How an unexpected switch in your career can result in something great
How a career unrelated to his degree did not deter Kim
Taking to JDoodle users has been the most rewarding experience in the past month. On one such quest, we talked to Junhyeon Kim, a JDoodle user from South Korea who is using our platform for their project manager role (PMO) at Samsung.
He shares how he transitioned from a background in advertising and public relations to managing complex technical projects and how JDoodle has been an invaluable tool in navigating the challenges of his new role.
A significant career pivot
Kim’s academic background might seem unconventional for a tech PMO. Holding a bachelor’s degree in advertising and public relations and a master’s degree in science communication, Kim initially had no plans to enter the tech industry. However, his journey took a significant turn when he joined Samsung Electronics.
When I started at Samsung, I didn’t have a choice in my role. But after a year, I realized this position was good for me because I was managing a project that required a deep understanding of technology.
The project involved integrating Samsung’s smartphone sales with online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay. This shift from B2B (business-to-business) to direct-to-customer sales required a strong grasp of APIs and backend systems, areas that were foreign to Kim at the outset.
Java: A whole new world for Kim
Given his limited programming experience, Kim had to quickly become familiar with his role’s technical aspects. This is where JDoodle came into the picture.
In Korea, during one of the developer courses, JDoodle was recommended to me as a free and easy way to experience the Java environment. I’m unfamiliar with developer languages, but I chose to learn Java because it’s globally used and highly recommended.
While Kim doesn’t consider himself a programming expert, he recognized the importance of understanding Java to effectively manage his team of developers working on backend systems like SAP Hybris.
Java is essential for me because our developers are using it in our backend system, and even though I’m not writing code daily, I need to understand it to control and operate the project effectively.
How JDoodle helped ace the new challenges
JDoodle has proven to be more than just a coding platform for Kim—it’s become a crucial part of his daily work. Kim shared how JDoodle’s AI-powered feedback has been constructive in their learning journey.
When I practice Java on JDoodle and encounter errors, the AI feedback is very helpful. For someone like me, who doesn’t have a deep background in development, this feature makes learning less intimidating. If your company advertises JDoodle’s AI tools more directly to non-developers, it could be a very helpful resource for people in roles like mine.
A bright look ahead
Kim aspires to further his expertise in customer experience and backend systems, with a long-term goal of becoming a top consultant.
I want to learn more about customer experience journeys and how they relate to backend systems. I dream of becoming a more skilled consultant, managing and operating projects from A to Z.
We are listening
We are looking for JDoodle users who have a story to tell and experiences to share. So if you too are interested reach out to us at hello@jdoodle.com or zahwah@jdoodle.com.