Forem: AlexCodes

Very nervous for 1st day at HACK REACTOR

AlexCodes — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 20:36:58 +0000

Tomorrow, is going to be my 1st day at Hack Reactor immersive. It seems a bit insane that it’s actually happening! ! I feel like I am not prepared enough or ready for this day yet. I have learned a lot of things over the past months. I should feel more confident about my skills. However, I am still super nervous to start. I am also excited to begin the program. All this prior preparation is leading to something.

I keep hearing from others how this feeling is normal. Also heard that during Hack Reactor you do not even have time to feel scared since you are always busy doing something. The program moves so fast that I probably won’t be able to feel scared or unprepared…Similar to playing a sport by just playing it, you know? (i am a huge sports guy, you’ll see all my sports analogies). I do not remember feeling scared about the game while actually playing the game. You just play the game.

During my pre-class for the immersive our instructor provided us with a tip for success. This is probably one of the best things I heard. It might exactly what I needed at the time. Our instructor made a reference to the Simpsons. Do you like the Simpsons?!? I love the show! One of my favorite episodes it’s called ‘Do It For Her” , this is an episode in which Homer Simpson covers up a poster at work with photographs of Maggie in order to create a positive message. You simply have to watch the short video below to understand it (you might cry, so don’t watch it!!). This 3 minute video was all I needed to feel motivated again! Motivation is like a battery, sometimes you need charge it again, correct?

Anyways, I hate to admit but I teared up after watching the video. I was on the verge of giving up in coding. I thought about going back to finance and do excel all day at work. After watching the video, I remembered thinking about my ‘why’, like Homer Simpson, I felt some kind of motivation that led me to this moment. I am very scared about Hack Reactor but I know my ‘why’ && this is all I need to complete the program!

from Finance To Coding

AlexCodes — Sun, 08 Sep 2019 18:01:26 +0000

A couple of months ago I dealt with a major life && career decision. I needed to decided between going back to being a financial/investment analyst (or a similar role), or spend the next couple of months developing my programming skills && eventually learning to code.

As I mentioned during my previous blog, I had almost 4 years of experience in the industry, from well-known firms. Every week I was receiving offers to interview at different places from multiple recruiters and headhunters trying to lead me into one of their roles. The recruiters were impressed with my experience and involvement with the CFA institute. [As well as my awesome personality 😉].

After consulting with friends, family, old colleagues, and mentors, the advice I received was almost unanimous. They were all suggesting me to go back into the workforce && to get another job in Finance. Teaching myself to code online, or paying for a bootcamp, in order to get a job at a startup as a developer without a computer science background was impossible. I noticed they went in disbelief when I made a comment about the price of a coding bootcamp. They thought I was doing some crazy-person talk (I tend to do this from time to time...). However, what some of them did realize is that I had worked in finance.

Settlements && Derivative Operations

My first investment related position was as Derivative Operations Specialist (fancy title huh?). This position taught me plenty about the industry in a very short amount of time. A very fast paced and intense environment was the perfect place for me, a young kid trying to absorb everything. Post-trade processing occurs after a trade is complete. At this point, the buyer and the seller compare trade details, approve the transaction, change records of ownership, and arrange for the transfer of securities and cash. I was in the middle of all these activities. I was on the phone for half of the day processing and clearing trades. There were days when things were very smooth && quiet. This gave me the chance to talk fantasy football or take a nicer lunch. Sometimes I could not even had a lunch. THERE WERE SO MANY TRADE ISSUES... It could take us the ENTIRE DAY to fix just a couple of issues. I loved this role! I really did. At least for a while though. We were moving millions of dollars weekly. My role was highly important for clients and for others in the derivatives market.

You might be wondering, how does all of this relate to coding? Well, let me explain you something about trades. Many securities trades are done over the phone, by brokers, or portfolio managers. The ability for mistakes is inherent, despite the many years of experience, or the trader's skill. The chance for small mistakes, human error, to this day remains high. My position allowed the buyer and seller of the securities to find out and rectify these errors. In addition to matching the details of the orders, I needed to make changes in the records of ownership and authorizing payments for our custodians...THIS PROCESS COULD BE COSTLY && COMPLICATED. I often wondered why were clearing trades this way. I knew there was another method && more efficient way to do our job.

Software had been making the world a more efficient place. After a couple of months working, as Derivative Operations Specialist, I heard about other companies using better and faster technology than my firm. Apparently, the big banks that you're familiar with had been developing this technology for a while. It made a lot of sense though. I had heard stories of brokers, or people in a similar position as mine, making huge && costly mistakes for their companies. I always thanked God that I never made one of those mistakes. People never forget the person who makes a mistake that big. It happens quite often though.

Blockchain in Trade Finance

"Blockchain, blockchain, blockchain..." I remember hearing those words coming out of one of my colleagues. This technology was making a lot of noise. At the same time, bitcoin ($BTC) was moving rapidly to the moon. People were expecting bitcoin to reach over 100k during 2017. Blockchain promised to be able to streamline the trade finance process. If you are not familiar with the technology is important to understand how it works. A blockchain is a data structure that allows the creation of a digital ledger of transactions. This ledger can be distributed amongst a digital network by using cryptography. Each participant on the network can securely amend that ledger without the need for a central authority.

