely work harder when there are external expectations (rather than just an internal drive.) However, it can be challenging managing my stress at times, which can cause me to make more mistakes or overwork myself to a point that I become less productive. I stay organized by writing down to-do lists and keeping both a physical and virtual calendar to keep track of deadlines and checkpoints in my work.


How could you talk about these working preferences with your project teammates? Your mentor? Your instructors?

When talking about working preferences, I think it's best to be as up front as possible about what works best for you, then to have your teammates or instructors say what works for them, and then you can come to a middle ground that works for you both if there are differences.


What would you need to be aware of when working with people who have different strengths from you?

I think it's really important for me to aknowledge that not everyone needs super strict self-imposed timelines or expectations in order to complete a project successfully, and as long as a teammate is following a system that works for them, I shouldn't be fearful that the teammate won't complete their work on team, and I shouldn't try to impose my system of project management on them.


How could your Pairin results help you better understand your everyday working preferences?

My Pairin results tell me that my strongest driver is to "arrange, plan and work with precision and expertise," as I've mentioned above, and my thinking style is objective-analytical, so I like to arrange and navigate my work with as much logical thought, planning, and precision as possible. I already knew all of that without taking the Pairin test, as I have taken similar tests in the past and am fairly self-reflective. I am aware that while this style generally helps me, it can make me too rigid and stressed at times, so sometimes I need to step back and see where I can give myself some more flexibility.


5. Continued growth


Is there any particular strength you'd like to sharpen while you're at Turing? Any area you consider a weakness that you'd like to strengthen?

I have come a long way in my self-confidence in a lot of areas, for example, as I mentioned earlier, in my public speaking skills, as well as in my ability to work with others. However, I still have a long way to go. While I tend to be quite confident in skills I have already learned, this confidence in myself seems to go out the window when i try to learn something new. In those situations (like at Turing) I tend to doubt myself and my capabilities a lot, and I am constantly comparing myself to others that I deem are doing better than I am. I always feel like I'm learning too slowly. I think this prevents me from focusing on my own personal journey, and this mindset can more easily lead to burnout or to giving up or getting frustrated earlier than i should. It can be both emotionally and professionally destructive, but while I'm aware of this, as I'm a perfectionist, it is very difficult to alter my mindset to be more positive and to be kinder to myself.


What are some steps you could take here?

I need to spend more time reflecting on the progress I have made. I can also try to identify when I'm having thoughts of self-doubt so I can pause and explore where those feelings came from, and maybe even attempt to halt these thought patterns. Additionally, spending more time helping other when they are struggling helps with my confidence too - it can both help build comradery to lessen my compulsion to compare myself to others and help reinforce skills I have learned to help me gain confidence in them. Meditation, yoga, and other mindfulness practices also help me keep perspective on what's important so I don't get as caught up in my negative feelings, so I will try to incorporate more meditation and remain consistent with those practices. That being said, this is something I've struggled with at times throughout my entire life, so this is not an easy thing to change.


How could you be aware of progress you're making?

I can regularly make time to reflect on my current mental state and the confidence level I have in my skills, and whether that corresponds with how proficient I actually am.


Mod 1 Week 2: Building Your Compass 

1. Power of self-reflection


What is challenging about self-reflection?

I am already quite self-reflective, and always have been, so my challenge around self-reflection is keeping it positive. I tend to spend more time reflecting on my flaws or over-analyzing situations in which I wish I had acted differently. My challenge is to focus more on my strengths, goals, and progress so I have a more well-rounded view of myself.


How can you continue to build the habit of self-reflection at Turing?

It is already a habit, but I can make sure to take some time at the end of each week to reflect on the progress I have made that week, so I can again focus more on the positives rather than just the struggles.


2. Social identity mapping

First, create your own social identity map on a piece of paper (or print this out):

Outer ring: write words that describe your given identity
Middle ring: list aspects of your chosen identity
Center: write your core attributes—traits, behaviors, beliefs, values, characteristics, and skills that you think make you unique as an individual. Select things that are enduring and key to who you are.

After you complete your map:

Underline the items that are important to you
Put a + beside the items that you believe clearly demonstrate that you fit into the tech industry
Put a - beside the items that you believe do not demonstrate that you fit into the tech industry
Put a ? beside the items that you're unsure how they could show your ability to contribute to the tech industry

Reflect:


What does your social identity tell you about what you already bring to the tech industry?

I characterized my core traits of being both introverted and empathetic as characteristics that make me fit well into the tech industry, as those in the tech industry (especially engineers) often do have lots of solo work but need to be aware of the experiences of their teammates as well as those who will use the product they are creating in order to do good work. Additionally, I characterized my given traits of being white, straight, and cis-gendered as fitting into the tech industry, which reminds me of my general privelege of not having to work to be respected due to my race, gender, or sexual identity.


What would it look like for some of your minuses or question marks to turn into pluses? In other words, how could some of these traits be assets for the tech industry?

I had question marks or minus signs next to my traits of being female, Jewish, vegan, and of having a chronic illness, as these are not traits I tend to associate with those who work in tech. However, I think diversity of identity, opinion, and life experience is essential for a team in any business, not just the tech industry. Therefore, these traits could be viewed as pluses, as they may mean that I have a different approach to solving a problem that someone else might not, which could help the whole team. They also make me more empathetic, meaning that I tend to work well with others even if they seem very different than me. I also have the ability to bring more diversity to the tech industry with those traits, which can help contribute to the movement to reduce both the perceived and actual barriers to entry and continue to bring in people with different strengths, problem solving approaches, and opinions.


