Are you contemplating a career change, perhaps finding yourself at a crossroads in your professional journey? If the world of Software Development has sparked your interest, regardless of your age or background, then this post is for you. It’s especially tailored for those considering Transitioning Into A Coding Career, offering a roadmap based on real-world experience.
This article is structured to guide you through the process, starting with the motivations behind choosing Software Development, progressing through the preparatory phase, and culminating in a month-by-month breakdown of a six-month intensive learning period. Within these sections, you’ll find key learning points, valuable resources, and course recommendations to aid your journey. A central resource mentioned throughout is The Complete Web Developer: Zero to Mastery, a course that provides an excellent foundation for beginners, as summarized here.
Why Choose the Self-Taught Route for a Coding Career?
After eight years in my previous role, I felt I had reached a plateau. I was seeking a career that offered continuous learning and new challenges. Working in the tech industry, collaborating with developers in client services and project management, I was adjacent to the coding world but had never actually written code myself.
The seed of learning Software Development was planted during an inspiring talk at a London event in 2016. A former Udacity student, now a Software Developer at Udacity, passionately described her journey of learning to code in just three months and the deep satisfaction it brought to her career. Around the same time, I had considered pursuing further education and even applied for a Master’s in Software Development in Northern Ireland, designed for non-IT graduates. However, I didn’t pass the entry test, and I prematurely concluded that perhaps my brain wasn’t “wired that way” for coding. (Looking back now, I know how untrue that thought was!)
Jumping forward to late 2017, after exploring various career paths, I discovered an online IT degree program, offering options for part-time (6 years) or full-time (4 years) study. Approaching 40, I felt a sense of urgency – it was now or never to make a significant career move! My initial thought was that even if I didn’t become a developer, learning more about IT and Software Development would certainly enhance my effectiveness as a Project Manager in tech.
I enrolled in the online degree in February 2018, but quickly realized that the demanding workload meant it would realistically take the full six years to complete alongside my current job. Hoping to reduce my work hours and accelerate my studies, I found myself facing a new major project at work, making that impossible. It was then that I recalled the inspiring Udacity talk and reconsidered the self-taught Software Development route.
Person in orange hoodie using laptop
I had previously balanced a part-time Business degree with a demanding 70+ hour work week back in 2006, so I initially believed I could manage the work-study combination again. However, this time proved to be different. I started an introductory programming course, but working around 10 hours daily left me with little mental energy to focus on studying or anything else outside of work. I also questioned if I was on the right learning path, given the sheer volume of courses available. I had to acknowledge that in 2006, my sales job was less stressful than my current senior management position, which involved managing complex projects. Furthermore, studying Business is arguably more subjective than the logical nature of programming!
Despite the initial confusion and exploration of different learning paths, short introductory coding courses and inspiration from other developers solidified my resolve: I wanted to become a Software Developer.
This decision was further cemented when I read about a local IT student (now a Software Developer), Zoe Gadon-Thompson. Her talk, titled ‘I don’t know what I’m doing’, resonated deeply with me. It normalized the feeling of uncertainty and encouraged just going for it. Zoe had completely transformed her career from a call center to tech while also balancing motherhood and studies – truly inspiring! Her journey underscored that transitioning into a coding career is achievable, even with significant life commitments.
My perspective is this: if you’re 38 (or any age) and feel “too old” for a career change, remember you’ll reach 40 (or two years older) regardless. Why not use that time to pursue something new? Especially with the wealth of free resources available today. Even dedicating just half an hour daily to learning can move you closer to your goal.
My redefined career goal: Secure a Junior Software Developer position before the summer of 2019 (within approximately one year).
To fully commit to this goal, I decided to focus on full-time study and resigned from my job, with my last day in August 2018. I had some savings, but I also sold my car to minimize expenses, adopting a “bootstrapping” approach to this career transition.
The ability to study full-time was a significant factor in my relatively quick transition (six months). I know others who have successfully transitioned while working full-time or part-time, but the feasibility depends heavily on your current job demands, financial situation, and available personal time.
Preparation for a Coding Career Change
I dedicated weeks to researching online web development courses, particularly those designed for complete beginners. I discovered a highly-rated Udemy course, The Complete Web Developer: Zero to Mastery (ZTM), which was on sale for £10.99, reduced from £199. Skeptical about the quality at such a low price, I thoroughly researched reviews, course material, and the community surrounding it. Everything indicated it was exactly what I needed to start, and at an incredible price!
I was immediately drawn to the teaching style of the ZTM instructor, Andrei Neagoie. His focus on modern technologies and encouraging approach aligned perfectly with my learning objectives. Andrei himself is a self-taught developer, which added to his credibility and relatability. I began the course in early summer 2018 but had to pause to manage my work handover and wait until I had more dedicated time. In the interim, I actively engaged with the #100daysofcode community on Twitter. As a relative newcomer to Twitter, I found immense value in connecting with others in similar learning situations. More advice and tips from this period can be found in a Medium post I published in December here.
