Changing careers can feel daunting, especially when venturing into a field as dynamic as tech. If you’re wondering How To Switch Your Career To Coding, know that you’re not alone. My journey began at 40, transitioning into front-end development without a tech background or a computer science degree. It was a path of self-directed learning, undertaken while holding a full-time job and on a tight budget.
“Picture this: I’m in a cozy Madrid café, the rain softly pattering outside, laptop humming as I work. In moments, I’ll step into my first day as a front-end developer. Just ten months prior, I was teaching English in Granada, completely new to programming. Now, here I am. How did this transformation happen?”
These were my excited thoughts as I prepared for my first day in a new career. Let me share my story with you, detailing how I navigated this career change and offering insights into how to switch your career to coding effectively.
A laptop open on a cafe table with a cup of coffee beside it, symbolizing the flexibility and work environment of a front-end developer career.
Dispelling the “Special” Myth
When I first considered a career in development, I would read articles about successful career switchers with a degree of skepticism. I’d search for that elusive “special something” in their backgrounds, a trait that seemingly destined them for tech – something I felt I lacked.
I’ve since learned that this notion is a misconception. There are no “special” prerequisites to becoming a developer. It’s not an easy path, but the requirements are accessible to anyone. The key ingredients are hard work, a commitment to continuous learning, and unwavering consistency. You need the resilience to push through challenges and silence the self-doubt that whispers you’re not “cut out” for this. These are skills anyone can cultivate with practice.
My starting point was a blank slate in tech. I didn’t have funds for expensive bootcamps, spare time in an already packed schedule, and I was approaching middle age. While everyone’s circumstances vary, I discovered that with focused dedication, a career change to coding is within reach.
My Untraditional Background
Before that pivotal first line of code, my experience with programming was zero. My early career was in the restaurant industry. Later, I earned a degree in Music Technology, followed by a decade teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) in Spain. I wasn’t even particularly tech-savvy, though I was always intrigued by new technologies and viewed programmers as modern-day problem solvers.
Coding seemed like an exclusive domain, reserved for gifted individuals from elite universities. While such individuals exist, the reality is that most developers aren’t the stereotypical “Hollywood hacker.” The world of development is far more inclusive than I initially believed.
The Spark of Inspiration
My journey began with an inspiring conversation with my partner. She was researching the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields, particularly tech. Driven to make a change and become a role model, she decided to learn programming herself. This sparked my interest as we discovered the wealth of accessible learning resources. Coding wasn’t some arcane art, but a learnable and masterable skill.
Spoiler alert: she also successfully transitioned careers from HR and secured a developer job a month before I did!
One day, we stumbled upon a children’s book about programming at a science museum. Returning home, we opened Notepad, typed <h1>Hello World</h1>, opened it in a browser, and then changed “World” to red using inline styles. We were ecstatic! It felt like magic – instructing a computer to do our bidding.
I was captivated. I wanted to build things with code, to command computers to perform tasks!
Why Leave a Job I Loved?
At that time, I had been teaching children for eight years. This isn’t a typical story of escaping a dreaded job. I genuinely enjoyed teaching, loved working with kids, and felt comfortable in my role. It was fulfilling and enjoyable.
However, even when you love something, you can sense when it’s time for a change. I was entering a new phase of life with fresh perspectives and aspirations. Above all, I craved a new challenge, something that would push me far beyond my comfort zone.
A teacher standing in a classroom, smiling at his students, illustrating a fulfilling but ultimately limiting previous career.
Debunking the “One True Path” Myth
There’s no single guaranteed route to success in a career change like this. Three of us – my partner, a close friend, and myself – started learning to code around the same time, all aiming for a career transition. All three of us are now working in development, yet our approaches were vastly different. Each of us utilized methods and materials that resonated personally. The common thread was simple: unwavering perseverance and consistent effort. We all invested significant hard work and maintained persistence.
So, instead of presenting a mythical “one true path,” I’ll share my personal journey. It’s not the only approach, nor necessarily the best, but it’s what worked for me when figuring out how to switch your career to coding.
Getting Started and Setting Goals
Initially, I immersed myself in reading articles and watching YouTube videos about programming to grasp the fundamentals. I then began experimenting with HTML and CSS, following tutorials and coding along to create basic web pages. This hands-on experience solidified my desire to pursue this path seriously.
Seeking direction, I reached out to two friends working in the development field for advice. Their early encouragement and guidance were crucial in getting me started and focusing my efforts towards a clear objective.
Defining realistic and achievable goals 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 decided to focus on front-end development, recognizing it as an accessible and high-demand area. 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 goal to become another item on a perpetually postponed to-do list. It was spring 2017, and I resolved that the upcoming school 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.
It would be naive to say I had complete clarity and control at this stage. Doubt is inherent in such a significant career change. Uncertainty lingered throughout the process. Persistence was key. Once I made the decision, I committed to seeing it through, regardless of the obstacles.
A focused individual working diligently at a laptop, representing the dedication required for a career change to coding.