3. Values mapping
Pull out 5 values for each bullet below from this list:

Always valued: Competence, balance, integrity, quality, authenticity
Often valued: Hard work, health/fitness, self-discipline, persistence, helping others
Sometimes valued: Relaxation, being a role model, learning, creativity, making money
Seldom valued: Adventure, change & variety, competition, obedience, patriotism

Reflect:

What do these values tell you about yourself?

These tell me that I really care about being good at what I do, but doing it the right way (with integrity), persisting when I am challenged, and being authentic to who I am through all of that. I also value balance between work, play, and self-care, and care a lot about taking care of my health/fitness. When I am able, I also really like to try to help others. I place less value on being better than others, as I am not competitive, and I don't value adventure or change as much - in fact, I often don't like change. I also don't value blind obedience, as my value of being authentic supercedes me simply following rules because they exist. I don't always value relaxation, as this can butt heads with hard work and quality, which I value more. I do care somewhat about making money but it is not a primary driver.

4. Workview & Lifeview


Summarize what good, worthwhile work means to you (Tip: this is NOT about what work you want to do but about why work matters to you):

I want my work to have a positive impact on others. I also want to see the tangible effects of my work in some way. Good, worthwhile work means work done with intention and quality in mind, with results that don't just increase profits for a company, but that make the lives of individuals easier or better in some way.


Lifeview: summarize what you value in life; what matters to you?

I value my health and mental wellbeing above all, but many factors contribue to this. Feeling challenged, curious, and engaged with my work, as well as feeling like I am paid what I am worth all contribue to this. Additionally, exercising almost every day, cooking my own healthy meals, and doing yoga/meditation/stretching to help manage stress are always a priority of mine, and I try not to let work outrank those things. I also value family and friends a lot - I don't tend to have huge circles of friends, but I value quality of friendships over quantity so I try to take some time to connect regularly, though that sometimes goes against my introvert nature.


Where do your views on work and life complement each other?
In both my work and my life, I like having and achieving goals that are challenging but not outrageous. I tend to be thorough and value quality over quantity (i.e. quality time with friends rather than a ton of it, quality exercise rather than excessive, as well as high quality work output rather than rushing through to produce a lot with mistakes.)


Where do they clash?

I really value  balance, and I try to avoid stressful situations when I can, especially as I have a chronic disorder that can be exacerbated by stress. Sometimes this means that my work goals are compromised because I value my health above all, and I'm not always willing to do "whatever it takes" to succeed at work if that will compromise my health in some way. I don't necessarily think this is a bad mindset, but it can be viewed as such in the workplace.


Does one drive the other? How?

Just due to the nature of work, it tends to be the driver, while life takes a backseat sometimes. This is simply because most jobs are at the set hours of 9-5 or so, so you must arrange your life around it in order to make that schedule work. However, both interact. If you're happier with your non-work life, you will be more motivated at work, and vice-versa. Wellbeing has many facets, and they all interact.


Mod 1 Week 3: Habits & Accountability Systems 

Ideas here are adapted from Atomic Habits by James Clear
Habits of a Software Developer


What do you think are the traits of a good software developer? What are they like in the workplace? What would you as a co-worker think of this person?

While a good software developer likely spends much of their time on solo coding, they are likely also skilled at collaborating with others for code review, at asking for and giving help when someone is stuck on a problem, and at not being afraid of a challenge. They are willing to take on any task, and are willing to put in the time and effort to learn how to do something when they don't yet know it. They deliver work on time, and are reliable and punctual so they can function well as part of an efficient team. As a co-worker, I would view that person as aspirational, and as someone to look to as a leader.


What are the habits that this person demonstrates to embody the identity of a software developer?

This person is likely organized, so they have a habit of, for example, making to-do lists for the next day at the end of each day or scheduling out dedicated blocks of time each day for specific tasks. They likely also have habits of how they research topics that they don't yet understand so they can do it most efficiently. They might also have habits outside of work that allow them to remain healthy of mind and body, such as exercising, meditating, or cooking healthy meals, and rituals of self-care that help them stay focused and productive while at work.


Who do you want to be as a software developer? What kind of behaviors do you already have in place to be that person? What behaviors would you need to put into place? How will you do that?

I want to be the type of person I described above as a software developer. I am already organized, reliable, and good at scheduling out my time. However, I do need to cultivate more of a habit of being willing to take on challenges, rather than afraid of them, perhaps by challenging myself to learn one medium to large new concept or skill every day on the job. I also do work quite well with others, but I greatly prefer working on my own, so I need to become more comfortable more frequently working with others, likely just by doing it more and more.


Working on the 1st Law of Behavior Change: Make it Obvious


Bring self-awareness to your current habits by making a Habits Scorecard. Make a list of your daily habits (examples: wake up, turn off alarm, check phone, etc.) as a way to bring awareness to what you do. Then, decide how effective that habit is for you and your goal of becoming a software developer. Put a + next to habits that are effective; put a - next to habits that are not effective; put a = next to habits that are neutral.