Because a blockchain is updated quickly by each participant on the network to reflect the most recent transaction, it removes the need for multiple copies of the same document of information. It also removes the need to have someone like myself going over thousand of trades per week. It reduces the need for companies to have analysts doing tasks that could be simplified && automated by the technology. It also reduces the potential risks of analysts making entering the wrong information. The technology has the potential to reduce save companies a lot of money. Firms can also decide retrain or find candidates with different skills more suitable for the upcoming changes.

So are you learning to leaning to code because of Blockchain?

Nope... well... blockchain is not the main reason. It is a good example of how innovative technology could be. Asset management firms have been making huge profits from processing trades and the derivative market. Yet, for a while there was not much innovation in this department. Technology kept moving faster and faster. The finance industry did not keep up with the technology. I think this the reason why there has been a lot of #fintech startups popping up. These startups are bringing technology and the financial services together. Blockchain is just one example of how an industry such as trade settlement could be vastly improved. There's probably hundred of different industries that could be improved with the use of programming && technology. We all have worked at places where technology could be very disruptive, correct?

I truly believe that software is the future and I want to learn how to help build some of it. Even if I do not become a great software developer, at least I would like to feel that I made the right choice, given everything I mentioned. Nothing guarantees that I will become a software developer. It is not an easy industry, but finance was not an easy industry either. Perhaps, I might end up going back to work in finance. If I do though, I'd probably be the person with the most programming knowledge among my colleagues. This is dangerous for my future colleagues. Knowledge is power! I have witnessed this. We live in a world constantly changing. The industry might no need me right away, but I am sure my skills will be needed eventually && I will be ready to show everyone how I made the right decision. @alexfrompalmsprings will not regret going from #FinanceToCoding!

PILOT

AlexCodes — Sun, 01 Sep 2019 02:54:38 +0000

INT. UBER. NOON.

@alexfrompalmsprings , mid twenties, sits in the middle of the Uber with
his briefcase. Wearing one his favorite, and most expensive suits, Alex is looking quite good, he knows this too. Alex needed to look his best today.

He’s on the phone. It’s winter in Newport Beach, CA. Mid 70's, a beautiful day. It is always beautiful in Newport.

ALEX (INTO PHONE)
I think the interview went amazing! I was able to answer all the questions with precise responses & provide examples of what I have I done in the past. I think I made a connection with one of the interviewers & the computer test was not difficult. They also liked the fact that I play soccer.

I am glad this interview is over. I was so nervous during the week. What do you think?

INT. MOM’S HOUSE.
The lovely mother, just like any other mother is proud of her son. In this particular instance, however, she's extra proud of Alex. He was interviewing at Pacific Investment Management, PIMCO, his dream company. PIMCO is a global investment management firm focusing on fixed income. Headquartered in Newport Beach. PIMCO manages 1.8 trillion (yes!! f***n trillions. 12 digits before the '.00') under their assets. Every person in the industry has heard the name PIMCO at least once.

After working so much during college, and at different firms, Alex is finally accomplishing his goal.

MOM
OMG!! I am so happy to hear that... God! I am so glad that it went well. When are you going to hear back from PIMCO?

ALEX
(speaking softly)
I don't know hopefully soon because I think my boss knows that I am looking to leave the company... I don't think I'll have to wait too long though.

MOM
I am so happy for you son! You're going to do so good at PIMCO & make a lot of good friends.

EXT. FASHION ISLAND, NEWPORT BEACH. NOON
Seventeen months have passed by very rapidly, since Alex made that phone call to his mother in the back of the UBER. Now, he finds himself walking around Fashion Island, a remarkable place to shop. A lot of beautiful faces come to this mall. It is very easy to get distracted with a gorgeous smile, but not today... Alex received unfortunate news from his manager. He looks agitated. This doesn't really happen to him. He normally stays calm under most scenarios. Working with BIG numbers made him cold & his poker days taught him not to show his emotions.

ALEX (INTO PHONE)
...Mom, I already told you! There's not much I can do. I am not the only one getting let go. There are others who are also getting canned.

MOM
Do you want to tell them that you can move to Austin to continue working? Is it too late? I told you to consider moving to Austin if you wanted to continue working at the company.

ALEX
Yes, I think it's too late for that & I DO NOT WANT TO GO TO TX! I do not love what I do. I do not want to leave Newport and move to Austin to do powerpoints and presentations.

MOM
Okay, i know...But why don't you apply for another position at a different team? Your friends from soccer can probably help you. You know a lot of people there.

ALEX
They can help BUT they can't just give me a job. It does not work like that a PIMCO. The company is so strict when it comes to hiring. My friends could get into trouble if they do not what HR tells them to do. Mom, everything is going to be okay. Stop worrying so much.

MOM
I have to worry son. You're my son. I know you were very happy with your roommates and friends. I know you always have plans and ideas. What are you thinking of doing? What are you going to do?..

ALEX
Mom, I am not sure. I kind of want to travel for a little bit right now and just play soccer, you know?
I think I have an idea though...I WANT TO LEARN TO CODE!!!