Not everyone finds their true calling right after graduation. Many people spend years exploring different paths before discovering their ideal career. It’s perfectly normal to try out various jobs and industries before realizing where you truly belong. Starting on one career path doesn’t mean you’re stuck there. Switching careers to find something you love is not only possible, but increasingly common, especially when considering a Coding Second Career.
The tech industry is booming, and the demand for skilled programmers is higher than ever. More and more individuals are transitioning from diverse backgrounds to build fulfilling careers in programming, discovering the creative and intellectual rewards of coding. The myth that you need a computer science degree to become a successful programmer is outdated. You don’t even need prior coding experience to embark on this exciting journey of career transformation.
If you’re seeking a career that’s intellectually stimulating, financially rewarding, and offers ample opportunities for growth, software development might be the perfect coding second career for you. Here are inspiring stories of seven individuals who successfully transitioned to careers in code, along with their invaluable advice for anyone contemplating a similar career change.
Shawn Wang: The Power of Repetition in Learning to Code for a Second Career
Shawn Wang once had a career that many finance professionals aspire to. He worked in a high-pressure Wall Street bank, trading complex financial instruments and managing substantial hedge funds. However, despite the financial success, Wang felt unfulfilled and knew this wasn’t his long-term passion. He yearned for a career that resonated more deeply with his interests.
On New Year’s Day 2017, Wang decided to pursue a coding second career. He began his learning journey with free online resources, immersing himself in the fundamentals of programming. Later, he enrolled in Fullstack Academy, a leading coding bootcamp known for its intensive and effective programs. Coding bootcamps condense years of university curriculum into a few intense weeks, teaching essential frameworks, languages, and development strategies. While the accelerated pace is demanding, Wang believes his prior self-study provided a significant advantage. By “doing everything twice,” learning concepts independently before and during the bootcamp, he solidified his understanding of core coding principles.
Wang went beyond the bootcamp curriculum, actively reinforcing his learning through multiple avenues. He committed to daily blogging about his progress, documenting his challenges and triumphs. He launched a podcast to share his experiences and insights with others. He even organized workshops on in-demand technologies like React and Passport JS, further solidifying his knowledge by teaching others.
Wang’s dedication to repetition and active learning paid off handsomely. Within a year of committing to his coding second career, and just two months after graduating from bootcamp, he secured a six-figure job offer, having already declined another lucrative offer shortly before. His story highlights the effectiveness of immersive learning and the value of consistent practice for career changers.
Sophia Ciocca: Networking Smart for Your Coding Second Career Job Search
Sophia Ciocca‘s path to a coding second career began after health challenges forced her to leave the Peace Corps, a role she had dreamed of since childhood. Facing an unexpected career change, she sought a new direction that offered both intellectual stimulation and professional growth.
After independently learning the basics of coding, Ciocca joined Fullstack Academy’s Grace Hopper program, a program specifically designed to empower women in tech. This immersive bootcamp provided her with not only the necessary technical skills but also crucial career coaching and portfolio development support, essential for launching her coding second career.
During her job search, Ciocca adopted a strategic, quality-over-quantity approach. Instead of broadly applying to every available position, she focused on targeted networking. Recognizing networking as an area for improvement, she devised a plan to connect directly with companies she genuinely wanted to work for.
Her strategy involved identifying target companies, meticulously researching and obtaining contact information for employees within those organizations, and then proactively reaching out to request informational interviews, often framed as a coffee meeting or a brief phone call.
This focused networking strategy proved incredibly effective. Ciocca converted over half of her informational chats into formal phone screenings, a third of those screenings into on-site interviews, and an impressive 80 percent of those on-site interviews resulted in job offers. In just seven weeks, by strategically engaging with fewer than 50 companies, she received four job offers and ultimately accepted a coveted role at The New York Times. Ciocca’s success underscores the power of targeted networking and a quality-driven approach in a coding second career job search.
Stephanie Manwaring: Finding the Right Bootcamp for Your Career Pivot into Coding
Stephanie Manwaring is a compelling example that a computer science degree isn’t a prerequisite for a successful coding second career. In fact, prior to considering a bootcamp, she had no coding experience whatsoever. Her background was in marketing, where she had built a successful career, but she realized it lacked the long-term fulfillment and intellectual stimulation she desired. She knew she needed a change but was initially unsure of the direction.
Coding gradually emerged as the ideal coding second career path for Manwaring. Her interest was sparked by observing numerous developer roles at companies she admired. An introduction to JavaScript from her husband, who is a developer, further piqued her curiosity. Finally, a New York Times article highlighting successful career transitions into coding solidified her decision.
Her mind was made up: a coding second career in coding was her goal. The next step was acquiring the necessary skills. However, a traditional two-year master’s degree in computer science felt too lengthy and impractical. Coding bootcamps seemed promising but also “too good to be true,” she recalled. Extensive research was crucial.
Manwaring diligently attended information sessions hosted by various bootcamps. Critically, she reached out to alumni of these programs, seeking firsthand accounts of their job search experiences post-graduation. She inquired about whether bootcamps lived up to their promises, the instructors’ expertise, and how bootcamp graduates perceived their preparedness compared to traditional CS graduates.
Her thorough research convinced her that coding bootcamps could indeed deliver on their promises and that Fullstack Academy was the right fit for her. She describes quitting her marketing job and enrolling in Fullstack Academy as “the best career decision I have made.” Her successful transition culminated in securing a position as an engineer at Squarespace, validating her strategic approach to choosing the right bootcamp for her coding second career journey.