Wake up at 6am +


Snooze the alarm multiple times -


Drink coffee while working or scrolling on my phone **


Go for a run or workout +


Shower, get ready for the day, and eat breakfast **


Go to class, showing up a few minutes early +


During breaks, stretch or do chores around the house +


During lunch, do a strength workout or continue to work +


Make a healthy dinner most nights +


Watch TV at night ** or -


Get in bed 30+ minutes before I intend to sleep +


Spend too much time scrolling on my phone instead of putting away electronics 30 minutes before sleep -


When stressed, use food as a comfort OR don't eat enough if anxiety has tanked my appetite -


Continue working when stuck and don't ever take breaks -


Pick 1 new habit you'd like to build and create an implementation intention following this template: "I will [BEHAVIOR] at [TIME] in [LOCATION]." Then, stack the habit onto something you already do: "After [CURRENT HABIT], I will [NEW HABIT]." (Hint: make this highly specific and immediately actionable)

I will meditate for 10 minutes using the Calm app at 9pm in my room on my yoga mat. After I get ready for bed and set up the coffee maker, I will meditate.


Design your environment for success: what changes could you make in your space to better implement your habit? How could you remove any triggers for bad habits? How will you implement these changes?

I could clean my room/make my bed in the morning so that my meditation space does not induce anxiety and is a nice place to be, so that I don't resent doing the meditation.


Respond after a few days of this implementation: What are your results? How do you feel about this method? How will you move forward with this habit?


Additional Optional Reading: The Five Triggers That Make New Habits Stick
Mod 1 Week 4: Creating a Vision, Part I 


Habits Reflection:


How have you seen yourself become more aware of your habits? Have you tried implementing anything new? What have the results been?

To be honest, I was too busy with Turing to even think about developing new habits. I find it's hard enough to develop new habits when I'm feeling more relaxed and having free time, much less when I'm busy and stressed. I did try to implement meditation, but I only managed it one night, and then I completely forgot about it. Overall, I'm not sure this is the right time to try to force myself to develop new habits.

Start Where You Are (Empathize with the user -- you)


Health: how you answer “how are you”; intersection of physical, mental, and emotional health

How would you rate your overall health on a scale of 1-5? How do you currently make time for activities associated with your health? What is a small change you could make here to readjust your health ratings?

I would rate my health around a 3 right now. I exercise regularly and generally eat quite healthfully, so that part of my physical health I would rate well. However, I am having a very hard time managing stress during Turing and often find myself so anxious about the work that I feel sick or have bad insomnia, especially during group projects. I am trying very hard to readjust my mindset and to focus on learning and going with the flow more rather than worrying about the "what if"s, so I am trying to actively stop my negative thoughts when they happen. If I can do this during my upcoming group project, it will greatly improve my health.


Work: what you do

Make a short list of all the ways you work right now; How much value do each of those things bring to your life? How are those activities purposeful for you?
Turing: Go to class, study, type up notes, create projects where I see my work actually create something in the world. I'm getting value out of learning new things and working really hard.
House work: Cooking, cleaning, meal planning, shopping. Doing these things add value to my life by giving me nourishing food and a clean place to work.


Play: what brings you joy? Think about joy just for the pure sake of doing it; everyone benefits from this kind of play

What activities do you do that bring you joy throughout an average week? In what ways could you make a small change to bring more joy into your life?

I run 6+ miles most days, and getting outside and being active definitely brings me a lot of joy. I also listen to audiobooks during this as well, which helps. To bring more joy to my life, I need to spend more time reflecting on how much I have learned and how far I've come, rather than focusing on what I still have yet to do or what I'm struggling with.


Love: sense of connection; who are the people who matter in your life and how is love flowing to and from you and them?

How does love currently show up in your life? How do you show love to others right now? What adjustments would you like to make in this area?

I am very lucky to have a loving husband and a great family and friends. However, I am finding that with the stress of this program, I find myself reaching out and showing love less frequently and also being less receptive to receiving love, as I generally don't feel freat about myself. I need to remember that I am worthy of love, and that reaching out to others is always important, no matter how busy I am.


Looking back at the 4 areas, do any problems emerge that you want to begin designing solutions for?

I need to get a handle on my anxiety. That mindset is what interferes with all parts of my happiness and resilience and leads to more feelings of failure rather than growth.


3. Define your needs, problem, and insights:
Based on what you wrote about above and your group conversation, what problems have you identified that you'd like to design solutions for? What do you already know about what you want for your career? What do you still need to find out? Who or what do you want to grow into by the end of the Turing program?

I need to focus more on improving my mental health, which means continuing to work hard but not to worry so much about what the results of that effort are, and just focus more on expending the effort. This will be helpful in my career, as this will help me achieve and grow but without sacrificing any part of my health. I already know I want a workplace that is not super stresful but that still challenges me and helps me grow. However, as I have never been at a workplace in a software developer role, there are still a lot of unknowns, such as what a typical day looks like and how much work is solo versus working with others. By the end of the Turing program, I want to be more comfortable working with others, as currently I am still much more comfortable working solo.
4.  Ideate -- challenge assumptions
When you discussed software developers with your small group, what assumptions came up about what software developers actually do? What steps could you take to challenge those assumptions and find more facts to answer the question of what developers do? In addition to what a typical software developer life could look like, what do you want yours to include?

In our group discussion, we assumed that software delveopers were constantly collaborating with others, but I'm not sure this is really true. I could reach out to people I know (and don't know!) who are currently software developers and ask them how much of their work is typically solo v with others, as well as what their day to day generally looks like. For my software developer life, I want to make sure I have a good work/life balance, and that the work part of my day actually feels rewarding!
5. Prototype -- start creating solutions
What is the basic threshold that your new career must meet after Turing? What would you hope WILL NOT happen in your future after Turing? What is your absolute, no-holds-barred, ideal dream for your future after Turing?

