From Fullstack Academy to Front-End Developer: Char Burton's Honest Path

After leaving her job at a veterinary clinic in 2023, Char Burton knew she wanted a career that offered long-term growth and impact. Inspired by her boyfriend’s success in a coding bootcamp, she began researching tech careers – and after comparing dozens of programs, she landed on Fullstack Academy. Fast forward to 2025: Char is now a front-end developer at Lumifi, working on cybersecurity tools that protect businesses of all sizes. In this Q&A, she shares how Fullstack Academy helped her build foundational skills in web development, the reality of navigating a job search in a bear market, and why staying focused on mental health and financial planning made all the difference.

What inspired you to do a coding bootcamp, and why did you ultimately choose Fullstack Academy?

My boyfriend was actually the one who inspired me. I was working at a vet clinic at the time, and he had successfully transitioned into software engineering through a bootcamp. Seeing how happy and fulfilled he was made me want to explore the same path.

I quit my job in the summer of 2023 and spent a few months deciding between nursing and tech. After some serious thought – and a great conversation with my cousin, who works at Amazon – I decided to pursue tech. She advised me to look into coding bootcamps, so I started doing some online research. I created a giant Google Doc comparing programs based on cost, job placement rates, programming languages, and reputation. I used resources like Course Report and other review sites to build my list.

I also contacted bootcamp graduates on LinkedIn to ask how well the programs had prepared them. I looked at things like curriculum, rigor, and daily schedules. After comparing everything, Fullstack Academy clearly stood out. I enrolled in February 2024 and graduated that June.

What did a typical week at Fullstack Academy look like for you?

Each day started with a coding warmup, a homework review, and an interactive lecture. The instructors were always open to questions, which made the lectures feel really collaborative.

After a lunch break – and sometimes some casual social time – we’d return for more lectures and then transition into group work or homework. Fullstack Academy did a great job of building community through study groups. Many evenings, my cohort and I would stay on Zoom together, cameras on, working through assignments and helping each other.

TAs and instructors were always available – they’d float through the Zoom channels and jump in whenever someone needed support. That kind of structure and collaboration made a big difference.

Sounds like a very supportive environment. What kind of projects did you work on at Fullstack Academy – and do you have a favorite?

We worked on two major projects toward the end of the bootcamp: one group project and one group capstone. The capstone was definitely my favorite – it felt like the floodgates opened. You could take everything you’d learned and build something as big as you wanted.

My team’s project was a web app called BattleCats. It was a playful spin on Battleship – instead of ships, we used cats. You’d join a game session with another player, secretly position your cats on the board, and then try to guess where the other player’s cats were. It was fun and surprisingly wholesome!

I loved applying all my technical skills – React, PostgreSQL, version control – and kept adding functionality. I also learned a lot about project planning: using Kanban boards, Agile practices, breaking tasks into tickets, and assigning responsibilities across the team. Fullstack Academy did a great job of incorporating real-world development workflows into the program, especially during the final stretch.

According to the Linux Foundation's 2025 State of Tech Talent Report, 85% of organizations prioritize portfolios of practical work when hiring, viewing open-source contributions as transparent proof of a candidate's technical and collaboration skills.

How did Fullstack Academy prepare you for the job search? What went into the career curriculum?

Throughout the program, Fullstack Academy did a great job weaving in career readiness. We watched capstone presentations from other cohorts and had opportunities to talk to grads about their job searches. There was also a strong network of career coaches available to support us.

The structured career curriculum included webinars on optimizing your LinkedIn profile, writing a strong resume and cover letter, and organizing your job search. Fullstack Academy also had its own internal job board software called Prentus, which we used throughout the process.

On the technical side, our instructors helped us prepare for interviews by teaching frameworks like the REACTO method. REACTO is an acronym for Restate, Examples, Approach, Code, Test, Optimize – it’s a step-by-step approach to solving coding problems. We also had one-on-one mock interviews with instructors and access to platforms like LeetCode and AlgoExpert for extra practice.

Our cohort had a dedicated career coach we could contact anytime – whether we needed help tailoring a resume, making connections in a specific city, or just figuring out next steps. That personalized support made a big difference.

Sounds like very comprehensive career support! After graduating in summer 2024, what roadblocks did you face in the job search – and what helped you persevere through it?

The job search was definitely tough. It took me 11 months to land a full-time role. I submitted 517 applications. Of those, 12 moved to the next round, 6 led to interviews, and I received 2 offers. It was a long period of rejection, and being unemployed for that long took a toll financially and emotionally.

One major low point was right before Christmas. I had made it to the final round of interviews for a local company. It was a WordPress role – not my dream job, but a great opportunity. I loved everyone I’d met in the process. And then, right before the holidays, I got a rejection. At that point, I was six months into my search and felt like giving up. I took a step back over the break and did some soul-searching.

After the new year, I gave myself a deadline: I’d give the job search six more months of serious effort. I set a goal of submitting 10 applications daily, Monday through Friday. That consistency helped me regain focus and push through.

I think it’s important for bootcamp grads to know that landing a job won’t always happen right after graduation – and anyone who says otherwise is probably not being honest. This process is a marathon. You have to set goals, stay accountable, and keep moving forward.

LifeHack reports that today’s job market is highly competitive and uncertain, with most candidates submitting anywhere from 400 to over 750 applications before landing a single job offer.

