“I’m sitting in a café in the heart of Madrid, coffee in hand, laptop humming, as the rain patters outside. In moments, I’ll step into my first day as a front-end developer. Ten months ago, I was teaching English in Granada, a programming novice. Now, this. How did it happen?”
These words, brimming with excitement, were mine just before embarking on this new chapter. Let me walk you through my journey of shifting careers to front-end development. If you’re contemplating a Coding Career Change, especially if you think it’s too late or too difficult, this story is for you.
Debunking the “Special” Myth in Tech Careers
When I first entertained the idea of becoming a developer, I devoured articles about career changes into tech with a healthy dose of skepticism. I was always searching for that hidden “X factor” in the authors’ backgrounds – something that pre-destined them for a tech career, something I felt I lacked.
I’ve since learned that the tech world isn’t some exclusive club. There are no mystical prerequisites to becoming a developer. I won’t sugarcoat it; it demands dedication. But the encouraging truth is that the necessary ingredients are within everyone’s reach. What you truly need is grit, a thirst for knowledge, consistency, and the resilience to push through those moments of self-doubt. Anyone can cultivate these qualities with practice.
My starting point? Zero relevant experience, no tech degree, a tight budget, a packed schedule due to a full-time job, and the looming milestone of middle age. Life circumstances vary, but my journey proves that with the right mindset, a coding career change is absolutely attainable.
My Unconventional Background Before Coding
On the day I wrote my first line of code, my programming experience was non-existent. My professional path was a winding one, beginning in the restaurant industry, evolving to a Music Technology degree, and then settling into a decade-long stint as an ESL teacher in Spain. Computers were tools, not passion projects. Yet, I was always captivated by technological advancements and held programmers in high regard – almost like modern-day superheroes.
Becoming one myself? That felt like a distant fantasy. I pictured coding as an elite domain, reserved for prodigies from prestigious universities. While those individuals certainly exist, the reality is that the vast majority of developers are just regular people. The world of development is far more accessible than I ever imagined, making a coding career change a viable option for many.
The Spark of Inspiration: An Unexpected Origin Story
My journey began with an eye-opening conversation with my partner. She was researching the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields, particularly in tech. Driven to make a difference and become a role model, she decided to learn programming herself.
Her initiative ignited a spark in me. We soon discovered a wealth of accessible learning resources. Coding wasn’t some arcane art; it was a skill we could learn and master.
Spoiler alert: she successfully transitioned from HR and landed a developer job a month before I did!
One day, in a science museum, we stumbled upon a children’s book about programming. Back home, we opened Notepad, typed <h1>Hello World</h1>, opened it in a browser, and then, miraculously, changed the color to red. We were ecstatic! It felt like magic!
From that moment, I was hooked. I wanted to build things with code, to command computers to execute my ideas. The seed for a coding career change was planted.
Leaving a Job I Loved for a New Challenge
At that point, I had spent eight fulfilling years teaching children. This isn’t your typical story of escaping a dreaded job. I genuinely loved teaching, enjoyed working with kids, and felt comfortable in my role. It was rewarding and enjoyable.
However, even when you love something, there are times when you know it’s time for a change. I was entering a new phase of life with fresh perspectives and ambitions. Above all, I craved a new challenge, something that would push me far beyond my comfort zone. A coding career change offered exactly that.
Dispelling the Myth of “One True Path” to Tech Success
There’s no single, guaranteed route to success in tech. Around the same time I started learning to code, my partner and a close friend also embarked on their coding career change journeys. All three of us are now working as developers, yet our approaches were vastly different. Each of us gravitated towards learning methods and materials that resonated personally. If there’s a common thread, it’s simply unwavering persistence and hard work. We all faced obstacles, but we refused to give up.
So, instead of presenting a mythical “one true path,” I’ll share my personal journey. It’s not the only way, nor necessarily the best way, but it’s what worked for me in making a coding career change.
Getting Started: Dipping My Toes into the Coding World
My initial step was information gathering. I immersed myself in articles and YouTube videos about programming to grasp the fundamentals and figure out where to begin. Then, I started experimenting with HTML and CSS. I followed online tutorials, coding along to create basic web pages. This hands-on experience solidified my desire to pursue this path further.
Setting Clear Objectives for a Swift Career Transition
Seeking guidance, I reached out to two friends working in the development field. Their early encouragement and advice were crucial, helping me focus and set clear, achievable goals.
Navigating the vast landscape of programming options and setting realistic objectives took time. I needed a relatively quick career transition as I couldn’t afford a prolonged period without my existing income. Maintaining my teaching job while learning was essential.
I decided to focus on front-end development, recognizing it as an accessible and high-demand area. I further narrowed my focus to the skills relevant for startup environments rather than freelance work.
Then, I set a firm deadline. I didn’t want this goal to become another forgotten item on a to-do list. It was spring 2017, and I committed to making the following school year my last as a teacher. By September 2018, just over a year later, I aimed to be employed as a developer. This deadline was a powerful motivator for my coding career change.
It would be disingenuous to claim I had everything perfectly planned and under control. Uncertainty is inherent in any significant career shift. Doubts surfaced throughout the process. Persistence was key. Once I made the decision, I was determined to see it through, regardless of the challenges.
