“Imagine yourself in a vibrant co-working space, laptop open, coding away, with the exciting prospect of building something new. Just months ago, the world of coding seemed distant, maybe even impossible. Now, you’re on the verge of starting a brand-new career as a developer. This was my reality not long ago, and it can be yours too.”
These were thoughts echoing in my mind as I transitioned into my first role as a front-end developer. If you’re contemplating a Change Career To Coding, especially if you’re starting later in life, know that it’s entirely achievable. Let me share my journey of how I navigated a successful career change to coding at 40, without prior experience or a computer science degree, using self-study and minimal expenses.
Debunking the “Special” Myth in Tech
When I first considered a career change to coding, I consumed countless articles about others who had made the leap. Yet, a nagging doubt persisted. I often looked for some inherent “special” quality in these individuals – a background, a natural aptitude, something that set them apart and made them uniquely suited for a tech career. I wondered if I possessed these elusive traits.
What I’ve come to realize is that this perception is a misconception. There’s no secret formula or prerequisite to becoming a developer. It’s not an easy path, requiring dedication and effort, but the barriers to entry are far lower than many believe. The essential ingredients are within everyone’s reach: a willingness to learn, consistent hard work, and resilience. You need the tenacity to push through challenges, to silence the self-doubt that whispers you’re not capable. That’s the real key, and anyone can cultivate these qualities.
My own starting point was from scratch. I lacked a tech background, couldn’t afford expensive bootcamps, juggled full-time work, and wasn’t getting any younger. While everyone’s circumstances differ, my experience taught me that with determination, a change career to coding is within grasp, regardless of your starting point.
My Unconventional Path to Coding
On the day I wrote my first line of code, my programming knowledge was non-existent. My professional background was varied and seemingly unrelated: years in the restaurant industry, a music technology degree, and a decade teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) in Spain. My computer skills were average at best. However, I always held a fascination for technology and viewed programmers as modern-day innovators, shaping the digital world.
The idea of becoming a developer myself remained a distant thought. I believed coding was an exclusive domain, reserved for those with innate talent and degrees from prestigious universities. While such individuals certainly exist in tech, the reality is that the vast majority of developers come from diverse backgrounds. The world of development is far more inclusive and accessible than I initially imagined, making a change career to coding a viable option for many.
The Spark of Inspiration for a Career Change
The catalyst for my career change to coding was a conversation with my partner. She was researching the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields, particularly in technology. Driven to be a role model, she decided to learn programming herself. Her initiative ignited a spark in me.
We soon discovered the wealth of learning resources available online. Coding wasn’t some arcane art, but a skill that could be learned and mastered through dedication and the right resources, making a change career to coding seem increasingly tangible.
Interestingly, my partner also successfully transitioned her career from HR to development, securing a developer job a month before I did. Her success further solidified my belief in the possibility of a mid-career shift.
Our coding journey began unexpectedly in a science museum, with a children’s book on programming. Returning home, we opened a simple text editor, typed <h1>Hello World</h1>, opened it in a browser, and then styled it <h1 style="color:red;">Hello World</h1>. We were amazed! It felt like magic, witnessing code transform into something tangible on the screen.
From that moment, I was captivated. I wanted to build things with code, to instruct computers to perform tasks I commanded. The desire to change career to coding became a powerful driving force.
Leaving a Job I Loved for a New Challenge
At that point, I had dedicated eight fulfilling years to teaching children. This isn’t a typical story of escaping a dreaded job. I genuinely enjoyed teaching, valued my relationships with students, and felt comfortable in my role. It was rewarding and enjoyable work.
However, even when you love your profession, there can be an internal sense that it’s time for a change. I was entering a new phase of life, with evolving perspectives and ambitions. Above all, I yearned for a fresh challenge, something that would push me beyond my comfort zone. The prospect of a change career to coding offered exactly that – a steep learning curve and a completely new professional landscape to conquer.
Dispelling the Myth of the “One True Path” to Coding Success
There’s no single, guaranteed route to success when you change career to coding. Three of us embarked on this journey around the same time – my partner, a close friend, and myself. All three of us are now working as developers, yet our learning paths were vastly different. Each of us gravitated towards materials and methods that resonated personally. If there’s a common thread, it’s simply unwavering perseverance. We all invested significant effort and refused to give up when faced with obstacles.
So, instead of presenting a mythical “one true path,” I’ll share my personal approach. It’s not the only way, nor necessarily the best, but it’s what worked for me when I decided to change career to coding.
Getting Started on the Coding Journey
My initial step was to immerse myself in information. I read articles and watched YouTube videos about programming to gain a foundational understanding and determine where to begin. I then started experimenting with HTML and CSS, following online tutorials and coding along to build basic web pages. This hands-on experience solidified my interest and confirmed that a change career to coding was the right direction.
Setting Clear Objectives for a Career Change
Seeking guidance, I reached out to friends working in the tech industry. Their early encouragement and practical advice were invaluable in propelling me forward and focusing my efforts on a clear, attainable goal.
It took time to evaluate the various paths within tech and set realistic objectives that aligned with my circumstances. I needed a relatively quick career transition as I relied on my existing income. This meant I had to learn while continuing to work.
I decided to focus on front-end development as it seemed the most accessible and in-demand field for a career changer. I further narrowed my focus to the skills needed for a startup environment rather than freelancing, aiming for a full-time role.
Crucially, I set a deadline. I didn’t want this goal to become a perpetually postponed item. It was spring 2017, and I committed to making the upcoming school year my last as a teacher. By September 2018, just over a year later, I aimed to be employed in a development role. This firm deadline provided essential motivation and structure for my change career to coding plan.