You did some freelance work while job searching – how did that come about, and how did you land your full-time role at Lumifi?

The freelance work started with a Facebook post. I contacted friends and family and said, “Hey, if anyone needs a website, I’m available.” My mom jumped on it – she asked me to build a site for her piano studio.

As simple as it seemed, that project ended up being incredibly valuable. I talked about it in both of the interviews that led to offers. It allowed me to explain how I worked with a non-technical client, communicated clearly, and translated their needs into a functioning website.

I also stayed active in my local Phoenix tech community – attending hackathons and meetups – which helped me stay engaged and build confidence.

I landed my role at Lumifi through LinkedIn Easy Apply. Ironically, most career advisors say not to rely on Easy Apply, but in the spring, I was sending out 10 applications a day and needed to streamline the process.

I applied for a back-end role, even though I had more front-end experience. I got a surprise email from the recruiter, then a call with the VP of Product, and eventually an invite for an in-person interview at their Scottsdale office. It was my first in-person interview, so I was nervous.

Even more stressful – a few minutes into the interview, they switched gears and asked if I’d rather interview for a front-end role. Of course, I said yes, but it meant tossing out everything I’d prepped and switching mental gears on the spot. I was literally shaking, and my mind went blank.

But I relied on the REACTO method I learned at Fullstack Academy. Even though I didn’t know all the answers, I kept talking through my process, step by step. It was a test of grit and persistence – and it paid off.

Based on a 2025 report from Robert Half, a leading talent solutions firm, the tech industry is grappling with a significant skills gap. The report found that 89% of tech leaders are struggling to find professionals who possess the right blend of abilities. Hands-on projects directly address this issue by providing tangible evidence of a candidate's specific skills.

You landed the job at Lumifi – congratulations! What have your first few months on the job looked like, and are you using what you learned at Fullstack Academy?

I’m now a front-end developer at Lumifi, a cybersecurity company that provides Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services. I work on our web app, ShieldVision, where clients log in to manage their security pipelines, access data, submit reports, and more.

Our front-end team is small – just three people – but we move fast and get a lot done. It’s been a great environment to learn and contribute.

I’ve been fortunate that Lumifi uses a tech stack that overlaps heavily with what I learned at Fullstack Academy: React, Postgres, and Prisma. During my interview, I could say, “I’ve worked with this stack before,” and now that familiarity is helping me ramp up quickly. I’ve also started learning new technologies like TypeScript and Next.js, which built on my knowledge.

I’ve been pushing code to production since the beginning – starting with small changes like punctuation and spacing, and now moving into actual features. I’ve worked on conditional UI functionality, table sorting, UX bugs, and recently, a new feature around data deletion.

It’s a fast-paced but incredibly supportive team. I’ve got a great manager and coworkers who are always there to help, and I’m learning a ton daily.

What advice would you give someone just starting Fullstack Academy or considering a bootcamp?

First and foremost: this is a marathon, not a sprint. Your health and your finances have to come first.

Bootcamps are a serious investment, and while the programs are well-meaning, they are still businesses. So before you enroll, make sure it’s a financially sound decision. That includes budgeting for the months after graduation, when you may not have a job immediately.

For me, the job search took 11 months – that’s the reality of the current job market. So do the math: how much are your monthly expenses? How long can you afford to be unemployed or working part-time? Plan that timeline before you start.

Your physical and mental health also matter. During bootcamp, I picked up running – even though I hate it – just to manage the stress. I also did yoga, played in a community band, and made sure I had non-tech outlets to stay balanced.

Beyond that:

• Build as many projects as you can – especially group projects.

• Join online hackathons on platforms like Devpost.

• Get on GitHub and make your work public.

• Practice explaining your code to non-technical people – it helps in interviews.

• Find a developer community, whether online or in person.

• And keep your social life alive. You need that balance.

Finally, if you’re in an interview and feel like you’re bombing it, keep going. Don’t give up mid-process – talk through your thinking, apply what you’ve learned, and stay calm. You never know how the interviewer is perceiving you. That persistence could be what lands you the job.

For those considering a Fullstack Academy bootcamp, payment options include installment plans, upfront payment, personal loans and financing, employer reimbursement, grants, discounts, and more. Carefully select a bootcamp and payment option that aligns with your individual career objectives, financial resources, and personal commitments.

Was Fullstack Academy worth it for you?

For me, yes – Fullstack Academy was worth it. I gained a solid foundation in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, PostgreSQL, and Express, which gave me the tools to launch a career as a front-end developer. After 11 months and 517 applications, I landed a job doing work I enjoy on a team that supports me.

That said, my experience isn’t typical – or at least, it’s not as common as it might have been a few years ago. So for me, yes, Fullstack Academy worked out in the end. It was great. Just plan financially, figure out how long you can afford to stay unemployed or partially unemployed after bootcamp. Understand all the red tape, all the contracts, and everything else before you sign that dotted line. Have the grit and determination to get hundreds of rejections, be okay with that, and keep going. But most of all, take care of yourself and your health. As long as you do all those things and have some luck, you're well on your way to equipping yourself for this job market.

Well, that's a wonderful way to end. Thank you so much, Char, for your incredibly detailed, thoughtful answers. 

To find out more, you can read Fullstack Academy reviews on Course Report. This article was produced by the Course Report team in partnership with Fullstack Academy.