We love catching up with our alumni, to talk about life after BCIT, careers, and tips they have for prospective and current students. In this Q&A, meet Front-End Web Development (FWD) grad Bia Oliveira, who graduated in 2023.
“What really made the difference was (…) building actual projects. Rather than just learning concepts in isolation, we were constantly applying current technologies to real tasks.”
What led you to BCIT and the FWD certificate specifically?
I graduated from UBC with a bachelor’s in political science during COVID, then spent a couple of years in the non-profit sector. While that work was valuable, I found myself drawn back to web development – something I’d been interested in since my teenage years.
The FWD program at BCIT stood out because of its focused six-month timeline. After years in academia and the workforce, I wanted something practical and intensive that could help me transition into tech without another multi-year commitment. The program’s emphasis on hands-on learning and industry relevance made it an ideal fit for transforming my longtime interest into a career.
What was a highlight during the program?
A major highlight was completing my first React project – a movie database application with a team of classmates. Seeing our application successfully fetch and display real movie data, complete with search functionality and dynamic updates, was incredibly satisfying.
What made it especially rewarding was implementing my design vision and watching it come to life through collaboration with my teammates. This project marked a significant milestone: it was the first time I felt like I could build something substantial that provided real value.
How have you benefited from the program?
The program showed me that with focused effort and the right resources, you can develop complex technical skills quickly. This experience taught me to approach new challenges with confidence, knowing that initial uncertainty is just part of the learning process.
What really made the difference was how the structured class time was organized around building actual projects. Rather than just learning concepts in isolation, we were constantly applying current technologies to real tasks.
What kind of advice would you give prospective students?
Start your research early and identify what specifically draws you to web development. Whether it’s front-end design, problem-solving with code, or building full-stack applications, understanding your interests helps focus your learning.
The program moves quickly, but use that pace as motivation to establish good study habits early. Strong fundamentals make everything else easier as the program progresses.
What kind of work are you doing now, and what makes it exciting?
At Pace Creative Group, I work as a developer. I mostly build custom WordPress sites, collaborating with project managers and designers to deliver marketing solutions for our clients.
It’s engaging because I get to see how our technical decisions directly impact business outcomes. Each project brings unique challenges, from integrating specific functionality to optimizing performance.
Career plans for the future? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Looking ahead, I see myself growing beyond pure development into roles that bridge technical and business needs. The exposure I’m getting now to different aspects of project delivery is helping me build a well-rounded perspective that I think will be valuable as my career evolves.
Tips for students landing their first FWD-related job?
I found that building projects beyond the BCIT curriculum made a significant difference in my job search. Taking on freelance projects, even small ones for friends or local businesses, provided real client experience that employers valued.
These projects enhanced both my technical skills and my understanding of client relations, project scoping, and deadline management – all topics that frequently came up in interviews.