A Q&A with Mounssif Bouhlaoui on a Lifelong Fascination with Software Engineering

Mounssif Bouhlaoui, a 30-year-old Tangier native, graduated from the ALX Software Engineering programme with a focus on back-end web development. He joined ALX in February 2023, bringing with him a background as an automation industrial engineer and experience developing software applications. Importantly, software engineering was not his primary area of expertise.

Mounssif's fascination with tech began at a young age, fueled by an insatiable curiosity and desire to understand how computers work. Little did he know that this early interest would develop into a lifelong passion and lead him on a transformative journey with the help of ALX Africa. 

We recently caught up with Moussif to discuss how the programme has impacted his life in a brief Q&A session.

Q: Briefly describe your background in tech before your ALX programme. How has this programme changed your skillset and career opportunities?

A: Before joining the ALX programme, I was an automation industrial engineer, and I was also a self-taught developer. I had developed some software before, but I lacked a lot of the knowledge and important concepts that I later learned during my time at ALX. Before joining ALX, I thought I knew a lot just because I had some prior programming experience. However, I was shocked to discover there was a lot more depth to it. 

ALX exposed my ignorance and taught me how to do things the right way.

With the support of my peers and mentors, I learned many new concepts and practised them directly in the real world. This is reflected in my new skill set and has directly impacted my career opportunities. I am now able to perform far more tasks, from front-end to back-end to DevOps, with high-quality performance, all thanks to ALX.

Q: What were some of the most valuable things you learnt during your ALX programme?

A: I learned many things in this 13-month journey at ALX. Here are the most important bits: 

• Coding alone is easier than coding with a team or group, but coding with a team is better for achieving great things. Learning skills to communicate with my teams during team projects was a big thing in my life.
• Once you learn how to learn, there's no limit after that. It doesn't matter what technology, language, or requirement; you can learn anything. That's what we learned the most in ALX: the learning method. And that reflects in my confidence when I see myself learning any concept from scratch and experiencing it on real-world projects.
• We all have the grit to do hard things; we just need a community to support us and push us. You can't do it alone, or maybe you can, but you have a better chance of doing it successfully with a community. Helping others is helping yourself because the person you help today will help you tomorrow.

Q: How does your experience with ALX compare to your university experience?

A: My university experience was great, and I learned many things that still help me in my career. However, if I compare it to ALX, it’s missing a few things. The main difference is the sense of community at ALX. You really feel like you belong, and you can see people close to you doing their best. This close bond really made a difference.

Another thing that makes ALX special is the mentorship along the way. The mentors did their best to answer all our questions, explain concepts to us, listen to feedback, and improve our experience. Through learning sessions and events, we had strong guidance that pushed a lot of leaders in the community to stand up and offer help.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who is trying to choose between learning through ALX or through a university programme?

A: I would advise them to choose what they truly feel is right for them. It's more about their personal aspirations and goals than about ALX or university. Whether you aspire to make a difference and give your best, you can achieve it at ALX, university, or anywhere else. Sit down with yourself, compare your options, and follow your intuition. However, I hope you'll consider ALX. I genuinely want everyone to experience its amazing opportunities and support. 

ALX provides the chance to feel empowered and supported, enabling you to achieve incredible things.

Q: How has completing the ALX programme impacted your career prospects or job opportunities?

A: Completing the programme has given me the confidence to apply to any job opportunity, even if it seems bigger than me, because I know I can perform. I have enough skills to learn anything and tackle difficult tasks. Additionally, through the friends I made in the programme, I have already been recommended and invited to a few job opportunities.

Having access to the ALX Fellowship is a significant benefit, too. Here, you can connect with thousands of ALX alumni and mentors to find your next job. It opens doors to a vast network of support and opportunities.

Q: Can you share a specific experience or project from the programme that stands out for you? Why was it impactful?

A: When we were very close to the deadline for our final project for graduation, with just a couple of days left, one of my peers, Yassir, wrote in our cohort channel that he was considering deferring. He felt like giving up because there was a lot of work to be done and the deadline was very close. Immediately, myself and other peers reached out to him, offering support and encouragement. We helped him see that there was still enough time to accomplish a lot, and we urged him not to give up but to keep going. On the day of graduation, he stood with us as an ALX Software Engineering Graduate. He made it! This experience showed us the power of community support; together, we can achieve more than what we can do alone.

Summary

ALX Africa creates an environment for self-development, helping individuals overcome insecurities through challenging projects and community events. Moussif's journey with ALX was transformative, providing him with a strong foundation in software engineering principles and practices. Empowered with the skills, confidence, and resilience gained at ALX, Moussif now serves as an inspiration to aspiring technologists. His story highlights the impact of passion, perseverance, and education in a supportive environment.

Apply today to be a part of the next ALX cohort and you could end up as successful as Moussif. Don’t wait – apply now!