From Flat Whites to Full-Stack: Interview with Bootcamp Student Jonny

After a decade in customer-facing roles — from coffee roasting to retail — Jonny Hicks was ready for a new kind of challenge. A natural maker with a passion for building things, he found himself drawn to the creative possibilities of code. What started as curiosity soon grew into a serious career shift, leading him to join the JavaScript Bootcamp. We caught up with Jonny halfway through the programme to hear about his journey so far — the wins, the wobbles, and what’s keeping him inspired along the way.

From coffee roasting to coding

"I’ve worked a whole lot of different jobs, mostly in front-facing customer service. I’d say I’ve done everything from coffee roasting to being a full-time professional barista, plus retail — pretty much everything under the sun when it comes to that kind of work.
Over the last ten years, I’ve had a lot of different roles and tried out a bunch of different careers, but the common thread through all of it has been customer service. That’s really where most of my experience lies."

Finding a new way to create

"I was looking for something different — something that felt interesting and compelling. I’ve always really enjoyed making things in general. I’m a big hobbyist; I tend to make a lot of stuff just for the fun of it. So coding felt like a different way of making things — like creating something in a totally unfamiliar world. And that idea really stuck with me. It seemed fun — the idea that in a digital space, you can build anything you want, and the barrier to entry is so low. That kind of creative freedom really appealed to me."

"So coding felt like a different way of making things — like creating something in a totally unfamiliar world"

Why Technigo felt like the right fit

"I actually found Technigo a couple of years ago — just saw it floating around online. What caught my eye was that it looked fun and really approachable. It didn’t come across as overly serious or intimidating, and it felt compact in a good way. I was looking for something hands-on that I could do while still working, and Technigo offered that balance. Honestly, at this point in my life, I didn’t feel like I had the time to go back and do a full degree. I didn’t want to be in school for years. So the idea of starting from scratch and working toward an actual career in a focused, practical way really appealed to me."

A day in the life at bootcamp

"Every day kind of starts with setting the foundation — a bit of planning to get things going. Sometimes that’s a live session in the morning, sometimes a workshop in the afternoon. And then it’s about finding the time to really build the projects, which I think is the most important part.
For me, the day usually kicks off around 8am — with a whole lot of coffee. I like to get a good overview of what’s ahead, give myself a loose idea of what I’m aiming for, and then just jump in.
If I don’t lose myself too much in the code, I try to wrap things up by 5. Most of the time… it doesn’t quite happen that way — haha."

The thrill of getting things to work

"I’m someone who loves building and making things, so one of the biggest highlights for me has been those moments in a project where suddenly — it works. Like, really works. That moment when something clicks and comes together is just so exciting.
I’ve also really enjoyed the guest speakers and community sessions. Career Week especially stood out — it gave us a glimpse into the real world outside the bootcamp. Sometimes during the bootcamp, it can feel like you're in a bit of a bubble, where everyone’s going through the same kind of chaos and confusion. So hearing from people outside — alumni, folks working in the industry — was incredibly grounding. They’d say things like, “It’s normal to feel stuck. It’s OK. You’re not alone.”

“It’s normal to feel stuck. It’s OK. You’re not alone.”

"And honestly, that kind of reassurance hits different when it’s not coming from your teachers or classmates. It helps you breathe, step back, and realise — okay, I’ve got this… even when it feels like I definitely don’t."

What comes next

"I think what I’m really looking forward to is exploring more. This bootcamp kind of gets you going — it gives you the foundation, but by the end of it, you actually end up with more questions than you started with. And I think that’s a good thing. It means there’s room to grow, to play, to figure out what really excites you.
The more I experiment, the more I find myself thinking — maybe I want to look deeper into UX design. I’ve really enjoyed that side of things. But at the same time, I’m also curious about backend — it feels like this mysterious, quiet part of coding that makes everything run but doesn’t always get talked about. I’d love to understand more about how it all works behind the scenes.
And beyond that, I think I’m just excited by the fact that tech is always changing."

"And beyond that, I think I’m just excited by the fact that tech is always changing."

"Even during the bootcamp, tools and trends shifted. Something would get deprecated, something new would be announced, and you’d have to adapt — figure out a new way forward. That kind of constant change really appeals to me. If you’re someone who craves challenge and variety, that sense of never standing still — that’s what’s exciting about the future. It’s never going to be boring. There’s always going to be something new to learn, something new to build."