It would be misleading to suggest I had complete certainty and control at this stage. Doubt is an inevitable companion when making a significant career change. There were uncertainties throughout the process. However, persistence was key. Once I made the decision to change career to coding, I resolved to see it through, regardless of the challenges ahead.
Immersive Learning for a Coding Career
I knew dedicated study was the only way to achieve my goal of a change career to coding. Working full-time meant “finding time” wouldn’t work. Learning had to be integrated into my existing schedule. Fortunately, my partner was learning alongside me, which was incredibly helpful. We structured our days to maximize study time. Initially, we implemented “weekend bootcamps,” 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.
1:30 PM: Lunch and break.
3:00/4:00 PM: Continue coding.
8:00/11:00 PM: End for the day.
During summer vacation, I intensified my efforts, transforming the “weekend bootcamp” into a “daily bootcamp.” I adhered to this rigorous schedule, resisting the temptation to relax and enjoy the summer break. This intensive period accelerated my learning and built momentum for my change career to coding.
When September arrived and work resumed, I made a conscious decision to reduce my working hours. I accepted a temporary income reduction to gain more study time. This was another deliberate step to solidify my commitment to the career change.
It’s difficult to express how challenging it was to be away from coding during work hours. All I wanted was to be back at my computer, solving problems and refining layouts. But real-life obligations intervened. The start of a school year is always demanding, requiring significant preparation and organization, consuming personal time.
This period presented a potential derailment point for my mission to change career to coding. Despite my best intentions, coding time dwindled. Momentum waned. There were days when coding simply wasn’t possible. Even with strong motivation, life can complicate even the best-laid plans.
[GitHub activity graph showing a dip in October, visually representing the challenge of maintaining consistent study during busy periods]
However, as my GitHub activity illustrates, I persevered. I continued to dedicate time, even if just an hour, even if it was just reading articles. I did everything possible to avoid losing motivation completely. Prolonged breaks make it increasingly harder to resume learning.
As December approached, the looming new year and my approaching deadline spurred renewed focus. I rallied and reorganized my efforts. I pushed through, dedicating hours despite fatigue and limited time. Sometimes I coded early mornings, sometimes late nights, driven by my goal to change career to coding.
My life essentially narrowed to my income-generating job and coding studies, with little else in between. I maintained this intense rhythm until the spring of 2018, when I began preparing to move to Madrid – several months ahead of my initial deadline.
Essential Tools and Resources for a Career Change to Coding
Throughout the ten months leading up to my job offer, I fully immersed myself in the world of code. A frequent question I receive on Twitter is about the resources I used. I’ve detailed this in another article, but here’s a concise list of the most impactful tools and resources that aided my change career to coding:
Courses:
- freeCodeCamp.org: A comprehensive, free platform offering a vast curriculum in web development and beyond.
- Udemy Courses by Cassidy Williams and Colt Steele: Affordable, in-depth courses covering a wide range of web development topics.
- Wes Bos’ JavaScript 30 and Courses: Engaging and practical courses focused on modern JavaScript and front-end development techniques.
- YouTube Channels like Traversy Media and LevelUpTuts: Free, high-quality video tutorials on various web development technologies.
- Lynda.com (now LinkedIn Learning) Courses by Christina Truong: Professionally produced courses covering essential web development skills.
- Udacity Front-End Nanodegree (with Google Scholarship): A more structured, in-depth program (I was fortunate to receive a scholarship).
Courses are valuable starting points, but I supplemented them with other resources crucial for learning and job acquisition in my change career to coding process.
- Twitter: A vital platform, particularly the supportive and encouraging #100DaysOfCode community.
- GitHub: Essential for version control, collaboration, and showcasing my projects. Often the first place employers review to assess a candidate’s work.
- Portfolio: Building a personal portfolio website was instrumental in solidifying my skills and demonstrating practical abilities.
For a comprehensive list of resources and learning paths I utilized during my initial ten months, you can explore my Learning Tracker GitHub repository.
Landing a Job After a Career Change
Surprisingly, the job search phase was not overly arduous for me. I didn’t send out countless applications or spend excessive hours job hunting. Instead, I focused on being selective and targeted in my approach to secure a job after my change career to coding.
Ultimately, I participated in five interview processes. I received one rejection and didn’t complete the take-home challenge for another. I completed three interviews to the offer stage and received three job offers. One offer was unsuitable. The other two, arriving almost simultaneously, were both very appealing. One of these became my current role.
I don’t intend to sound casual about this process. 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 perceived negatively. It was nerve-wracking but also exciting and filled with hope. Receiving two excellent job offers was incredibly validating and almost unbelievable.
I am eternally grateful to those who made the hiring decisions and gave me a chance to prove myself after my change career to coding.
The interview processes at the two companies differed significantly. One involved a series of video calls with various team members at a well-established company expanding its front-end development team. After a few weeks, they extended my first job offer.
The other was with a rapidly growing startup. Following a phone interview, I was given a technical challenge to complete within a few days. It involved building a component, making API calls, and displaying data correctly. This was followed by a video discussion about my code. Finally, 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 make a choice – a fortunate position to be in. I chose the startup based primarily on their clear emphasis on mentorship and providing guidance for growth and learning. This proved to be the right decision.
And so, on that rainy day in Madrid, after my coffee, I walked into an office building, introduced myself as the new front-end developer, and officially began my new career, realizing my dream of a change career to coding.
