Embarking on a Career Change Into Coding at 40, without a tech background or a computer science degree, might seem daunting. Yet, armed with self-directed learning and a frugal approach, I navigated this transition while working full-time.
“Picture this: I’m at a cozy café in Madrid, sipping coffee, the gentle rain outside a soothing backdrop as I type away on my laptop. In a few moments, I’ll step into my new role as a front-end developer. Just ten short months ago, I was teaching English in Granada, completely in the dark about programming. Now, here I am. How did this career change into coding become my reality?”
Those were my words, filled with excitement, as I prepared for my first day in a brand new career. Let me walk you through my journey of how this incredible career change into coding happened.
Debunking the “Special” Myth in Tech Careers
When I first entertained the idea of a career change into coding and becoming a developer, I’d read stories like this one with a healthy dose of skepticism. I’d instinctively search for some exceptional quality in the author’s background, something that made them uniquely “suited” for a tech career. A secret ingredient I felt I lacked.
However, I’ve since learned that this perception is far from the truth. There are no “special” prerequisites for a career change into coding. I won’t sugarcoat it – it’s not a walk in the park. But the empowering truth is that the necessary ingredients are accessible to everyone. Success in a career change into coding hinges on your willingness to commit to hard work, continuous learning, and unwavering consistency. It demands persistence, especially when challenges arise and self-doubt creeps in. Overcoming those moments when you question your capabilities is key. That’s truly what it takes, and with dedication, anyone can cultivate these qualities and make a career change into coding.
My starting point was ground zero. No prior tech education, limited financial resources for expensive coding bootcamps, a schedule already packed with full-time work, and the added factor of being closer to middle age than my twenties. While everyone’s circumstances are unique, my experience underscores a powerful message: with focused determination, a career change into coding is within your reach.
My Unconventional Path to a Coding Career
Before writing my first line of code, my programming experience was nonexistent. My professional journey began in the restaurant industry, followed by a music technology degree, and then a decade teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) in Spain. I wasn’t even particularly tech-savvy, though I always found myself intrigued by the latest technological advancements. Programmers, in my mind, were the modern-day superheroes.
A career change into coding for myself? It never crossed my mind. I mistakenly believed coding was an exclusive domain, reserved for the exceptionally gifted who graduated from elite (and costly) universities. While those individuals undoubtedly exist, the vast majority of developers aren’t the stereotypical “Hollywood hacker” type. The world of development is far more inclusive and accessible than I initially imagined, making a career change into coding a viable option for many.
The Spark for a Career Change into Coding
The catalyst for my career change into coding was a conversation with my partner. She was researching the reasons behind the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields, particularly in technology. Driven to make a difference and become a role model for young girls in our family, she decided to learn programming herself. And just like that, she began her journey.
Her enthusiasm was contagious. We soon discovered the wealth of resources available for learning to code. It wasn’t some arcane art, but a tangible skill that we could learn and master, paving the way for a career change into coding.
Spoiler alert: she also successfully made a career change from HR and actually landed a developer job a month before I did!
One day, in a science museum, we stumbled upon a children’s book about programming. Returning 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 create things with code, to command computers to execute my instructions. This was the beginning of my serious pursuit of a career change into coding.
Leaving a Job I Loved for a New Challenge
At that point, I had been working with children for eight fulfilling years. This isn’t a typical story of escaping a dreaded, dead-end job. In fact, I genuinely loved teaching. I enjoyed working with kids and felt comfortable and valued in my workplace. It was rewarding and enjoyable.
However, even when you love something, there are times when you instinctively know it’s time for a change. I was entering a new phase in my life, with fresh perspectives and aspirations. Above all, I craved a new challenge, something that would push me far beyond my comfort zone. This desire for growth and challenge was a major driver in my career change into coding.
Dispelling the Myth of the “One True Path” to a Coding Career
There’s no single, guaranteed formula for a successful career change into coding. Around the same time I started learning, my partner and a close friend also embarked on their coding journeys, aiming for a career transition. All three of us are now working in the tech field, yet our learning paths were remarkably different. Each of us gravitated towards materials and methods that resonated personally. If there’s a common thread in our experiences, it’s unwavering perseverance. We simply didn’t give up, consistently putting in significant effort and dedication. This highlights that persistence, not a specific method, is crucial for a career change into coding.
So, instead of presenting a mythical “one true path,” I’ll share my personal journey. It’s not the only way, and certainly not necessarily the best way, but it’s what worked for me in my career change into coding.
Getting Started on My Coding Journey
My initial steps towards a career change into coding involved immersing myself in information. I started by reading articles and watching YouTube videos about programming to understand where to begin. Then, I dove into HTML and CSS, experimenting and building basic web pages by following tutorials and coding along. This hands-on experience solidified my desire to pursue a career change into coding.
Setting a Clear Objective for My Career Change
Seeking guidance, I reached out to two friends working in the tech industry for advice. Their early encouragement and insights were invaluable in propelling me forward and focusing my efforts on a clear objective for my career change into coding.
Defining realistic and achievable goals that aligned with my circumstances took time. I needed a relatively quick career transition as I didn’t have alternative income sources, meaning I had to maintain my teaching job until I could make the switch.
I determined that front-end development was the most accessible and in-demand specialization for my career change into coding. I further narrowed my focus to the skills needed for a startup environment rather than pursuing freelance work.