Immersive Learning: Balancing Study with Full-Time Work
I knew dedicated study was the only way forward. With a full-time job, waiting for “free time” was not an option. Learning had to be integrated into my existing schedule. I was fortunate that my partner was on the same learning journey. We structured our days to maximize study time. Initially, we implemented “weekend boot camps,” dedicating entire weekends to coding. A typical day looked like this:
- 8:00 AM: Wake up, breakfast.
- 8:30 AM: Start coding.
- 12:30 PM: Gym break.
- 1:30 PM: Lunch and relaxation.
- 3:00/4:00 PM: Continue coding.
- 8:00/11:00 PM: End for the day.
When summer vacation arrived, I intensified the “weekend boot camp” into a “daily boot camp.” I adhered to this rigorous schedule, resisting the urge to relax and enjoy the summer break. My coding career change was my priority.
September marked the return to work. I made a conscious decision to reduce my working hours, accepting a lower income for more study time. This was another step solidifying my commitment to a coding career change.
It’s difficult to convey how frustrating it was to be away from code during workdays. All I wanted was to be back at my computer, solving problems and refining layouts. But real life intervened. The start of a school year demands significant preparation and organization. As any teacher knows, it also encroaches on personal time.
This period presented a potential derailment point for my mission. Despite my best efforts, coding time dwindled. Momentum waned. There were days when coding simply wasn’t feasible. Even with strong motivation, life can complicate things.
My GitHub activity reflected a dip in October.
However, as my GitHub activity demonstrates, I persevered. I consistently dedicated time, even if just an hour or reading an article. I fought to avoid losing momentum entirely. Prolonged breaks make restarting increasingly difficult.
As December approached, the looming new year and my approaching deadline reignited my drive. I reorganized and pushed harder, dedicating hours regardless of tiredness or time constraints. Sometimes I coded before work, sometimes late into the night.
My life became largely defined by my paying job and studying. Little else existed. I maintained this rhythm until the spring of 2018, when I began preparing to move to Madrid – several months ahead of my initial deadline for my coding career change.
Essential Tools and Resources for a Coding Career Change
During the ten months leading up to my job offer, I was deeply immersed in all things coding. The most frequent question I receive on Twitter is about the resources I utilized. I’ve detailed this extensively in another article. However, here’s a concise overview of the most impactful tools and resources for anyone considering a coding career change:
Courses: Foundational Knowledge
- freeCodeCamp.org: A comprehensive and free platform offering a vast curriculum.
- Udemy Courses: Specifically, courses by Cassidy Williams and Colt Steele.
- Wes Bos Courses: Particularly JavaScript 30 and other specialized courses.
- YouTube Channels: Traversy Media and LevelUpTuts.
- Christina Truong‘s Lynda.com (now LinkedIn Learning) Courses.
- Udacity Front-End Nanodegree (Paid, but I received a Google scholarship).
Courses are a great starting point, but I supplemented them with other resources to enhance my learning and job prospects for my coding career change.
Community and Portfolio: Practical Application
- Twitter: A vital platform, especially the supportive and engaging #100DaysOfCode community.
- GitHub: Essential for version control and showcasing projects. It’s often the first place employers check to evaluate your work.
- Portfolio: Building a portfolio website and personal projects was instrumental in developing crucial development skills.
For a complete list of resources and learning paths, you can explore My Learning Tracker GitHub repository.
Landing a Job: Focused and Selective Approach
Surprisingly, the job search phase was not overly daunting for me. I didn’t mass-apply to countless positions. Instead, I opted for a selective and focused strategy for my coding career change.
I went through five interview processes. I received one rejection and didn’t complete a take-home challenge for another. I completed three processes and received three job offers. One offer was clearly unsuitable. The other two, arriving almost simultaneously, were both very appealing. One of them is my current job.
This isn’t meant to sound casual. It was an intense period. I was still uncertain if my skills were truly job-ready. I entered interviews unsure if my limited experience would be a disadvantage. It was nerve-wracking, but also exciting and filled with hope. Landing two excellent offers was exhilarating and almost unbelievable.
I will always be deeply grateful to those who made hiring decisions and gave me a chance.
The interview processes at the two companies were quite different. One involved a series of video calls with various team members at a small, established company expanding their front-end development team. After a few weeks, they extended my first job offer.
The other was with a rapidly growing startup. After a phone interview, I received a technical challenge to complete within a few days. It involved building a component, making API calls, and displaying data. This was followed by a video discussion about my code. Then, I was invited for an informal meeting with the tech team to assess team fit. Subsequently, I received an offer to join as a junior front-end developer.
Ultimately, I had to choose – a fortunate position to be in. I selected the startup, Lola Market, primarily because they emphasized mentorship and professional development. This focus on growth was key for me, and it proved to be the right decision for my coding career change.
And so, on that rainy Madrid day, after my coffee, I walked into a business office, introduced myself as the new front-end developer, and began my new career. My coding career change was complete.
I hope you found my story inspiring and informative. If you did, please consider sharing it to encourage others who are contemplating a coding career change. If you’d like to know more about specific aspects of this journey, I’d love to hear from you! Connect with me on Twitter @Syknapse.
Read my detailed article about all the resources I used to make this coding career change.