➡ If you face rejection, as I did with the Master’s degree, don’t let it deter you!
➡ Explore different learning methods to find what suits you best; everyone learns differently. Try trial periods of various courses.
➡ It’s perfectly acceptable to change direction if something isn’t working; it’s your journey.
➡ Be discerning about courses and bootcamps; not all are created equal. I recommend reading this article if you’re considering a Bootcamp.
Month 1: September 2018 – Adjusting to the Coding Career Transition
After leaving my job, expecting to dive into a rigorous “8 hours a day minimum” study schedule, reality hit. All meticulous plans and schedules went out the window! While I found the course tutorials and practical exercises in the ZTM bootcamp engaging and enjoyable, maintaining focus for extended periods was a challenge. Self-doubt crept in, especially when faced with difficult concepts in these early days of transitioning into a coding career.
Over the next six months, I learned to adopt a more flexible approach to studying. This involved breaking study sessions into smaller, manageable chunks, alternating between online tutorials, practical exercises, portfolio development, reading articles, and actively engaging with the developer community.
Andrei, the instructor of ZTM’s Coding Bootcamp, provided consistent encouragement. While his motivational style was effective, moments of self-doubt were frequent – “I can’t do this,” or “I’m not smart enough” were common thoughts. Comparing myself to others on Twitter who seemed to be progressing rapidly in the #100daysofcode challenge fueled these feelings. The memory of failing the Master’s degree entry test resurfaced, along with old insecurities about disliking math in school and the belief that my brain wasn’t “wired correctly” for coding – irrational self-talk!
Thankfully, Andrei shared his own past experiences with similar unhelpful thinking and reassured me that anyone can learn to code with the right resources, motivation, and, crucially, hard work. I also started actively participating in the Discord community associated with the ZTM course, connecting with fellow student developers globally. This community interaction became a vital source of support and learning.
During this month, I discovered a local (free) Web Development community course in Belfast offered by Code First: Girls. This incredible organization promotes women’s entry into the tech industry through UK-wide classes. I applied just before the deadline and was delighted to be accepted a week later.
➡ Create a study plan, but be flexible and don’t stress if you deviate from it.
➡ Allow yourself time to adjust to the rhythm of studying.
➡ If your course has an online community (Discord/Slack), actively participate. Even passively reading discussions can be beneficial.
➡ Seek out free courses or workshops in your area and seize any learning opportunities, especially free ones!
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together,” – Vincent Van Gogh
Month 2: October 2018 – Community and Confidence in Coding Career Transition
Mid-October marked the start of the 8-week Code First: Girls Web Development course. The class was a diverse mix of university students, work placement students, and professionals from various industries. At 38, I was by far the oldest participant, and it was the first time I had to articulate my career change to others face-to-face. Initially nervous, I found everyone incredibly supportive and encouraging.
A huge acknowledgment to CFG, particularly Lydia Quinn, who championed making the course accessible to non-students, enabling women like myself to join the Code First: Girls course in Belfast. I’m now a volunteer instructor for this course and find immense joy in helping women from diverse backgrounds learn to code. Lydia’s insightful Medium post about the initiative is available here.
Throughout this period, I continued working through the ZTM Bootcamp, though at a slower pace. The Code First: Girls Web Development course significantly propelled me forward, not only in knowledge acquisition but also in building confidence in my chosen path. I thoroughly enjoyed the classes and benefited greatly from the expert advice of the course instructors, who were experienced Software Engineers.
My final project for the CFG course was a website called ‘Coffee&Code’ – a platform for coding challenges for beginners. I decided to turn this project into a real community, creating a Meetup group and seeking a venue and sponsorship. A local co-working space generously offered us their office space and coffee sponsorship – shout out to Clockwise Belfast! Within hours of launching the Meetup group, I received a message from a university Computer Science lecturer wanting to direct students from their oversubscribed beginner’s class to our group. The membership grew rapidly, attracting Computer Science students and career changers like myself.
Starting Coffee&Code has been one of the most rewarding endeavors I’ve undertaken. My aim was to create an inclusive space for “code newbies,” regardless of skill level, where everyone could participate and learn. Initially, I had signed up for coding events but hesitated to attend, fearing I didn’t “belong” and would be exposed as an imposter – hello, Imposter Syndrome! Looking back, it’s hard to believe I felt that way, especially given the overwhelmingly positive and supportive developer community I’ve since encountered. I’ve since learned that Imposter Syndrome is common, even among senior developers. Ultimately, Coffee&Code emerged from these feelings, so perhaps those initial anxieties weren’t entirely negative.
➡ Be patient and kind to yourself, especially when making significant life changes to pursue a new learning path like transitioning into a coding career.