My basic thershold for a good career after Turing is one where I am doing work that feels personally rewarding and helps others in some way, with reasonable hours. My ideal vision for my new career after Turing is one that is challenging while not being stressful, one that provides a good work/life balance, one that excites me, and one that gives me flexibility with regard to hours and work location. I hope that my career after Turing is not in a high-stress environment or one where there is no social aspect to the office, or one where I don't have any mentorship or opportunity to continue growing.
6. Test –- solutions
Based on this week of reflections, write out your initial vision statement for your career:

My future career in software engineering will provide me with a stable, well-paying job with a good work-life balance (i.e. around 40 hours/week of work). The work itself will be rewarding, interesting, and challenging. I will be at a workplace where there are more senior team members and mentors that can help me with problems, teach me more efficient ways of solving problems, and help me continue to grow. I will have some flexibility in the hours I choose to work and where I choose to do that work, at least some of the time. My stress level will remain relatively low while I still work hard.
Mod 1 Week 5: Creating a Vision, Part II

1. Habits Reflection:

How have you seen yourself become more aware of your habits? Have you tried implementing anything new? What have the results been?
I have become more aware that sticking to the habits I have previously created around sleep, exercise, food, and destressing times are vital for keeping me in a better headspace and for helping me being able to work at my best. I haven't really tried to implement anything new, as with being so busy with Turing, it feels very difficult to try to implement new habits right now, as it takes work. However, I am trying to stay really committed to the helpful habits I do have, and that has been a good decision.

2. Design Thinking Reflection: Cultivating Beginner's Mind. Optional additional reading: How to Cultivate Beginner's Mind to Become a True Expert

How can beginner's mind be helpful when it comes to thinking about your career and job search? What are some habits you could put into place to cultivate beginner's mind regularly?

For my future career, beginner's mindset could be very helpful in helping me stay engaged and interested in my work in the long-term. It could help me stay in the present moment and appreciate the challenges of work and approach everything with intention rather than just doing everything the way I've done it in the past. To put these into practice, I can focus on staying grateful for what I have, and staying curious, always wanting to improve, rather than always focusing on expectations nd outcomes or being bored by doing work on autopilot.

3. Go through the Flower Exercise brainstorming worksheets linked here. Then complete your Flower Exercise final worksheet here (go to File > Make a copy) and link that finished worksheet here.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AL-Zu-4lxb2UVNScQL-3rWkaInfPVHcZD81HPg1xj4E/
4. Write out your top 5 strengths that you've seen in action this module; then write out the strengths of a software developer. Where do you see these lists overlapping? Where are they different?

My Top 5 Strengths:

Attention to Detail
Organization
Communication & writing skills
Work ethic
Empathy

Software Developer Strengths:

Perseverance and resilience
Ability to problem solve
Attention to detail
Ability to collaborate effectively
Technical expertise and understanding

A lot of my current strengths will help make me an effective software engineer, such as a strong work ethic, communication skills, and attention to detail. I lack the deep technical experience that I think makes an exceptional software engineer, but that will come with time and sustained effort. I am also getting better at persevering in the face of a challenge, problem solving, and collaborating on code with others. Therefore, I see the list of my strengths converging with the top strengths of a software engineer.
5. Write a refined vision statement here (what new things have you discovered this week to incorporate into your vision statement?):

My future career in software engineering will provide me with a stable, well-paying job with a good work-life balance (i.e. around 40 hours/week of work). The work itself will be interesting and challenging, and there will be a focus on producing high-quality work rather than a large quantity of work. The company I work for will truly help improve others' lives in a significant way, preferably in the health, fitness, education, environmental, or travel space. I will work in an environment where there are more senior team members who serve as mentors and that regularly reach out to me to check in, teach me more efficient ways of solving problems, and help me continue to grow. My manager will be understanding and supportive, and act as an advocate for me when I need it. I will be relatively close with my co-workers and regularly participate in social activities with them. I will have some flexibility in the hours I choose to work and where I choose to do that work. My stress level will remain relatively low while I still work hard, and I will feel fulfilled.
Mod 2 Career Journal Prompts

Mod 2 Week 1: Building Habits to Become a Software Developer, Part II  

Ideas here are adapted from Atomic Habits by James Clear
1. Reflect on your habits from last module. What behaviors and activities were helpful for you? What activities and behaviors could be more effective for you? What processes would you like to try differently this module to become more effective at your work and as a software developer?
Last module, it was helpful for me to discover a schedule that works best for me. That included waking up and exercising in the morning, then generally spending 8-9 pre-teaching the day's lessons/going over notes/looking at the next part of a project etc. I then realized that I work best working straight through until about 8pm, only taking small breaks when needed, and allowing myself 2 full hours to wind down and take care of chores/non-coding work before going to bed. This helped me focus better, stress less, and create more of a boundary between work and life. I also developed a habit of typing up my notes from class either at lunch or at 4pm right after class was done, which was helpful for forcing myself to review those concepts.
I feel really good about this schedule, and plan to continue it, so I don't think I would really change much about it. I would like to see if there are ways where I can be more efficient in the work that I'm doing, however, so that I can work "smarter" rather than work "more", so I can have a bit more free time so I stay more sane. This might involve being more intentional with how I break down my actual work time, so I don't get bogged down in little details on projects that aren't worth my time at that point. This is something I plan to explore more as the module goes on.
2. Setting intentions for this module: who do I want to be this module? What specific habits would help me get there? How are those habits tied to the identity of a software developer?

