Cindy Lin
Why did you choose your program at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
I have always been fascinated by the complexities of human behaviour and the mind.
Throughout my time at UBC, I was drawn to the diverse range of courses offered within the Psychology program. From social and personality psychology to gambling psychology (yes, you read that right), each course provided a unique perspective on understanding human behaviour.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?
Definitely the Arts Co-op Program!
I faced some challenges during my initial co-op term where I couldn’t secure a job despite numerous applications and interviews. While disheartening, this turned out to be a great learning experience that made me more resilient and helped me identify my strengths and weaknesses.
I went through various types of interviews—phone, Skype, and in-person with a written test. Each instance provided me with valuable insights and learnings, helping set me apart from my peers in terms of job search experience. I’m grateful for these lessons as they not only prepared me for job market realities, such as the challenges posed by the pandemic, but also strengthened my ability to navigate setbacks.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
I enrolled in a 300-level course focused on psychological measurement and statistical models. During the class, I learned how to use R, a programming language for data analysis and visualization.
Prior to this course, I had ZERO experience in coding. The course sparked my interest in delving further into the amazing world of programming and, fast forward to today, I’ve become a software developer!
What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?
After graduation, I volunteered as a website administrator at UBC Campus Lightbox, a non-profit organization that aims to make mental health resources more accessible to the community. This role, focusing on writing code for a good cause, perfectly aligned with my background and interest in psychology. In the meantime, I also started working full-time as a campus coordinator at a digital training boot camp where I was surrounded by professionals who wanted to make a career transition into the tech industry.
These experiences made me realize what I wanted, which was to work in an industry that will constantly challenge me and push me out of my comfort zone. Mind you, this transition involved a lot of hard work, late-night coding sessions, tears, and surviving the pandemic.
Skipping ahead to 2021, I started working full-time as a software developer at an online coding boot camp where I collaborated with UX/UI designers, developers, and project managers to create engaging and functional websites. In my free time, I designed a curriculum and created a website called 21 Day Coding Challenge that guides individuals interested in web development to take their first steps.
Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?
No, it’s not what I had originally planned.
Navigating the world of programming has been quite the rollercoaster. There are plenty of online resources and an infinite amount of information to absorb. It’s overwhelming for a coding newbie like me. I was hit hard at the start with imposter syndrome, and wrapping my head around certain programming concepts took forever. It has been a bumpy ride!
How did your education prepare you for what you are doing now? What has been the value of having an Arts degree?
My Arts degree was instrumental in enhancing my soft skills, particularly empathy, critical thinking, problem-solving and communication. These skills position me to excel in a professional environment.
Thanks to studying Psychology, I gained the ability to read people’s minds. With this superpower, I can work more efficiently and send perfect memes to my colleagues. I know you are laughing right now, but it’s true!
Psychology offers insights into human behaviour and emotions. This knowledge is crucial in designing user interfaces and delightful user experiences. Choices surrounding spacing, colour, and typography on a website are not made at random, but carefully thought out with consideration for what people will think and how they will behave when interacting with your designs.
My degree also helped me build skills in interpersonal communication and collaboration which are important for teamwork and building relationships. When I was working with a UX/UI designer, I could fully understand the challenges they were communicating with me and effectively collaborate to meet their needs and those of the project. I could relate to their sense of frustration when certain design requirements were not technically feasible, and I could explain alternative design solutions and their trade-offs. Soft skills shine in situations like this.
Technical skills can always be taught, but soft skills are more challenging to cultivate. I am grateful that I gained these valuable skills through my Arts degree.
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
Stay curious and commit to lifelong learning, and be patient with yourself. Mastering any skill takes time. Focus on one thing: be 1% better than you were yesterday.
Cindy Lin
Why did you choose your program at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
I have always been fascinated by the complexities of human behaviour and the mind.
Throughout my time at UBC, I was drawn to the diverse range of courses offered within the Psychology program. From social and personality psychology to gambling psychology (yes, you read that right), each course provided a unique perspective on understanding human behaviour.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?
Definitely the Arts Co-op Program!
I faced some challenges during my initial co-op term where I couldn’t secure a job despite numerous applications and interviews. While disheartening, this turned out to be a great learning experience that made me more resilient and helped me identify my strengths and weaknesses.
I went through various types of interviews—phone, Skype, and in-person with a written test. Each instance provided me with valuable insights and learnings, helping set me apart from my peers in terms of job search experience. I’m grateful for these lessons as they not only prepared me for job market realities, such as the challenges posed by the pandemic, but also strengthened my ability to navigate setbacks.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
I enrolled in a 300-level course focused on psychological measurement and statistical models. During the class, I learned how to use R, a programming language for data analysis and visualization.
Prior to this course, I had ZERO experience in coding. The course sparked my interest in delving further into the amazing world of programming and, fast forward to today, I’ve become a software developer!
What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?
After graduation, I volunteered as a website administrator at UBC Campus Lightbox, a non-profit organization that aims to make mental health resources more accessible to the community. This role, focusing on writing code for a good cause, perfectly aligned with my background and interest in psychology. In the meantime, I also started working full-time as a campus coordinator at a digital training boot camp where I was surrounded by professionals who wanted to make a career transition into the tech industry.
These experiences made me realize what I wanted, which was to work in an industry that will constantly challenge me and push me out of my comfort zone. Mind you, this transition involved a lot of hard work, late-night coding sessions, tears, and surviving the pandemic.
Skipping ahead to 2021, I started working full-time as a software developer at an online coding boot camp where I collaborated with UX/UI designers, developers, and project managers to create engaging and functional websites. In my free time, I designed a curriculum and created a website called 21 Day Coding Challenge that guides individuals interested in web development to take their first steps.
Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?
No, it’s not what I had originally planned.
Navigating the world of programming has been quite the rollercoaster. There are plenty of online resources and an infinite amount of information to absorb. It’s overwhelming for a coding newbie like me. I was hit hard at the start with imposter syndrome, and wrapping my head around certain programming concepts took forever. It has been a bumpy ride!
How did your education prepare you for what you are doing now? What has been the value of having an Arts degree?
My Arts degree was instrumental in enhancing my soft skills, particularly empathy, critical thinking, problem-solving and communication. These skills position me to excel in a professional environment.
Thanks to studying Psychology, I gained the ability to read people’s minds. With this superpower, I can work more efficiently and send perfect memes to my colleagues. I know you are laughing right now, but it’s true!
Psychology offers insights into human behaviour and emotions. This knowledge is crucial in designing user interfaces and delightful user experiences. Choices surrounding spacing, colour, and typography on a website are not made at random, but carefully thought out with consideration for what people will think and how they will behave when interacting with your designs.
My degree also helped me build skills in interpersonal communication and collaboration which are important for teamwork and building relationships. When I was working with a UX/UI designer, I could fully understand the challenges they were communicating with me and effectively collaborate to meet their needs and those of the project. I could relate to their sense of frustration when certain design requirements were not technically feasible, and I could explain alternative design solutions and their trade-offs. Soft skills shine in situations like this.
Technical skills can always be taught, but soft skills are more challenging to cultivate. I am grateful that I gained these valuable skills through my Arts degree.
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
Stay curious and commit to lifelong learning, and be patient with yourself. Mastering any skill takes time. Focus on one thing: be 1% better than you were yesterday.