➡ Stepping out of your comfort zone will naturally feel uncomfortable at times.
➡ Ask questions – as many as you need, even if you think they sound “stupid.”
➡ Connect with your local tech community through events and Meetups. Everyone starts as a beginner in coding!
Month 3: November 2018 – Tech Events and Overcoming JavaScript Hurdles
Around this time, Twitter (again, a fantastic resource!) alerted me to a Front-end Development tech conference, Pixel Pioneers, seeking volunteers for event management. Volunteering offered free access to the talks, a valuable opportunity for a bootstrapping student. I contacted the organizer immediately and volunteered. At the conference, I listened to inspiring speakers on topics like CSS for global audiences and idea execution.
I also expanded my network within the local tech community. I met Paul McBride, a self-taught (now senior) Software Developer. At that point, I didn’t know any other self-taught developers in Northern Ireland. Paul was a major inspiration and introduced me to the Northern Ireland Tech & Design Slack channel, a thriving online community. I mostly observed in the tech channels, absorbing industry discussions, tech news, and event information. If you’re in Northern Ireland and reading this, DM me to join this valuable community.
While progressing through the ZTM Bootcamp and attending Code First: Girls weekly, I encountered more complex JavaScript concepts, which I found incredibly challenging. I repeatedly revisited JavaScript basics, but it seemed insurmountable, and I doubted my ability to ever grasp it. I briefly questioned my career change decision, wondering if I simply wasn’t “cut out” for this. After a couple of days break, I revised my study plan. Crucially, I gave myself permission to struggle and accepted that learning JavaScript would take time and patience. To gain a different perspective, I utilized CodeCademy and FreeCodeCamp. My commitment to becoming a Software Developer remained firm, and I knew persistence, even in small steps, was key to achieving my goal.
To reinforce my JavaScript learning and build my GitHub portfolio, I started creating additional projects. One example was a quote generator featuring inspirational quotes from women in tech. I sketched a mockup of the page design and researched APIs for random quotes by women in tech. Finding none, I curated quotes to add to an array. I followed a tutorial on Medium / Freecodecamp for guidance on the project. Later, adding a Twitter share button proved to be surprisingly time-consuming!
➡ Utilize multiple resources if you’re stuck on a concept.
➡ If you’re truly stuck, take a break or switch to a different topic temporarily.
➡ Maintain a resource list of courses, articles, and helpful links.
➡ Begin building projects as soon as possible to apply your learning, but be prepared for it to take longer than anticipated.
➡ Leverage Google and Stack Overflow for assistance, but don’t just copy code; take the time to understand it. (Also, be aware that even on Stack Overflow, solutions may not always be perfect!)
“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”
― Albert Einstein
Month 4: December 2018 – Portfolio, Networking, and Job Exploration
Planning a trip to London to visit friends, I discovered a Tech conference for women happening concurrently: Geek Girls Guide to the Galaxy. I booked a ticket and, with limited time, created a portfolio website by customizing a Bootstrap template. My goal was to have a website to include on business cards for networking at the conference.
A talk by Abadesi Osunsade on negotiation strategies for women particularly resonated with me. Abadesi stayed after her talk to answer questions and provided excellent advice on enhancing my online presence. She is a remarkable individual – CEO of Hustle Crew, an initiative promoting diversity in organizations, and author of Dream Big. Hustle Hard: The Millennial Woman’s Guide to Success in Tech. I highly recommend her book for career guidance and goal achievement, especially for women transitioning into a coding career.
I regained momentum with the ZTM web development bootcamp course and started my most ambitious project yet – a facial recognition app, beginning with the front-end in React. You can view this and other projects here.
I also started exploring job opportunities and entry-level roles, though I didn’t yet feel fully prepared to apply. I signed up for CoderList, a fantastic platform connecting self-taught developers with entry-level opportunities in the UK. For any students or new developers in the UK, I highly recommend checking it out! The CEO, James Wood, is dedicated to connecting developers with quality opportunities. Shortly after creating my profile, CoderList contacted me about applying for the 2-year Google Apprenticeship program, starting in October 2019. Google! Later, I was also contacted directly by a Google talent scout, which I’ll discuss shortly.
➡ Keep your focus on your end goal, remember your “why” when challenges arise during your coding career transition. Don’t give up!
➡ If you start applying for jobs, monitor your emails closely and respond promptly.
Month 5: January 2019 – Backend Technologies and Project Collaboration
By this point in the ZTM Bootcamp, I had moved into backend technologies – servers and databases. I was approaching the course’s end but still lacked “confidence” in my abilities. Participating in a coding challenge – a React project that evolved into a real product on Product Hunt – proved to be a turning point.
I surprised myself by being able to navigate a complex codebase and identify areas for improvement. Submitting and having pull requests accepted on GitHub marked a significant moment of realization – “I can actually do this.”
