Lightning Talk: Apprenticeships

by Eloy Duran

In the video titled 'Lightning Talk: Apprenticeships,' presented by Eloy Duran at the Rocky Mountain Ruby 2013 event, the importance of apprenticeship programs in developing programming skills and real-world experience is highlighted. Duran, an apprentice in ThoughtBot's Apprentice program, emphasizes the role these programs play in bridging the gap between educational bootcamps and actual employment as a software developer.

Key points discussed in the video include:

Significance of Apprenticeship Programs: Duran advocates for apprenticeship programs as essential for new developers, allowing them to gain hands-on experience working on real code and projects.
Learning Environment: He mentions the structured learning environment provided by these programs, where apprentices learn from experienced developers through pairing and mentorship.
Skill Development: The video highlights not only the technical skills acquired, such as writing high-quality code and tests, but also the importance of soft skills and understanding business operations, including attending sales meetings and learning about invoicing.
Encouragement to Participate: Duran urges both individuals and companies to engage with or start apprenticeship programs to enhance the learning and development pipeline for emerging developers.

Duran concludes his talk with a call to action, encouraging the audience to consider the benefits of apprenticeships and their potential impact on career growth for aspiring developers.

00:00:08.800 Hello! How's everyone doing today?

00:00:12.000 I want to start out by asking how many people here are involved with a mentorship or apprentice program in your company?

00:00:21.000 That's a decent show of hands. My name is Eloy Duran, and I'm an apprentice in ThoughtBot's Apprentice program, Apprentice IO.

00:00:29.599 I think that apprentice programs are really important. We have great programs like RailsBridge, G School, Hacker School, and various Dev bootcamps. However, there's a gap between those programs and becoming a full-time developer, where aspiring developers often lack sufficient real-world experience.

00:00:48.160 This is where apprentice programs come in. They are fantastic because you get to work with real code, pair with full-time experienced developers, and continue learning in a structured environment.

00:01:03.879 I feel fortunate to be in a program where I'm learning every day. I not only learn how to write high-quality code and tests, but I'm also acquiring soft skills that I consider really important.

00:01:16.080 In addition, I’m learning how the business operates. I get to attend sales meetings and learn how to write invoices, which I find very valuable.

00:01:28.240 I want to encourage everyone here to get involved with an apprentice program, or if you own a company, to consider starting one.

00:01:34.799 Thank you!