The Career Change Podcast with Fexingo: Switching Fields, Bootcamps, and Reskilling

Lucas and Luna break down exactly how coding bootcamp graduates can land their first tech internship in 2026. They walk through a concrete case: a career changer named Priya who went from retail management to a summer internship at a mid-size SaaS company in Austin. The hosts discuss three practical strategies: targeting internships at companies that specifically hire bootcamp grads, building a portfolio project that mimics real internship work, and using informational interviews to get referrals. They also cover common pitfalls like applying too late and ignoring smaller companies. Along the way, they mention key stats: around 30 percent of tech internships at companies like HubSpot and Shopify now accept bootcamp applicants, and the average internship hourly wage in tech is $35. The episode ends with a forward-looking question about whether formal internship programs are becoming more inclusive of non-traditional backgrounds. No fluff, just actionable advice for bootcamp grads ready to make the leap.

#TechInternship #BootcampGrads #CareerChange #PriyaCaseStudy #AustinTech #SaaSInternship #HubSpot #Shopify #InformationalInterview #PortfolioProject #Reskilling #TechCareers #InternshipTips #NonTraditionalHire #CareerPivot #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Careers

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Episode 56 of The Career Change Podcast. Lucas and Luna explore how coding bootcamp graduates can pivot into data engineering roles, focusing on the specific skills, portfolio projects, and interview strategies that make candidates stand out. They break down the difference between data engineering and data science, the key tools — Spark, Airflow, dbt — and how to build a project using the NYC Taxi dataset. They also discuss the myth that you need a computer science degree and share tips for the system design round. The episode includes a candid moment about listener support funding the show.

#DataEngineering #BootcampGrads #CareerChange #Reskilling #TechJobs #ETL #ApacheSpark #Airflow #dbt #SQL #Python #NYCTaxi #PortfolioProject #SystemDesign #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TheCareerChangePodcast

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In this episode of The Career Change Podcast, Lucas and Luna dive into the art of the take-home coding challenge — a common gatekeeper for bootcamp grads entering tech. They dissect a real-world case from a mid-sized SaaS company where a candidate's thoughtful README and test coverage beat flashy algorithmic solutions. Lucas shares a four-step framework for structuring your approach: read the spec twice, plan before coding, write tests first, and document decisions. Luna pushes back on time estimates, revealing that top performers routinely spend twice the suggested time. They also discuss when to walk away from a poorly designed challenge and how to turn your solution into a talking point in the interview. If you're a bootcamp grad looking to stand out in a sea of similar resumes, this episode gives you a concrete, repeatable process.

#TakeHomeChallenges #CodingChallenges #BootcampGrads #TechJobs #CareerChange #CodingInterview #SoftwareEngineering #JobSearch #TechnicalAssessment #CareerAdvice #LucasAndLuna #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Careers #Reskilling #CodingBootcamp #InterviewTips #JobHunt

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Episode 54 of The Career Change Podcast breaks down salary negotiation for coding bootcamp graduates. Lucas and Luna walk through the data: a 2025 survey of 1,200 bootcamp alumni found that only 34% negotiated their first offer, but those who did earned an average of $12,500 more per year. They explain why bootcamp grads often hesitate, how to research market rates using tools like Levels.fyi and Glassdoor, and three specific tactics for negotiating without a competing offer. The hosts also address the fear of having the offer rescinded and share a real example of a grad who secured a $15,000 bump by delaying the conversation by 48 hours. If you're a bootcamp alum preparing for interviews or waiting on an offer, this episode gives you a concrete playbook.

#CareerChange #CodingBootcamp #SalaryNegotiation #TechJobs #JobOffer #Compensation #Levelsfyi #Glassdoor #BootcampGrad #Reskilling #InterviewTips #NegotiationTactics #TechSalary #FirstJob #Counteroffer #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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We explore a specific strategy for bootcamp students to land a tech job before they even graduate: leveraging the last month of the program for targeted, high-intensity applications. Lucas and Luna break down the approach used by a successful bootcamp grad named Marcus Chen, who applied to 40 companies in 3 weeks using a 'no-frills portfolio' and a scripted cold-message sequence on LinkedIn. They discuss the concrete steps — from building a focused portfolio project to timing applications with cohort completion dates — and why volume and specificity beat perfection. The episode includes a realistic look at rejection rates, offer timelines, and how to negotiate a start date that aligns with graduation. If you are in the final stretch of a coding bootcamp and wondering whether to wait or start applying now, this episode gives you a playbook.