This module, I want to be someone who works hard but isn't afraid to reach out for help whenever it's needed. To do this, I need to develop a habit of only spending about 45 minutes struggling through an issue before I reach out for help to my classmates, mentor, or upper-mod students. This habit is tied to how a software developer is a good collaborator and is open to struggling and learning new concepts, but understands the value of also learning from more experienced and senior developers, and uses them as a resource.
3. Incorporate temptation bundling to create a new habit by using this template:

After I brush my teeth, I will plug my phone in so it's away for the night.
After I pre-teach the lessons for the day, I will take a 10 minute break outside.

4. How to enjoy “hard” habits: Reframe your habits to consider their benefits rather than their drawbacks; name 3 habits that you have to do and explain the benefits of them. How do they further your goals longterm? How will they add to your processes as a successful developer? At the end of the day, how do they add to your life?

I have to spend most days coding from about 9am to 8pm. This is all in service of learning how to code so that I can complete the Turing program and eventually become a successful software developer. Achieving this goal will provide me with more working hour flexibility, a more challenging and fulfilling job, and a better salary to allow me to travel more and have better financial security.
I have to run at least 5 mornings a week. Doing so greatly improves my focus and ability to learn for the day, digestion, and alertness short term. More long-term, it helps me stay fit and healthy, have much better mental health, allows me to better manage my autoimmune disease, and allows me to embrace a desired identity of a runner.
I have to maintain a regular sleep schedule. This makes it much easier to get up in the morning when my alarm goes off, ensures that I get my exercise in for the day, and starts off the morning on a productive note which sets the tone for the day. Long-term, this increases my productivity, improves my mental and physical health, and can help prevent some bad habits like late-night eating.

5. Environment design (optional 5-min. additional reading: Motivation is Overvalued. Environment Often Matters More): how does your environment set-up currently help you with your habits? How could it be improved to make it easier for you to follow through on your habits?
I live in a 1-bedroom apartment with my husband, so we don't have a ton of flexibility to change the environment. Currently, I work at a table with an external monitor and plenty of space to spread out my planner, notebook, and other notepads that I use to plan, organize, take notes, and work through problems. Having this space is very helpful. However, my husband also often works at this table and has a ton of meetings where he is constantly talking. This can be very distracing and makes doing project work very challenging. I therefore decided to buy myself a fold-out desk and a more comfortable chair that I can place in our bedroom so I can work there instead when he has meetings. This should help provide a calmer, quieter environment and lower my stress around this issue, which will improve my study quality and quantity.
6. “When you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do.” Read this 4-min article on how to stop procrastinating. Apply the 2-minute rule to reframe 2-3 of your habits by scaling them down into the 2-minute version. How does this reframing help you think about shaping your new identity as a software developer?

Running for an hour each morning => Putting on my running clothes and going outside
Typing up my notes from the day's lesson => Opening my notebook & google doc & typing notes for 2 minutes
Meditating for 10min before bead => Opening the Calm app and sitting down on my yoga mat, then breathing for 1 minute

I've heard of this concept before, and 2 minutes really seem to work for me. However, I understand the gist of it is that it can take time to really refine the habits that lead to success, so it's important to recognize that you can start small. Taking one step forward and making that a habit will then allow you to slowly add on in chunks until you reach your finish line. This is how I think about learning to code - if I look at current software engineers I know, or even mod4 students, I can get very overwhelmend and wonder how I'll ever be able to do the things they do. However, I've shifted my focus to putting in the time and effort each individual day at a time and knowing that that is moving me forward towards that reality.
Mod 2 Week 2: Professional Storytelling & Branding  

1. Assess your habits from week 1: how did you spend your time this past week? What was effective in your habits? What could be more effective? What steps will you take to make that happen?
I wasn't successful in pre-teaching lessons for the day, which was the main thing I was looking to change, so I will focus more on that this week. To make that happen, I need to make sure that I start my morning run earlier, around 6:45, so that I have a full 45 minutes or so in the morning to do so.
2. Write a draft of your professional story here as 1-2 paragraphs. Focus on answering the questions who are you, why are you here, and what's next? Consider how to talk about your motives and values, the turning points that led to your career change, and what you envision for yourself going forward.
I have always had diverse interests and abilities throughout my life, which has lead me on many winding paths, but have always had a rational, logical, and analytical approach to my life and a love for languages. In college, I studied Sociology and French, mainly because these classes interested me and introduced me to concepts and opportunities previously unexplored. However, I planned towards the end of college to actually go into a career in fitness, studying for my Group Fitness Instructor and Personal Training certifications while still in school. After landing a personal training gig, I quickly realized it did not fit well with my introvert personality, and subsequently jumped between a variety of jobs in the non-profit sector and various software companies doing copywriting, marketing, website design, and a variety of other tasks.
I began to get frustrated with my lack of a clear direction and career interest, and at the same time, found myself surrounded by others who were coders and engineers, which exposed me to that world. I toyed with the idea of going to a coding bootcamp for about a year, but was never brave enough to take such a leap. However, when my frustration at my current job reached a peak, I decided to jump in and go for it. I was looking for a career that would challenge me while providing me with financial security, a clear path forward, and resiliency in our changing job market. I am able to bring my skills in organization, attention to detail, working with others, juggling a variety of tasks, and overall comminication to my future career as a software engineer, which I think will make me a stronger candidate overall.
3. Update your LinkedIn profile with the following: updated photo/headshot, headline, summary statement using your story, and Turing added to your experience and education sections. Include a link to your profile here in the journal. Remember the guidelines and tips from the lesson here. www.linkedin.com/in/rachelsarahwilliams
4. What other steps will you take this week to update your branding or practice your story?