Sean McBride: Leveraging Leadership Skills in a Coding Second Career for Advancement
Sean McBride’s journey to a coding second career began after graduating from West Point and serving as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army. An injury led him to transition into IT infrastructure, reigniting a latent passion for software development. This renewed interest led him to Operation Code, a nonprofit supporting veterans in tech, and subsequently to Fullstack Academy’s Remote Immersive program. Less than a month after graduating, McBride secured a developer role at tech startup Decipher Technology Studios.
A common concern for career changers is whether they will have the same opportunities for career advancement as those with traditional computer science degrees. McBride’s experience directly counters this concern. Within a year of joining Decipher, he progressed from being the sole full-time developer to a leadership position, hiring and managing a team of developers.
Today, McBride not only manages the team’s agile development process but also reviews code and mentors junior developers. His role perfectly aligns with his skills and aspirations. “It’s such an amazing feeling to enjoy what I do, be good at what I do, and pay the bills,” he reflects. McBride’s rapid career progression demonstrates that a coding second career, combined with prior leadership experience, can lead to significant career growth and opportunities.
Seema Ullal: Persistence and Resilience in Your Coding Second Career Job Hunt
Seema Ullal initially pursued a path in education after college, joining the Teach for America program and teaching 9th-grade algebra in New Jersey. While passionate about helping underserved students, she soon realized that teaching was not her long-term calling. Reflecting on her interests, she realized that her computer science courses in college were the only subjects that consistently held her attention. This realization prompted her to pursue a master’s degree in computer science, followed by enrollment at Fullstack Academy, setting the stage for her coding second career.
Despite her advanced education and bootcamp training, Ullal emphasizes that securing a developer role at a major tech company was not immediate or easy. The job search, as Ullal describes, “can be exhausting, frustrating, and deflating at times.” Rejection is a common part of the process, and the key is to maintain persistence and not be discouraged by setbacks. Ullal recounts instances where she challenged rejections, advocating for her qualifications and suitability for specific roles.
Seeking feedback was another crucial aspect of Ullal’s job search strategy. She proactively asked interviewers for constructive criticism and positive feedback. She found that interviewers were often willing to provide valuable insights, and positive feedback served as a much-needed confidence boost during a challenging process.
Ultimately, Ullal’s persistent and resilient approach paid off. After just a month of focused job searching, she landed a software development role at Gusto in the fall of 2015 and has remained with the company ever since. Her story underscores the importance of perseverance and a proactive approach to overcoming challenges in a coding second career job search.
Adam Barcan: Total Immersion for Maximum Bootcamp Success in Your Coding Second Career
Adam Barcan had a career path that many would consider highly desirable. After earning a master’s degree in economics from Columbia University, Barcan worked as an economist at the U.S. Treasury Department before transitioning to a business analyst role at a global law firm. However, a brief encounter with JavaScript sparked a significant career shift. Barcan decided to leave his office job and fully immerse himself in coding by enrolling at Fullstack Academy, embarking on his coding second career.
Barcan openly acknowledges that bootcamp was incredibly challenging. “Fullstack was the most challenging and satisfying professional experience of my life,” Barcan states. “Seriously. It was harder than grad school and much more fulfilling than any job I’ve ever had.” This intensity underscores the commitment required for a successful coding second career transition through a bootcamp.
To maximize the bootcamp experience and job prospects, Barcan advocates for total immersion. For him, this meant dedicating himself entirely to coding. He engaged in side projects, participated in hackathons, built a freelance portfolio, and attended industry seminars. Anything not directly related to coding was set aside until after bootcamp completion.
While this approach might seem extreme, Barcan believes it is essential for individuals serious about maximizing the bootcamp experience and positioning themselves for job placement. His immersive strategy proved highly effective. Six months after graduating from Fullstack Academy, he secured a position at software company Greenhouse, a role he continues to hold almost four years later. Barcan’s experience emphasizes the value of complete dedication and immersion for career changers pursuing a coding second career through bootcamps.
Stella Chung: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Your Coding Second Career
Stella Chung has always possessed a strong analytical mindset. Her initial career was in database and CRM management within the nonprofit sector. This background provided a solid foundation when she decided to transition to a coding second career, starting with free online courses and subsequently enrolling in Fullstack Academy’s Grace Hopper program.
Despite her background in database management and extensive bootcamp training exceeding 700 hours, Chung candidly admits to experiencing imposter syndrome, even to this day. Importantly, she is not alone. Imposter syndrome is a common experience among individuals pursuing coding second careers. Chung found comfort and strength in recognizing the prevalence of this feeling within the tech community. As Chung notes, “Nearly everyone could relate to imposter syndrome, and readily shared words of encouragement.”
Chung’s story demonstrates that it is possible to thrive and succeed despite experiencing imposter syndrome. She showcased her coding abilities by independently learning to build a 2D platformer game in Phaser.Js over a weekend and mastering the Elm programming language in another weekend. Unsurprisingly, after graduating from the Grace Hopper Program, Chung quickly secured a software engineer role at tech startup Niche. Her journey provides reassurance and encouragement to those grappling with self-doubt while pursuing a coding second career.
These inspiring stories collectively demonstrate that a coding second career is genuinely attainable for anyone. Regardless of your current profession or geographical location, with dedication, effort, and the right resources, a rewarding career in coding is within your reach.
These graduates discovered firsthand that Fullstack Academy provides the programming training and career development support necessary to successfully enter the tech industry. Explore their programs and learn more about how they compare here.
