Whether you’re trying to break into a new field, prepare for the job search, or level up in your current role, it helps to know that you’re not alone in your journey to build your skills. That’s why we’re sharing stories from learners like you: to motivate and inspire others in their learning endeavors.
For Aaron Collyer, a Senior Info Systems Technician, continuous learning isn’t just a career strategy—it’s a passion. With a desire to expand his skill set and stay relevant in an evolving tech job market, Aaron found his way to CodeSignal Learn. We spoke with Aaron about his journey, including how he’s using CodeSignal to master the Elixir programming language, what keeps him motivated, and why he believes a “jack of all trades” approach to learning is key to a successful career.
Watch highlights from our conversation in the video below:
What are your goals for learning, and how did that bring you to CodeSignal Learn?
“’I’m currently in IT and trying to expand my skill set to just see what’s out there and learn. My company programs in Elixir, and I’ve tried to find a bunch of sources and outlets that would help me learn it because, besides the documentation, there’s not too many resources out there to learn that language—opposed to Python or JavaScript.
Then I just stumbled across [the CodeSignal Learn] website. I realized [Learn] has all these paths and then the AI [tutor], Cosmo, really helped. It explained things in a very concise way that I really enjoyed. Since Cosmo was fine-tuned for the context and the lesson planned, it was more catered towards a beginner.”
Ready to learn Elixir? Check out the Introduction to Elixir course path Aaron completed in CodeSignal Learn.
What motivates you to make time for learning?
“It’s just fun. I like the gamification of [CodeSignal Learn]. It makes me feel like I’m making progress with actually learning the concepts, and then I can take that to my own projects. Back in the day when I did Udemy courses, I convinced myself that I was making progress. But then when I went to go code without following a course, I was a deer in headlights.
It’s like a muscle being exercised—and then you actually see those gains like you do in a gym. [CodeSignal Learn] reinforces that dopamine hit to have you keep coming back. And honestly, it’s just what I want to do. If you want to stay applicable and marketable and hireable in this new era of AI, you’ve got to stay on your skills.”
What’s next for you?
“Just to get as many different skill sets as possible. On CodeSignal Learn, there are so many different paths like AI and even soft skills, interviewing prep, management… It’s fun to learn, especially the things that you don’t know. I’m going to get a quality education in a whole subject that I didn’t even know that I needed. Going forward, I’ll fine-tune my programming skills and then just pick up different things. Why not broaden your horizon and become a jack of all trades?”
Get started
Ready to learn in-demand skills in software engineering, including today’s most in-demand coding languages like Elixir, Python, Go, and Swift? Sign up for CodeSignal Learn to get started for free.
Did CodeSignal Learn help you learn a new coding language, prep for an interview, or land a new role? We’d love to hear from you! Share your story with us here.