I will update my GitHub profile with a more professional photo and more information as well.
Mod 2 Week 3: Job Search Strategies 

Assess your habits from week 2: how did you spend your time this past week? What was effective in your habits? What could be more effective? What steps will you take to make that happen?

I was quite stressed this week, as I had a lot of project work to do, so I let slip some of my habits, such as stopping coding at 8pm, spending time doing relaxing activities (yoga/stretching/tv etc.), and going to bed at 10 to get a good night's sleep. This was harmful to my meantal and physical health and has left me feeling even more stressed and burnt out. I need to make sure I obey my 8pm rule regardless of how overwhelmed I'm feeling with a project.
Reflect on how you’ve spent your time so far at Turing to gauge your engagement and energy:

When have you been excited, focused, and enjoyed your work?
When I don't feel a ton of time pressure to speed through work and I can really enjoy the process of problem-solving, I am more focused and excited about my work. Also, when I am applying skills that I'm getting more confident with or where I can see how much I have improved, it can be very exciting.
When have you felt bored, restless, or unhappy?
There's rarely time to feel bored or restless at Turing. I have been unhappy when I felt I wasn't being given all the tools and support I needed to succeed, or was being held to unrealistic standards. This can leave me feeling very ungrounded, and increase my feelings of imposter syndrome. I have also often been unhappy at times during group projects, as I prefer to work alone.
When do you feel energized in your work?
As identified above, I feel energized when I'm able to work without feeling like I need to work as fast as possible to be able to get something done, which doesn't happen that often in this current environment. However, I do really enjoy the process of problem-solving, so I feel energized when I solve a hard problem. I also really enjoy most of the classes, and feel energized by the community during those times.
When is your energy drained?

My energy often gets drained uring group projects. I am an introvert and I have always preferred working alone, and the big focus on group projects can be draining to me at times due to social overload, particularly if my project partners have different expectations, coding ability, or communication preferences than me. Working with those on the same page as me is much less draining, but I still find myself much moe exhausted during the group project phases of this program.

Setting up habits and routines to make time for the job search this module:

Block out time on your calendar this week to work on your job search. When will you make this happen? How will you hold yourself accountable to this? What activities will you focus on during this time this week? What outcomes do you hope to reach by the end of this week because of these activities?

I am working on my job search Thursday afternoon during our dedicated work time. I am holding myself accountable by writing this here and setting a calendar reminder. The best use of my time at this stage is to explore all the resources presented in our professional development this week, so that is what I plan to spend most of my time on, so I can gain more familiarity with useful resources for my future job search.

Applying wayfinding to using job search resources

Go through the resources listed here and explore 2-3 tools. List what you looked at here:


BuiltInColorado, Key Values, LinkedIn.


Apply wayfinding: of what you looked at, what did you discover that aligns with your vision? If it didn't align with your vision, what will you try next?

I discovered quite a few companies on Key Values that were really exciting to me - they seemed to really value work/life balance and employees' mental health, while also pushing them to grow and challenge themselves. However, I didn't discover as many companies in an industry that I am as interested in - I think I just need to keep searching and also leverage LinkedIn connections to find out more.


Find a job posting that aligns with your vision. What's the posting? How does it align with what you're looking for? Add it to your Huntr.

The job is a Software Engineer position at Curable Health in Denver. This app helps people deal with chronic pain, which aligns with my vision of working in the health or fitness tech space. It is also located in Denver, with an optional remote work option, which aligns with my location preferences.


What next steps will you take to explore that opportunity and find contacts? Add that information to your Huntr card.

I will consult LinkedIn to see if I have any connections with current employees there, so I can be introduced to someone at the company to find out more.


Mod 2 Week 4: Building Habits to Become a Software Developer, Part III  

Ideas here are adapted from Atomic Habits by James Clear


Assess your habits from week 3: how did you spend your time this past week? What was effective in your habits? What could be more effective? What steps will you take to make that happen?

This past week was more positive overall, as I was less busy and stressed and was able to take more time to recharge and step away from coding, which is essential for my long-term wellbeing and ability to learn and grow. I was able to continue many of the habits that I've developed, such as running before class each morning and not coding after 8pm fairly successfully. I have actually become even more consistent with my running, which not only helps with my mental and physical health but improves my ability to focus and code more effectively. However, I let my 10pm bedtime once again slide to later, meaning that I did not sleep as well. In order to remedy this, I need to set a 9:30pm cutoff for screen time - no more TV or phone after that - and spend the last 30 minutes before bedtime listening to my audiobook, stretching, or meditating. To make this happen, I have to set an alarm on my phone for that time.


Implement a reiforcement strategy: to make one of your habits more satisfying, what is a reward you can give yourself immediately after completing the habit? How will this reward encourage you to continue completing that habit?

