Britney Dossett just completed the General Assembly Web Development Immersive and is ready to catch any problems you throw at her (with the swiftness and strength of Mario). When Dossett isn’t mingling at events or checking off her latest skillset you can find her cozied up with a good book. She’s looking for a fast-paced environment with room to adapt, so throw her a 1-up if you’re interested in her quest.
What program did you just complete?
I completed the Web Development Immersive Program at General Assembly back in October.
What startup/tech projects have you worked on?
Since my time at General Assembly, I’ve been working as a Web Interface Developer at Carter’s | OshKosh B’gosh. I’ve also had another part-time gig with PortraitPost, a local startup that currently partners with professors at Emory University.
At General Assembly, I created 4 different web apps with varying languages, frameworks, and tools. One of my favorites is a Belief in Motion app, which was created for a non-profit working to stop the cycle of poverty for the Roma people in Romania through education and job skills that can last a lifetime. It was created in the MEAN stack. I also really love my Bookish Traveler app. It helps you choose a book for the destination you are traveling to (inspired by my book club).
What tech tools are essential to you?
Lately, I haven’t been able to live without Nodemon, Gulp, Git/Github, and codepen.io.
How do you stay informed & on top of emerging trends?
I try to attend as many events and meetups as possible. It helps me keep up with new technologies (and stay away from the not so great ones). Plus, I love talking to people about what they are working on. It helps challenge me and keep me on my game. Weekly newsletters like Hypepotamus, JavaScript, and HTML weekly, and of course General Assembly, are a great way to learn new things. I also listen to podcasts like Javascript Jabber and Shop Talk.
What are your best technical or creative skills?
I’d say that my biggest talent is my ability to learn and adapt quickly. Being a full-stack developer allows me to fill multiple roles, whether it’s talking directly to a designer and making their vision translate on a screen or creating restful routes. I’ve realized how much I love working on a team lately. The team at Carter’s/OshKosh was fantastic. They challenged me to work my hardest, learn new things, and to always stay creative. I love that.
What’s next on your list to learn?
Something with mobile, I just haven’t decided yet. Maybe Ionic framework, since it’s a hybrid for Android and iOS? If anyone has any opinions on this, I would love to hear it. Right now I am studying some Computer Science basics to try to get a more well-rounded understanding of the code I write.
Why the interest in startups and the technology field?
When working with a startup, you get to have many roles and have to be adaptive. I love a fast-paced environment where anything can be thrown your way. Startups keep you on your toes. I guess you can see that I like learning quickly. Why the technology field? Because constant growth and change are exciting!
