“Imagine yourself in a vibrant co-working space, laptop open, coding away with focus and passion. Just a year ago, the world of software development might have seemed distant, but now, you’re building a new future. This is the reality for many who, like me, have transitioned into tech, proving that a fulfilling career change to coding is within reach, regardless of your background.”
These words reflect the excitement I felt embarking on my front-end development career after a significant career change. If you’re contemplating a similar shift, especially into the dynamic world of coding, know that it’s entirely possible. This is my story of transitioning into front-end development at 40, starting from scratch, and how you too can navigate a successful coding career change.
Debunking the “Tech Talent” Myth for Career Changers
When considering a career change to coding, it’s easy to feel like an outsider. Many people believe that tech is reserved for those with inherent talent or early exposure. I used to think that way too. Reading success stories, I’d often search for hidden advantages, some innate “tech gene” that I assumed I lacked.
However, my journey, and countless others, have shown me this simply isn’t true. There’s no secret formula or pre-requisite for becoming a developer. It’s not about being “special”; it’s about dedication and the right approach. Yes, it requires effort, learning, and resilience. There will be moments of frustration and self-doubt. But the essential ingredients – hard work, consistent learning, and perseverance – are accessible to everyone. If you’re willing to commit, a coding career change is absolutely achievable.
My starting point was a complete blank slate in tech. No computer science degree, no prior coding experience, and a career history far removed from the digital world. Like many considering a mid-career shift, time and finances were constraints. But these weren’t roadblocks, they were just challenges to navigate. The most important realization? Your mindset and commitment are your most powerful assets in this journey of career change to coding.
From Music to Markup: My Unexpected Path to Coding
My professional background was a diverse tapestry, far from the typical tech trajectory. My early career was rooted in the fast-paced restaurant industry. This evolved into a degree in Music Technology, fueled by a passion for sound and creation. For a decade, I found fulfillment as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher in Spain, connecting with students and fostering learning. While I wasn’t a “computer whiz,” I was always fascinated by technology and its potential. I admired programmers, viewing them as architects of the digital world.
Yet, coding seemed like an exclusive club, a domain for the exceptionally gifted, graduates of elite universities, almost mythical figures. The reality, I discovered, is far more inclusive. The vast majority of developers are not Hollywood-style hackers. Coding is a practical, learnable skill, more accessible than I ever imagined, making it a viable option for a genuine career change.
The Spark of Inspiration: A Family Venture into Tech
The catalyst for my coding career change was a conversation with my partner. She was researching the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields, particularly in technology. Driven by a desire to be a role model, she decided to learn programming herself. Her initiative ignited my own curiosity.
We soon realized the abundance of resources available for learning to code. It wasn’t an esoteric art form, but a skill we could acquire and master together. And inspiringly, she successfully transitioned from HR to a developer role even before I did, proving the power of focused effort in a coding career change.
Our first foray into coding was delightfully simple. In a science museum, we found a children’s book about programming. Back home, we opened a basic text editor, typed <h1>Hello World</h1>, opened it in a browser, and changed the text color to red. The sheer magic of seeing our code come to life was electrifying! That moment sparked an insatiable desire to create, to command computers with code – the starting point of my career change to coding.
Leaving a Job I Loved for a New Challenge in Tech
At that point, I had dedicated eight years to teaching children. This wasn’t a story of escaping a dreaded job. I genuinely enjoyed teaching, valued my interactions with students, and was comfortable in my role. It was a rewarding and fulfilling profession.
However, even in a fulfilling career, there can be a pull towards something new. I felt a shift in my life, a desire for fresh challenges and new horizons. Above all, I craved to push my boundaries, to step far outside my comfort zone and embrace a significant career change. The allure of the tech world, with its constant evolution and problem-solving nature, became increasingly compelling.
Finding Your Path: There’s No Single “Right Way” to a Coding Career Change
Let’s be clear: there’s no magic bullet, no single guaranteed method for a successful career change to coding. Three of us – my partner, a close friend, and myself – embarked on this journey around the same time. We all now work as developers, yet our approaches were remarkably different. Each of us carved our own path, utilizing resources and methods that resonated personally. The common thread? Unwavering persistence and relentless effort. We simply refused to give up.
So, instead of presenting a mythical “best way,” I’ll share my personal path. It’s not the only route, and certainly not universally superior. It’s simply what worked for me in my career change to coding.
Taking the First Steps into the World of Code
My initial steps were exploratory. I immersed myself in articles and YouTube videos about programming to understand the landscape and identify a starting point. I began experimenting with HTML and CSS, the foundational languages of the web. Following tutorials and coding along, I built basic web pages. This hands-on experience solidified my interest and confirmed that a career change to coding was the right direction.
Setting Clear Goals for a Focused Career Transition
Seeking guidance, I reached out to friends already working in the tech industry. Their early encouragement and practical advice were invaluable, helping me focus and solidify my goal of a coding career change.
Defining realistic and achievable objectives tailored to my situation was crucial. I needed a relatively quick career transition as relying solely on savings wasn’t sustainable. Maintaining my teaching job while learning was essential.
I decided to concentrate on front-end development, recognizing it as an accessible and highly sought-after field, particularly within the startup ecosystem. I further refined my focus to align with the skills needed for startup roles, rather than pursuing freelance opportunities immediately.
Then, I set a firm deadline. To prevent this aspiration from becoming a perpetual “someday” goal, I set a target. It was spring 2017, and I committed to making the upcoming academic year my last as a teacher. By September 2018, just over a year away, I aimed to be employed as a developer.
