Case Study
“I went from $70/hour to $100/hour, and that’s like a 42% increase. The knowledge I gained gave me the confidence to ask for a higher rate because I realized that what I know and am capable of doing is not something you find just anywhere.”
Before the Course:
- Under-confident in abilities and worth in the software engineering market.
- Struggled with understanding certain software design concepts.
- Perceived as intermediate, not reaching senior-level expertise and authority.
- Uncertain about freelancing success.
- Believed knowledge and abilities were common and easily replicated.
After the Course:
- Negotiated a 42% increase in hourly rate with confidence.
- Mastered complex software design principles.
- Transitioned successfully to a more senior-level role.
- Thrived as a freelancer.
- Realized that his newfound unique and valuable knowledge was not easily found.
- Better equipped to effectively navigate emerging technologies like GPT-4.
Joao first finds the course while reading a book review on Amazon. He likes what he sees and digs deeper, checking out videos and blogs. The ideas he finds convince him to sign up. As Joao works through the course, he feels inspired and gains a lot of confidence.
“The representable valid principle… that’s the one that pops up the most for me? Because it’s the one that’s easiest to apply in the real world.”
One part of the course that sticks with Joao is the third module, about the Representable Valid Principle. He finds this module really practical and often uses it in his daily work. This module makes it easier for Joao to spot issues in the code, and it gives him a strong foundation for understanding more complex designs.
“I can say that it gave me the courage to ask for more…So yeah, I went from $70 to $100. That’s like a 42% increase.”
Joao also shares how the course made him brave enough to ask for a bigger paycheck. Before the course, he was thinking about charging $70 an hour for his work. After taking the course and getting encouragement, he realizes he is worth more and ups his rate to $100 an hour. This is a huge confidence boost for him.
“A lot of software design is also understanding that you need to mitigate the worst case scenarios. And if, if ChatGPT-4 gives you a faulty piece of software, that’s faulty in weird ways, like it seems to work, but as an edge case, then it’s not really helpful.”
Looking forward, Joao believes the arrival of GPT-4, a powerful AI, won’t replace the need for skilled software engineers. While it might offer new ideas and reduce time spent on finding solutions, it can’t fully understand and mitigate worst-case scenarios like humans can. Joao feels that our course can help students prepare for the future.
“I’ve already introduced it to a bunch of people. I give the course a 10 out of 10. Like every time I found a potential candidate, I would recommend the course. But I really only had one friend who went on and did [the course], but yeah, he was happy with it.”
Finally, Joao recommends our course to others without hesitation. He’s already persuaded a few friends to sign up. But he does give a warning: this course is not for everyone. He believes it’s best suited for people who are already at an intermediate level and are aiming to level up their skills.
In Joao’s eyes, the course doesn’t just teach you about software engineering. It gives you the confidence to ask for what you’re worth and the skills to navigate the future of the industry.
“If you’re aware of your shortcomings, and you have money to spend. Then spend it! Aim higher in your life! Try to be a better professional, make more money! Like why wouldn’t you? Don’t be complacent, take action.”