#Bootcamp #TechJobs #CareerChange #JobSearchStrategy #LinkedIn #PortfolioProject #CodingBootcamp #Hiring #Interviews #TechIndustry #Careers #JobHunt #Graduation #MarcusChen #ColdMessaging #Negotiation #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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Episode 52 of The Career Change Podcast tackles the system design interview — the most feared round for bootcamp grads aiming for senior or mid-level roles at top tech companies. Lucas and Luna break down why this interview isn't about memorizing distributed systems theory, but about structured thinking and trade-off communication. They walk through a concrete example: designing a URL shortener like TinyURL. Lucas explains the four-step framework — requirements, data model, traffic estimates, and data flow — and why bootcamp grads actually have an advantage here. Luna pushes back on common pitfalls like over-engineering and silent thinking. They close with a specific resource: the System Design Primer GitHub repo, and why practicing with a friend beats reading alone.

#SystemDesign #BootcampGrads #TechInterview #CareerChange #Careers #CodingBootcamp #TinyURL #InterviewPrep #Scalability #DistributedSystems #SoftwareEngineering #TechCareers #LucasAndLuna #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TheCareerChangePodcast #SystemDesignPrimer #TradeOffs

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Lucas and Luna break down what a whiteboard coding interview actually tests—and it's not just code. Drawing on 2026 hiring data from Google, Meta, and Stripe, they reveal that communication and process matter more than the right answer. Lucas shares a specific three-phase framework (Clarify, Plan, Execute) that bootcamp grads can use to structure their approach, and they discuss how to handle nerves when you're standing at the board with a marker. Plus: why the whiteboard is making a comeback in 2026 after years of remote coding challenges. If you're a bootcamp grad eyeing big tech, this episode gives you a concrete game plan.

#WhiteboardInterview #CodingInterview #BootcampGrad #TechHiring #Google #Meta #Stripe #InterviewSkills #CareerChange #Bootcamp #Reskilling #Coding #Algorithms #ProblemSolving #Communication #TechJobs #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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Episode 50 of The Career Change Podcast explores how coding bootcamp graduates can transition into teaching roles online. Lucas and Luna discuss the growing demand for coding instructors on platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and Codecademy. They break down the specific skills bootcamp grads already have that transfer well to teaching—like breaking down complex concepts and providing feedback. The episode features a real example: a bootcamp grad who built a side income of $4,000 per month teaching Python on Udemy within six months. Lucas and Luna also cover how to create a course outline, record effective lectures, and market yourself as an instructor without a teaching degree. Perfect for bootcamp grads looking to diversify income and build authority in tech.

#CareerChange #BootcampGrads #TeachCoding #OnlineTeaching #UdemyInstructor #CodingBootcamp #SideHustle #TechCareer #Python #Coursera #Codecademy #Reskilling #PassiveIncome #InstructionalDesign #TechEducation #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Careers

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Many bootcamp graduates focus on coding challenges but overlook technical writing—a skill that can make or break their job applications. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how clear documentation, API guides, and README files demonstrate communication skills that employers value. They discuss the rise of technical writing assessments at companies like Stripe and Dropbox, share tips for structuring a sample document, and explain how a strong GitHub README can serve as a portfolio piece. Lucas shares his experience reviewing a bootcamp grad's pull request that included a poorly written commit message, highlighting the importance of clarity. The hosts also touch on the broader trend of companies testing written communication in hiring processes. If you're a bootcamp grad looking to stand out, this episode offers practical advice on crafting documentation that impresses hiring managers.

#TechnicalWriting #BootcampGrads #CareerChange #Documentation #API #GitHub #README #Stripe #Dropbox #HiringProcess #CommunicationSkills #PullRequest #TechnicalAssessment #Careers #Reskilling #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Podcast

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In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the shifting landscape of remote work for bootcamp graduates in mid-2026. They break down a recent study by FlexJobs showing that tech roles now account for 42% of all verified remote job listings, up from 37% in 2024. The hosts discuss why the 'remote-first' wave is different this time—companies are not just allowing remote work but actively recruiting for it, especially in cybersecurity, cloud engineering, and product design. Lucas shares three concrete strategies: targeting companies that have publicly committed to remote-first cultures (like GitLab, Zapier, and Automattic), leveraging bootcamp alumni networks for referrals, and using niche job boards like We Work Remotely and Remote OK. Luna adds a cautionary note about avoiding scams and the importance of vetting company culture. The episode also includes a sincere donation segment supporting the ad-free podcast. A must-listen for any bootcamp grad navigating the 2026 remote job market.

#RemoteJobs #BootcampGrads #CareerChange #TechJobs #FlexJobs #RemoteFirst #GitLab #Zapier #Automattic #WeWorkRemotely #RemoteOK #Cybersecurity #CloudEngineering #ProductDesign #JobSearch #Networking #Careers #FexingoBusiness

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