Then, I set a firm deadline. I didn’t want this ambition to become another item on a perpetually postponed to-do list. It was spring 2017, and I resolved that the upcoming academic year would be my last as a teacher. By September 2018, just over a year later, I aimed to be working in the tech industry, completing my career change into coding.
It would be disingenuous to claim I had everything perfectly planned and controlled at this stage. I didn’t. Certainty is a luxury rarely afforded during a significant career change. Doubts lingered throughout the process. However, persistence became my guiding principle. Once I committed to this path, I was determined to see it through, regardless of the obstacles, making my career change into coding a reality.
The Learning Process: Immersion and Dedication
I knew that dedicated study was the only way to facilitate my career change into coding. Working full-time meant waiting for “free time” was not an option. Learning had to be integrated into my existing schedule. Fortunately, my partner was also learning to code, which helped us structure 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 a break
3:00/4:00 PM: Continue coding
8:00/11:00 PM: End for the day
When summer vacation arrived, I intensified my efforts, transforming the “weekend boot camp” into a “daily boot camp.” I adhered to this rigorous schedule, resisting the temptation to relax and enjoy the summer, fully committed to my career change into coding.
September marked the return to work, and I made a conscious decision to reduce my teaching hours. I accepted a lower income in exchange for more study time, reinforcing my commitment to a career change into coding.
It’s difficult to express how challenging it was to be away from coding during workdays. All I wanted was to return to my computer to solve problems and refine layouts. However, the demands of real life intervened. The beginning of a school year is always demanding for teachers, requiring extensive preparation and organization, often spilling into personal time.
This period presented a potential derailment for my mission. Despite my best intentions, coding time dwindled. Momentum waned. I tried to maintain consistency, but some days simply didn’t allow for it. Even with strong motivation, life can complicate even the most determined career change into coding plans.
My activity on GitHub showing the dip in October
However, as my GitHub activity illustrates, I persisted. I continued to dedicate time, even if just an hour, even if it was just reading articles. I consciously fought against losing momentum. Prolonged breaks can make it increasingly difficult to resume learning.
As December approached, the looming new year and my approaching deadline reignited my focus. I reorganized and pushed forward, dedicating hours despite fatigue and limited time. Sometimes, I’d wake up early to code; other times, I’d stay up late, driven by my goal of a career change into coding.
My life became largely focused on my income-generating job and studying, with little room for anything else. I maintained this rhythm until the spring of 2018, when I began packing to move to Madrid – several months ahead of my initial deadline for a career change into coding.
Essential Tools and Resources for a Coding Career Transition
Over the ten months leading up to my job offer, I fully immersed myself in the world of code. The most frequent question I receive on Twitter is about the resources I utilized. I’ve detailed this in another article, but here’s a concise list of the most impactful tools and resources that aided my career change into coding.
Courses: Foundational Knowledge
- freeCodeCamp.org: An invaluable free platform offering comprehensive coding education.
- Cassidy Williams and Colt Steele’s Udemy courses: Affordable, high-quality courses providing in-depth knowledge.
- Wes Bos’ JavaScript 30 and other courses: Focused, project-based learning for JavaScript mastery.
- YouTube: Traversy Media, LevelUpTuts: Free video tutorials covering a wide range of web development topics.
- Christina Truong’s Lynda.com courses: Professional-level courses covering various tech skills (now LinkedIn Learning).
- Udacity Front-End Nanodegree: A paid, intensive program (I received a Google scholarship).
Courses are a great starting point, but I supplemented them with other tools to enhance my learning and job prospects for my career change into coding.
- Twitter: A vital platform for community engagement, especially the supportive #100DaysOfCode community.
- GitHub: Essential for version control, collaboration, and showcasing projects to potential employers.
- Portfolio: Building a portfolio website was crucial for demonstrating practical skills acquired during my career change into coding.
You can also explore my Learning Tracker GitHub repository for a complete list of resources I used during my initial ten months of learning for my career change into coding.
Landing a Job: Focused and Selective Approach
Surprisingly, the job search phase of my career change into coding was less overwhelming than anticipated. Instead of mass applications, I opted for a selective and focused approach.
Ultimately, I participated in five interview processes. I received one rejection and didn’t complete a take-home challenge for another. I successfully completed three, receiving job offers from all three. One offer was unsuitable, while the other two, arriving almost simultaneously, were both highly appealing. One of these became my current role.
I don’t want to downplay the intensity of this 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. Receiving two excellent job offers was exhilarating and almost unbelievable.
I will always be deeply grateful to those who made the hiring decisions and gave me a chance to prove myself after my career change into coding.
The interview processes at the two companies differed significantly. One involved video calls with various team members at a well-established company building a new 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 received a technical challenge involving building a component, making API calls, and displaying data. This was followed by a video chat to discuss my code and then an informal meeting with the tech team to assess team fit. Subsequently, I received an offer to join as a junior front-end developer.
Faced with a choice, a fortunate position I hadn’t imagined, I selected the startup. My decision hinged on their clear emphasis on mentorship and providing guidance for growth and learning. This proved to be the right choice.
And so, on that rainy day in Madrid, after my coffee, I walked into an office in the business district, introduced myself as the new front-end developer, and began my new career, a successful career change into coding realized.
I hope you found my story inspiring and helpful in your own journey of career change into coding. If you did, please show your appreciation with claps and share it to inspire others considering a similar path. I plan to write more about this process, so if you have specific aspects you’d like to learn more about, please let me know on Twitter @Syknapse.
Read more about the resources I used for my career change into coding here.