For the habit of going to bed on time, it's not really feasible to give myself a reward after I do so, as I'll be asleep! However, if I focus instead on developing the habit to turn off all screens at 9:30pm, a reward I can give myself upon doing this is allowing myself to listen to my preferred audiobook until 10pm. I really enjoy audiobooks and generally only have time to listen to them when I run, so this should be a good motivator.


"Don't Break the Chain": Use a habit tracker


What is a habit that you want to make sure to do every day? How could you visually cue yourself to complete it (i.e., moving a paper clip)? How can you visually track it each time you've completed it? Could you automate the tracking? How will you do that? Need help? Check out one of these habit tracking apps
I want to make sure I exercise every day, and while I am mostly successful at this, on days that I am really tired I tend not to, when gentle exercise would probably improve my fatigue level. I have been thinking about purchasing a white board to put next to my computer set-up, so I could draw the month's calendar on it and put on an X on each day that I exercise.


How to get back on track when missing a habit: if you miss a day or two of completing your habit, how will you get yourself going again?

Having a set time to complete the habit is helpful, because even if you miss a day, the same time and therefore cue to complete the habit will come around the next day. I also find that actively taking time at least on a weekly basis to reflect on my priorities and my evolving identity helps to reset what is most important for me and re-motivate myself to get back to any lapsed habits.


Pick an accountability partner (your cohort accountabilibuddy, your mentor, a close friend, etc.) and create a habit contract with them. How often will you check in with each other? How will they hold you accountable?

Aaron and I decided to be 'accountabillibody' buddies, as we both recognized during a breakout room how much exercise has a positive impact on both our mental and physical health and on our coding productivity. We will check in with each other weekly to see how our exercise goals went for the week.


Mod 2 Week 5: Outreach & Networking I  

Review your habit tracker: how did you monitor your habit(s)? What does this tell you about your overall progress becoming the person you want to be? In general, how satisfied are you with how you spent your time this module? What could be improved next module?

I mostly monitored my habits by consistently checking in with my mental and physical health and seeing if I was still doing ok. If not, I took a harder look at my habits to see what I should focus on. Overall, I am happy with how I spent my time this module, as I turned in high-quality projects, learned a lot, and felt I grew a lot. However, my work was a bit unbalanced, in that there were a few times when the workload was lighter and I didn't take advantage of that time to do more self-study and practice for the final assessment, and then when I was busy, I had very little time for self-care. However, I think this balance is very difficult to get right at Turing so overall I'm not too unhappy with how I did. My desired nighttime routine of stopping coding at 8pm, and doing some stretching/meditation before going to bed at 10pm did lapse, as I found myself wanting to spend that time before bed watching TV to get my mind off coding and goint to bed later, which impacted my energy level the next day, so I want to get back on track with that next mod if possible.
Mind Maps:


Engagement. What did you reflect on before in regards to when you're engaged in your work at Turing? Pull out an idea that resonates with you most (e.g., "Talking through a problem with a partner," "The moment when I solve a problem that I previously didn't know how to do," "Setting up a successful project management process for my team") and break that idea down into parts and make a list (what are all the steps that go into that moment? When do you get to use your strengths? What is fun about this?).

At Turing, I feel engaged when working on a challenging but doable problem in my projects. Lately, I have enjoyed doing this with a project partner who is at a similar level of coding ability to me. This involves a task that is sufficiently challenging but does not involve learning any big new concepts or getting stuck for a long time. I enjoy this because it makes me feel successful and shows me that I have been learning and growing and that I have gained a lot of new abilities.


Energy. What did you reflect on before in regards to when you feel most energized in your work at Turing? Pull out an idea that resonates with you most and break that idea down into parts and make a list (what are all the steps that go into that moment? When do you get to use your strengths? What is fun about this?).

I feel energized when I am able to solve a tough problem that I initially got stuck on, but only in the context where I have the time and space to reflect, do research, and try things out without feeling a ton of time pressure. This is fun because it can be very satisfying to figure something out that initially didn't seem possible. This necessitates a more balanced work/life division than happens during Turing mods, but will likely be more possible within the confines of a 9-5 job.


Flow. When have you had an experience recently in which you were in a state of flow? You can also think about this as "joy" or "play." Pull out an idea that resonates with you most and break that idea down into parts and make a list (what are all the steps that go into that moment? When do you get to use your strengths? What is fun about this?).

I get into flow mostly when I am deep into a project where I can see the path of what I need to do, and I am putting all of the pieces together in my code. This necessitates that I spent a significant amount of time properly planning out my path and thinking through what I would need to do for each piece. That allows me to jump in with confidence to actaully implement the code.


Prototype your mind maps: what do these mind maps tell you about what's important to you as a software developer? What questions do they bring up about what you still want to learn about this career?

This tells me that my career as a software developer should provide me with challenges, but also not be in a very high-pressure environment, so that I have the time and space, and hopefully access to useful mentors, in order to take the time to figure out how to do new things. I still want to learn how much of this career generally involves solo work and figuring things out on your own versus coding in pairs or in a group and collaborating on work.
Prototype your outreach: (Be prepared to share this in your small group discussion)


Who comes to mind as a person you can reach out to? Why that person? What questions would you ask them? Come up with 2-3 people here to serve as prototypes

I have several friends who are developers from my last job, many of whom have moved on to other caompanies. They all seem like great people to reach out to, as we already have an established connection, and they have a variety of experience in and knowledge of the Denver tech scene. I would like to ask them what their day to day is like as a software engineer, what they do and don't like about their past and current jobs, and what coding resources they use for both job postings and for staying up to date with the industry.


