Switching careers can be a daunting prospect, especially when transitioning into a seemingly different field like technology. Many believe that breaking into tech, particularly software engineering, requires a traditional Computer Science degree. However, the story of Katie Raby proves otherwise. Formerly immersed in the world of marketing, Katie has successfully transitioned into a thriving career as a Junior Software Engineer. In this insightful interview, Katie shares her experiences, offering valuable advice for anyone considering Changing Career From Marketing To Coding. Discover how she navigated this significant shift and learn actionable steps to follow in her footsteps.
Rekindling a Childhood Passion: From Marketing to Tech
Katie’s journey into coding wasn’t a sudden decision but rather a rekindling of a childhood passion. Her first encounter with code began unexpectedly at the age of 12 through Neopets, a virtual pet website. Designing layouts and homepages for online communities within the game sparked an early interest in HTML and CSS. She spent hours immersed in design and basic coding, even assisting friends with their online spaces. However, at the time, a career in coding wasn’t even on her radar.
Following a traditional academic path, Katie pursued A-Levels in Maths, Chemistry, Biology, and French, eventually earning a degree in International Business and French. This led her into the marketing industry, where she spent several years. Despite her marketing career, the allure of coding remained. Small opportunities to edit email templates during work hours reignited her passion for problem-solving through code. This realization prompted Katie to dedicate her evenings to learning through online platforms like FreeCodeCamp, where she completed the Responsive Web Design Certification and explored creative coding through CSS image creation on platforms like Codepen.
The demands of a full-time marketing job combined with evening coding sessions were challenging. To deepen her commitment, Katie participated in the #100DaysOfCode challenge, publicly documenting her progress on Twitter. This period of intense learning solidified her understanding that coding was not just a hobby but her true passion, prompting her to seriously consider changing career from marketing to coding.
The Bootcamp Advantage: Accelerated Learning for a Career Change
Recognizing the need for structured learning and career-focused training, Katie researched coding bootcamps. She chose Northcoders, an intensive in-person full-stack JavaScript bootcamp located in Manchester and Leeds. Prior to starting the bootcamp, Katie proactively honed her skills by tackling JavaScript problems daily and gaining practical experience at a digital agency, further strengthening her HTML, CSS, and JavaScript foundation.
The bootcamp experience proved transformative. It immersed her in an agile development environment, utilizing sprints and pair programming methodologies. The curriculum covered a wide range of technologies, from node.js to React and Dart/Flutter. Crucially, the bootcamp instilled in Katie the confidence and practical skills to build projects from scratch, effectively bridging the gap for someone changing career from marketing to coding.
Securing the First Tech Role: Portfolio and Cultural Fit
Katie’s dedication and bootcamp training culminated in landing her first developer job at Taptrip, a startup focused on innovative technology solutions for business travel. She emphasized the positive hiring process, which prioritized cultural fit. This approach allowed Katie to assess the company culture and team dynamics, ensuring a good match for both parties.
A significant factor in her successful application was her portfolio. It showcased full-stack applications and projects developed since graduating from the bootcamp, demonstrating her practical coding abilities and commitment to her new career path. For individuals changing career from marketing to coding, a strong portfolio acts as tangible evidence of acquired skills and passion, often outweighing the lack of a traditional CS degree.
Contributing to the Tech Community: Girls Who Code
Beyond her personal career transition, Katie is actively involved in initiatives to broaden access to tech. She volunteers with Girls Who Code, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the representation of women in technology. As a facilitator, Katie leads a fortnightly coding club for girls aged 11-17, providing them with resources to learn computer science and introducing them to inspiring female role models in the tech industry. This involvement underscores the importance of community support and mentorship, particularly for those changing career from marketing to coding and seeking to diversify the tech landscape.
Debunking Coding Myths: Accessibility for Everyone
For those hesitant to explore coding, Katie dispels common misconceptions. She emphasizes that coding isn’t solely for math whizzes or individuals with prior IT expertise. Anyone, regardless of background, can learn to code. She describes the feeling of coding as “magic,” highlighting its creative and problem-solving aspects, making it an appealing career path for individuals changing career from marketing to coding or any other field.
Expert Advice for Career Changers: Pathways to Coding Success
Katie offers concrete advice for individuals aspiring to changing career from marketing to coding without a four-year degree:
- Explore Diverse Learning Options: Consider self-learning, coding bootcamps, and online courses to find the best fit for your learning style and circumstances.
- Seek Mentorship: Find a mentor who can provide guidance, support, and industry insights throughout your learning journey.
- Engage with the Developer Community: Join Twitter and other online platforms to connect with developers, share your progress, and learn from others’ experiences.
- Network Actively: Utilize Twitter and LinkedIn to build connections, ask for help, and explore opportunities within the tech industry.
- Embrace Continuous Learning: Learn at your own pace, maintain persistence, and dedicate consistent time to coding practice, even while working full-time.
- Build Projects Regularly: Start creating your own projects as soon as possible to solidify your skills and build a portfolio that showcases your abilities.
- Cultivate Curiosity: Explore new technologies and areas within coding that pique your interest, pushing beyond your comfort zone.
Katie also emphasizes that it’s never too late to change careers. In fact, she believes her marketing background provides valuable transferable skills applicable to her software engineering role. Her prior career experience has strengthened her conviction in her chosen path and fuels her motivation to continuously advance her tech career.
Future Coding Aspirations: Growth and Contribution
Looking ahead, Katie’s coding ambitions are centered on continuous growth, creation, and technical mastery. She aims to keep building innovative projects and further develop her skills. Additionally, she is passionate about contributing to the coding community by creating resources, including books, courses, and blog content, to assist other aspiring coders in their journeys, especially those changing career from marketing to coding.
Katie’s story serves as a powerful testament to the possibility of changing career from marketing to coding and thriving in the tech industry without a traditional computer science degree. Her journey highlights the importance of passion, self-directed learning, targeted training, community engagement, and persistent effort in achieving career transformation.