The Learning Process: Immersion and Consistency
I knew dedicated study was the only way forward. With full-time employment, waiting for “free time” wasn’t an option. Learning had to happen alongside work, or not at all. Fortunately, my partner was learning simultaneously, which helped us structure our days to maximize study time. Initially, we established “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 break
1:30 pm: Lunch and break
3:00/4:00 pm: Coding resumes
8:00/11:00 pm: End for the day
During summer vacation, I amplified the “weekend bootcamp” into a “daily bootcamp,” adhering to the schedule rigorously, resisting the temptation to relax and enjoy the summer break.
September arrived, and I returned to teaching. I made a conscious decision to reduce my working hours, accepting a lower income for more study time. This further solidified my commitment to the career change.
It’s difficult to convey how challenging it was to be away from coding. All I wanted was to be back at my computer, solving problems and refining layouts. But life intervenes. The start of a school year is always demanding, requiring significant preparation and organization. As any teacher knows, it also encroaches on personal time.
This was a critical juncture where my mission could have derailed. Despite my best efforts, coding time diminished. Momentum waned. I tried to maintain progress, but some days simply lacked the hours. Even with strong intentions and motivation, life can complicate things.
GitHub activity chart showing a dip in October
However, as my GitHub activity illustrates, I persevered. I continued to dedicate time, even if just an hour, even if it meant only reading articles. I did everything possible to avoid losing motivation entirely. The longer you step away, the harder it becomes to return.
As December approached, the looming new year and my approaching deadline spurred me to regroup and get organized. I pushed forward, putting in the hours regardless of fatigue or time constraints. Sometimes, I coded early mornings; other times, late into the night.
My life essentially narrowed down to my income-generating job and coding studies, with little else. I maintained this rhythm until spring 2018, when I began preparing to move to Madrid – several months ahead of my initial deadline.
Moving boxes being packed, representing the culmination of the career change journey and relocation for a new job.
Essential Tools and Resources for Learning to Code
Over the ten months leading to my job offer, I completely immersed myself in the world of code. The most frequent question I receive on Twitter is about the resources I used. I’ve detailed this extensively in another article, but here’s a concise list of key tools and resources that are invaluable when considering how to switch your career to coding.
Courses:
- freeCodeCamp.org: Offers a comprehensive, free curriculum.
- Udemy Courses (Cassidy Williams & Colt Steele): Affordable, in-depth courses on web development.
- Wes Bos’ JavaScript 30 & Other Courses: Focused, project-based learning for JavaScript skills.
- YouTube Channels (Traversy Media, LevelUpTuts): Free video tutorials covering a wide range of web development topics.
- Lynda.com Courses (Christina Truong): High-quality video courses (now LinkedIn Learning).
- Udacity Front-End Nanodegree: A more structured, paid program (I obtained a Google scholarship).
Courses are a starting point, but I supplemented them with other tools for learning and job preparation:
- Twitter: A vital platform, especially the supportive #100DaysOfCode community.
- GitHub: Essential for version control, collaboration, and showcasing projects.
- Portfolio: Building a portfolio website was crucial for demonstrating skills to potential employers.
You can also explore my Learning Tracker GitHub repo for a complete list of resources and learning paths I utilized during those initial ten months.
A screenshot of the FreeCodeCamp website, a key resource for learning to code for free.
Landing the Job: Focus and Selectivity
Surprisingly, the job search itself wasn’t overly complicated for me. I didn’t send out countless applications or spend endless hours job hunting. Instead, I focused on being selective and targeted in my approach.
Ultimately, I went through five interview processes. I was rejected by one company and didn’t complete the take-home challenge for another. I completed three processes and received job offers from all three. One offer was unsuitable. The other two, arriving almost simultaneously, were both very appealing. One of these became my current role.
I don’t want to sound casual about this period. It was an intense time. I still doubted whether my skills were truly employable. I entered interviews unsure if my limited experience would be a deterrent. It was nerve-wracking, but also exciting and filled with hope. Receiving two excellent job offers was incredibly elating and almost unbelievable.
I will always be deeply grateful to those who made hiring decisions and gave me a chance.
The interview processes at the two companies differed significantly. One involved video calls with various team members at a small, established company expanding their front-end team. After a few weeks, they extended my first official offer.
The other was with a rapidly growing startup. After a phone interview, I received a technical challenge to complete within a few days – building a component, making API calls, and displaying data correctly. This was followed by a video discussion about my code. Then, 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.
In the end, I had a choice, a fortunate position I hadn’t anticipated. I chose the startup, Lola Market, based primarily on their clear emphasis on mentorship and providing guidance for growth and learning. This was the deciding factor, and it proved to be the right choice.
And so, on that rainy Madrid day, after my coffee, I walked into an office, introduced myself as the new front-end developer, and began my new career chapter.
I hope you found my story inspiring and helpful in understanding how to switch your career to coding. If you did, please consider sharing it so others can learn that they too can make this transition. I plan to write more about this journey, so if there are specific aspects you’d like to know more about, please let me know on Twitter @Syknapse.
Read my detailed article about all the resources I used to land my front-end developer job.