How would this outreach help you further your job search strategy?
This would help because it will give me some insight into what the job market will be like in Denver, and possibly help me learn the best places to go to get awareness on open jobs. Additionally, each of these people has additional connections with other software developers, so leveraging these connections might help me find a job opening that I could get a reference to.


Outreach & Networking Plan: Based on your reflections above, create a concrete plan for your outreach:

Who is the right person for you to reach out to?
My friend and former co-worker, Sommer.
How will you find them? How do you know they’re the right person?
She's already my established friend. She also went through more non-traditional software engineer training (i.e. not a computer science degree) and has worked very hard to get where she is. She has now had a variety of front end jobs, and also goes to conferences and other software events, so she is quite connected to the Denver tech scene.
How will you reach out?
I will send her a message asking if we can set up a call.
What questions do you need to ask them?
I need to ask her what resources she suggests for connecting with other software engineers and continuing to learn, what she likes and doesn't like about the industry and her job, if there are any companies she might recommend for junior developers, and if she knows of any current openings in her or her friends' positions.
How will you use this information to further your solution? This may give me some job leads, but if not, should give me information on companies to research and organizations to join to start getting connected.
How will you follow up? I will reach out periodically, as we are friends!

Execute your plan:

Reach out to your contact THIS WEEK. If possible, reach out to more than one person OR find a meetup to attend also. What happened? What other next steps should you take? If this is a person connected to a company you're interested in, be sure to add it to your Huntr card.
I haven't had time to reach out yet, but I will this week!

Module 3

Please list the top 3-5 industries and companies you'll pursue in your job search as of right now.

The industries/companies I am most interested in right now are:

Health & fitness tech


Curable Health, ThrivePass, Zen Planner, ActiveJunky etc.


Education


Guild Education, Udemy, Top Hat, Edify


Travel & tourism


Evolve Vacation Rental, Pana, Inspirato

Why did you pick the industries/companies that you listed above? How do they relate to the values and goals you have for yourself in your job search?

Health and fitness has always been a passion of mine, so it is the top industry I'll be looking to get a job in. I have also worked in health & fitness in a variety of ways, as both a group fitness instructor and as a copywriter for a company making smart scales, fitness trackers, and other health devices, and I have always loved contributing to making people healthier and happier through those means.
I'm also interested in looking into Education companies because these companies also have a clear purpose to help people. Given the big role that further education has in my life currently, I am interested in helping other people gain skills the way I have to open up their lives to new opportunities and more security and stability.
Lastly, my previous job was in the tourism industry, at Fareharbor, where I worked building websites for over 2 years, so given my experience in that area, travel & tourism seem like smart industries to look into. I also love to travel myself and find the whole industry to be very exciting.
How does your LinkedIn currently reflect your goals and industry interests? What changes will you need to make to your LinkedIn to better reflect these?

I just updated my LinkedIn summary to reflect my industry interests, and I think it already reflects my current goals well. I will continue to refine this summary as I develop a stronger sense of my goals. I also updated my profile to indicate that I am open to work. Right now, this is only visible to employees, but I will update this to be open to everyone as I get further into mod3.
Answer the below questions in a separate gist and link them into your career journal using this template:
Week 1: https://gist.github.com/rwilliams659/57e6fd61fc33d5ad1ecf04279d5c4f40
Week 2: https://gist.github.com/rwilliams659/5abce46cbf97e2c7691d1ce51d10f6c9
Week 3: https://gist.github.com/rwilliams659/fa4eda98db45d98f0f9324504475580d
Week 4: https://gist.github.com/rwilliams659/f3faa18f67b882a5d900012b6fd54a92
Week 5: https://gist.github.com/rwilliams659/15027dfd4849c642765705943a75c9ca
Module 4

For my pre-work, I made 2 connections to Turing alumni working at companies I'm interested in, CirrusMD and Healthgrades.
Here are my outreach messages:
To Taylor Moore - Senior Software Engineer at Healthgrades
Hi Taylor! My name is Rachel & I’m a soon-to-be mod4 student in the Turing front end program. I’m very interested in eventually working in the health or healthcare space, and I came across Healthgrades in my research, whose mission really seems to align with what I’m looking for. I see you’ve been working there for 3 years, and I was wondering if you’d be open to setting up a coffee chat so I could learn more about the company, as well as hear about your experience transitioning from Turing into the “real” world. Look forward to hearing from you!
To Jhun de Andres - Software Engineer at CirrusMD Inc.
Hi Jhun! My name is Rachel & I’m a soon-to-be mod4 student in the Turing front end program. I’ve always been passionate about health, and am very interested in eventually working in the health/healthcare space. I came across CirrusMD in my research, and expanding virtual care to remove some of the barriers to healthcare is really intriguing to me. If you’d be open to it, I’d love to set up a quick coffee chat to learn more about the company, as well as your experience moving from Turing into the “real” world. Let me know if that’s something that would work for you!
Jhun got back to me, and we had a coffee chat at lunchtime today, which was great. The company seems like a great option for me, and while they don't currently have any job postings, I plan to reach out to him again within the next few days to express my interest in the company and ask if he'd let me know if they are hiring over the next few months.
For Mod 4 job search activities, I'm using this spreadsheet to keep track of my activity/progress: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vht482s-3Ydq6itJzgsUmLIQEOl_2B8sViX3h6RWmx0/edit#gid=0