Code First: Girls was recruiting volunteers for the next Web Development course intake, and I eagerly volunteered, wanting to support other women embarking on their Software Development journeys.
➡ Learning in software development is continuous; you only need to know enough to progress to the next stage.
➡ Engage in group projects and GitHub collaboration as early as possible. This experience is invaluable for interviews, as Git collaboration is fundamental to Software Development.
Month 6: February 2019 – Interview Prep and Job Offers
Continuing with the Bootcamp and completing the backend for my facial recognition app, I also focused on refining my portfolio and deepening my understanding of pure JavaScript.
I discovered another course by Andrei: Data & Algorithms: Mastering the Coding interview, which I purchased for £10.99. I followed the initial modules to optimize my portfolio and LinkedIn profile.
I progressed to the final stage of the Google Apprenticeship application process. Around the same time, a Google Talent Scout contacted me via LinkedIn, impressed by my work with Coffee&Code and Code First: Girls, and inquired about my interest in Software Engineer opportunities at Google.
Being approached by GOOGLE was incredibly exciting!
After careful consideration, I decided that relocating to London for a role at Google, while undoubtedly an amazing opportunity, wasn’t the right fit for me at that moment. I politely declined to proceed further but kept the door open for future connections.
I also received a job offer to join a local Startup as a Junior Developer. This opportunity arose purely from networking; I hadn’t been actively job hunting at this point. It’s worth noting that most of my jobs over the past 20 years have been a result of networking. Making connections and meeting people is invaluable.
While I could elaborate on job hunting and interviews, much of the advice is readily available. I highly recommend Andrei Neagoie’s interview prep bootcamp course and Abadesi Osunsade’s book, both of which significantly aided my online profiles and interview preparation.
➡ Ensure all your online profiles – LinkedIn, portfolio, and GitHub – are polished and professional.
➡ Be open to discussing all opportunities, but:
➡ Before accepting a job, carefully consider the team you’ll be working with and the learning experience it offers.
Present Day! March 2019 – A Hybrid Developer Role
Ultimately, I accepted a different offer – a hybrid role at my previous company, combining Junior Developer and Development Manager responsibilities. Having worked there for many years in client services, I understood client needs and the company’s development processes. I primarily focus on front-end client-side development and workflow management, working alongside incredibly talented developers. I’m also expanding my skills by learning Python through Treehouse, which I highly recommend. Treehouse allows for flexible learning paths across different languages, including structured Tech Degree programs, which are worth exploring.
At the time of writing, in my second week as a Software Developer, I am incredibly happy to be doing work I enjoy and find challenging every day. The initial overwhelm of what I don’t yet know has subsided. I’m making small but meaningful contributions to products and team workflows. My journey of learning and growth as a developer continues through self-study, mentorship, tech events, reading, and the supportive Twitter development community!
Resources / Costs for Transitioning into a Coding Career:
Udacity: Intro to Programming: Free
Skillcrush 10 days Bootcamp: Free
The Complete Web Developer: Zero to Mastery: £10.99 at the time (now part of the Zero To Mastery Academy Membership)
Mastering the Coding Interview — Data Structure & Algorithms: £10.99 at the time (now part of the Zero To Mastery Academy Membership)
Unix for OSX (used book from Amazon): £3.50
Harvard CS50 Intro Computer Science: Free
Dream Big. Hustle Hard.: The Millennial Woman’s Guide to Success in Tech: Abadesi Osunsade: £5.56
FreeCodeCamp: Free
Codecademy £25 / month (1 month subscription)
Treehouse: $25 / month (2 months and ongoing)
Grasshopper App: Free
Total Estimated Cost: Approximately £94.04 (Note: Subscription costs may vary)
Summary: Your Coding Career Transition is Possible
I hope this account has been beneficial for anyone in the early stages of learning software development or considering making the transition. There are numerous pathways to becoming a Software Developer and a wealth of resources available. While there’s no single “blueprint,” with dedication and the right approach, a coding career transition is absolutely achievable.
My strongest advice is to connect with others on a similar path. If local Meetups are unavailable, utilize Twitter and online developer communities on Slack and Discord, many of which are associated with online courses.
Regardless of your chosen learning path, recognize that no single course will make you a fully accomplished developer. If you encounter roadblocks, explore alternative resources and build projects. Even if your initial projects are imperfect, the learning process of applying your knowledge and problem-solving is invaluable.
Take small, consistent steps toward your goal of transitioning into a coding career. You may encounter setbacks, feel lost at times, and experience a mix of emotions, but persistence will lead you to success. The most rewarding moments come from overcoming challenges and experiencing that “It’s working!” feeling – truly the best reward.
“A ship in port is safe. But that’s not what ships are built for,” – Grace Hopper.
By the way, you can explore all the ZTM courses available here to further support your journey into a coding career.