It would be disingenuous to claim complete clarity and control at this stage. Doubt is a natural companion during a significant career change. Uncertainty lingered throughout the process. However, persistence became my guiding principle. Once the decision was made, I was determined to see this path through, regardless of the challenges ahead.
Immersive Learning: Structuring Study Time Around a Full-Time Job
I knew structured learning was essential for a successful coding career change. With full-time employment, 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, creating a supportive and collaborative environment. 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: Coding commences
12:30 PM: Gym break
1:30 PM: Lunch and relaxation
3:00/4:00 PM: Coding resumes
8:00/11:00 PM: End of coding day
Summer vacation provided an opportunity to intensify my learning. The “weekend boot camp” transformed into a “daily boot camp.” I rigorously adhered to this schedule, resisting the allure of summer relaxation.
When September arrived and work resumed, I made a conscious decision to reduce my working hours. Accepting a temporary income reduction was a strategic investment in my career change, freeing up more time for study and signaling a deeper commitment.
The challenge of balancing work and study was significant. The desire to code constantly was strong, but professional obligations and life’s demands intervened. The start of a new school year is always demanding for teachers, requiring extensive preparation and time commitment.
This period presented a critical juncture where my career change could have faltered. Despite my best intentions, coding time diminished. Momentum waned. There were days when coding simply wasn’t feasible. Even with strong motivation, life can complicate even the most dedicated plans.
My GitHub activity showing a dip in contributions during October
However, as my GitHub activity illustrates, I persevered. I consistently dedicated time, even if just an hour, even if it was simply reading articles. Maintaining momentum, even in small increments, was crucial to avoid losing motivation entirely. Prolonged breaks can make it increasingly difficult to resume learning.
As December approached, the looming new year and my impending deadline reignited my focus. I rallied, reorganized, and pushed forward, dedicating hours to coding regardless of fatigue or time constraints. Early mornings, late nights – coding became the priority.
My life essentially narrowed to my income-generating job and coding studies, with little room for much else. This intense focus continued until the spring of 2018, when I prepared to move to Madrid, several months ahead of my initial deadline, signifying a tangible shift towards my new coding career.
Essential Tools and Resources for a Coding Career Change
Over the ten months leading to my job offer, I completely immersed myself in the world of code. A frequent question I receive on Twitter is about the resources I utilized. I’ve detailed these in another article. Here’s a concise list of the most impactful tools and resources for anyone considering a coding career change:
Structured Online Courses:
- freeCodeCamp.org: A comprehensive and free platform offering a vast curriculum in web development.
- Udemy Courses: Specifically, courses by Cassidy Williams and Colt Steele. These provide structured, project-based learning.
- Wes Bos Courses: JavaScript 30 and other courses focusing on practical JavaScript skills and front-end development techniques.
- YouTube Channels: Traversy Media and LevelUpTuts offer valuable tutorials and insights on web development topics.
- Christina Truong’s Lynda.com (now LinkedIn Learning) Courses: Courses covering various aspects of web development and design.
- Udacity Front-End Nanodegree: A paid, more intensive program (I received a scholarship from Google).
Courses provide structure, but practical application is key. I supplemented courses with tools that facilitated learning and job acquisition:
- Twitter: A vital community and networking platform, particularly the supportive #100DaysOfCode community for motivation and shared progress.
- GitHub: Essential for version control, collaboration, and showcasing projects. It’s often the first place employers review to assess your coding work.
- Portfolio: Building a personal portfolio website was instrumental in solidifying skills and demonstrating practical abilities to potential employers. Self-initiated projects are invaluable learning experiences.
For a complete list of resources, explore My Learning Tracker GitHub repository, detailing my learning journey during those initial ten months of my coding career change.
Landing the Job: Focused Approach in the Tech Job Market
Surprisingly, the job search phase of my coding career change was relatively streamlined. Instead of mass applications, I opted for a targeted and selective approach.
I engaged in five interview processes. One resulted in a rejection, and another I withdrew from after not completing the take-home challenge. I completed three interviews and received three job offers. One offer was clearly unsuitable, while the other two, arriving almost simultaneously, were both compelling. One of these became my current role.
This isn’t to downplay the intensity of the job search. Doubt about my employable skill level was still present. Entering interviews, I was unsure if my experience would be perceived as inadequate. It was a nerve-wracking yet exciting period, filled with hope. Receiving two strong job offers was an incredible and almost unbelievable validation of my coding career change journey.
I remain deeply grateful to those who made the hiring decisions and gave me a chance.
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 building a new front-end development team. After several weeks, they extended my first official job offer.
The other was with a rapidly growing startup. Following a phone interview, I received a technical challenge involving building a component, integrating with an API, and displaying data. This was followed by a video call to discuss my code, and then an invitation to meet the tech team informally. Subsequently, I received an offer for a junior front-end developer position.
Faced with a choice, a fortunate position to be in, I selected the startup (Lola Market Tech) based primarily on their clear emphasis on mentorship and providing guidance for growth and continuous learning. This focus on development was paramount, and proved to be the right decision.
And so, on that rainy Madrid day, coffee in hand, I walked into an office in the business district, introduced myself as the new front-end developer, and officially began my coding career change journey.
If my story resonates with you, and you’re considering a coding career change, remember that with dedication and the right approach, it’s absolutely within your reach. Take the first step, explore the resources, and embrace the challenge. Your tech career could be closer than you think.
