In this series, we've focused on the active steps you can take in your job search, from building a networking strategy to leaning on the NSS support system. In this final post, we’re talking about one of the most important parts of the journey: continuing to learn and grow as a software developer or data analyst.
The job search can sometimes feel like an endless waiting game, but one of the best ways to stay motivated and confident is to keep building your skills. It not only keeps your technical knowledge fresh but also gives you new projects and ideas to talk about in interviews and networking conversations.
Start with Your NSS Community
Graduates of NSS have access to a built-in ecosystem for continued learning. These are great places to start:
NSS Continuing Education
We offer free continuing education classes as a part of our ProTech initiative. These courses cover a range of topics to help you deepen your knowledge or learn a new technology. NSS Seekers (graduates still searching for their first job in tech) should keep an eye on their inbox for announcements about upcoming classes.
We also offer some of these courses to Middle Tennessee residents who are unemployed after being laid off from a tech job or a graduate of another coding bootcamp or college/university with tech-related degree AND searching for your first job in tech. Check out our professional development page to learn more and sign up for our ProTech newsletter to learn about upcoming offerings.
Code Campfire
Joining a project with Code Campfire is a fantastic way to get more experience working on a team, practice your skills, and expand your network. To learn more about how Code Campfire helps developers build skills and community after graduation, check out our podcast interview with Preston Robbins, founder and NSS grad, and Lynn Samuelson, volunteer and NSS alumna.
Expand Your Learning with Online Resources
Beyond the NSS classroom, there are countless resources (many of them free) to help you continue learning. While this is not an exhaustive list, here are a few of our team's favorites to get you started.
Courses For Continued Technical Learning
For Software Developers
- Rabbit Holes for Software Developers: Recommendations on technologies to dive into after the Web Developer Bootcamp from NSS instructor, Dave Berzack
For Data Analysts & Data Scientists
Readings on AI
Newsletters to Follow
- TLDR Newsletter (General Tech)
- Changelog
- Addy Osmani’s Elevate Newsletter
- Data Elixir
Videos for Data Analysts & Data Scientists
- Alex the Analyst
- Excel is Fun (Excel and Power BI)
- Julia Silge (Stats and R)
- Statquest (Stats and ML)
Learning is Part of the Journey
The lifelong learning journey you began on day one at Nashville Software School doesn't stop at graduation; it just enters its next chapter. A career in technology is a journey of continuous growth, and the habits you form now—of exploring new tools, building side projects, and staying curious—are the same habits that will help you succeed for years to come.
Every tutorial you watch, article you read, or side project you build not only makes you a stronger candidate but also reinforces the skills and confidence you gained at NSS. Keep building, keep learning, and know that we are here to help you every step of the way.
