Catching Up with Rob Farley

Alumni Spotlight — April 2025. We caught up with alumni, Rob Farley, who completed the Computer Science and Full-Stack Web Development program in summer 2024, to see what he’s been up to since graduation. Rob is now an Alumni Ambassador with Atlas School and works as a Homework System Content Specialist with ExpertTA. If you’d like to learn more about the Alumni Ambassador program, reach out to our Career Services team at www.atlasschool.com/career-services. 

What have you been up to since graduating?

Rob: Since graduating Atlas I’ve been heavily focused on my career path. Right now I work at a company called ExpertTA. There, I do a little bit of software engineering, but mostly I function as an implementation specialist. Outside of work, I've been helping out with the alumni things that we have going on and those are really exciting! 

What do you do as an alumni ambassador? 

Rob: As an alumni ambassador, I help organize events. So right now we have a lot of unofficial events that we host, but then there are Atlas sponsored events. There's a big one coming up this September where we'll help with the budget and maybe bring in individuals to talk about the current [job] market or conduct resume reviews. Just trying to get everyone together to network. 

With our unofficial alumni events, it's really good to just come together once a month and be able to talk about frustrations or wins and things of that nature with everybody in our community. You know, we kind of see everyone's path that they're on and discuss wins and losses together.

What were you doing before Atlas?

Rob: So, before Atlas, I was mostly in the military. I had a few different roles, but towards the end of the military, I wanted to get more into tech because I’d always had a tech-related role in whatever job I did. So, I met with someone I knew in the military who attended Holberton, now Atlas School, and spoke with him. After having lunch together, he told me a lot of cool things that really interested me. After that, I set up a tour to visit campus and made the commitment to do the Full-Stack program. 

What keeps you engaged at Atlas now?

Rob: I used my time at Atlas to kind of transform who I wanted to be, so as I was learning the curriculum, I was also spending the 20 months redefining who I wanted to be and identifying new personal goals. Through this experience I was able to really appreciate what Atlas School had to offer and because of that I want to give back a bit of my time and stay engaged to ensure everyone else gets a positive experience. 

What were some of the new goals that you mentioned?

Rob: My goal was to really just refine my skills in software engineering. But also to look at more of the business side of things as well. How can I benefit from learning a new skill set and then apply them to businesses in Tulsa? My second goal was just to get back into a good, healthy mental state and make sure that I was ready for the workforce by the time I completed the program. 

How has Atlas School supported you in reaching your goals?

Rob: The Career Services team prepares you to exit the program, and while you're at school, there are tons of resources and teams that support you to succeed as a student.

What was your favorite memory while at Atlas?

Rob: My favorite moment was either my second or third trimester HackSprint, because by that point, I felt like I had a better understanding of software engineering. I had developed enough confidence to make it a fun and exciting project rather than an assignment with a tight time constraint. 

A HackSprint is when you are given a certain topic with some left and right guidelines that you have to complete within a short time period. You might create a front-end or back-end from scratch. You’re given a theme and a set amount of days to complete the project with a partner or team. Then, you showcase the project to your peers and discuss the wins, losses, and struggles that helped you learn along the way. 

Who or what is someone you look up to in your professional life?

Rob: I look up to the organization Techlahoma. They’ve introduced me to many resources, including Tulsa Web Devs here in town, which has helped me learn what web development is outside of a school environment. They also equipped me with a mentor. I was also able to complete a few Coursera courses that were offered through a free scholarship, facilitated by Techlahoma. I really admire what they have offered to the world of tech in Tulsa. 

What advice would you give current students?

Rob: Lock down what you want as a career after Atlas. Don’t try to shoot for just anything or just grab any job that is available. Use your interests to propel you. For example, you may want to go into full-stack web development, but there are so many possibilities within that type of job. So before you graduate, research possible industries or jobs that exist under that umbrella, and decide what interests you most. Spend time doing your due diligence on job research. 

What role does networking play in the job search process?

Rob: Networking is a big piece of it. Like I said, through Techlahoma, I did some networking, but I also would set up coffee meetups with people in the industry or reached out through LinkedIn or common connections. Taking thirty minutes to hear about a professional’s background or journey and understand what their role is now and with what company, can create strong connections.

Where do you see yourself in five to ten years? 

Rob: I see myself in more of a project management role, because of my past experiences, but also because I want to manage tech-specific projects. Atlas has jump started my understanding in software as a service. The skills I’ve learned at Atlas have created a strong foundation that will lend themselves to roles that are tech or tech adjacent. 

Favorite place to hangout in Tulsa?

Rob: My favorite place in Tulsa is the Philbrook Museum, where I recently got engaged at. The artwork and location are equally beautiful, it’s just a nice place.

Favorite superhero?

Rob: My favorite superhero, for a while, was Static Shock, now I think it’s Batman.

Best coding language?

Rob: My favorite, because it has been the most natural feeling, is JavaScript. The best is probably C++; I’ve dabbled in that as well. 

Favorite musical artist/group?

Rob: My favorite musical group is Daft Punk. I really like the funk and electronic combination they offer. 

Favorite app?

Rob: Probably Google Maps. Not just for directions from point A to B, but also because I enjoy understanding the geography of things. If there is an event happening around the world, you can explore that area through Google Maps. 

Any last pieces of advice?

Rob: Don’t stop learning and trying to make yourself relevant to the world. Make sure you’re staying up to date on the latest trends or going out of your way to reinvent something completely. Don’t stop learning about things that interest you because that creative side of you is what will make you stand out to employers. 

To learn more about our Alumni Ambassador programs, as well as others, visit atlasschool.com. You can connect with Rob on LinkedIn here and view the video interview via our socials: Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

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