“I’m sitting in a café in Madrid, coffee in hand, typing away on my laptop as the rain patters outside. Soon, I’ll be walking into my first day as a front-end developer. Just ten months ago, I was teaching English in Granada, clueless about programming. Now, here I am. How did this transformation happen?”
These were my words of excitement just before starting my new job. Let me share my journey with you – how I transitioned into front-end development, starting from zero at 40, with no prior experience or tech degree, relying solely on self-study and a minimal budget.
Debunking the “Special” Myth: Anyone Can Change Careers to Programming
When I first considered changing careers to programming, I would read success stories like this one with a grain of salt. I’d search for that “special ingredient” in the writer’s background – something that made them uniquely suited for tech, something I felt I lacked.
I’ve since learned that this isn’t the reality. There are no “special” prerequisites to becoming a developer. I won’t sugarcoat it – it’s not effortless. However, the requirements are universally accessible. You need dedication, a hunger to learn, and unwavering consistency. You must persevere through challenges and silence the self-doubt that whispers you’re not “cut out” for this. That’s the essence, and anyone can cultivate these qualities with practice.
My starting point was a blank slate – no tech background, limited funds for expensive bootcamps, a demanding full-time job, and the looming milestone of middle age. While everyone’s circumstances are unique, I discovered that with determination, a career change to programming is within reach.
My Background: From Restaurants to Code
On day one of my coding journey, I was a complete novice. My professional path included early years in the restaurant industry, a degree in Music Technology, and a decade teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) in Spain. I wasn’t even particularly tech-savvy, although I was always fascinated by new technologies and saw programmers as modern-day problem-solvers.
Programming felt like an exclusive domain, reserved for gifted individuals from elite universities. While those profiles exist, the majority of developers aren’t the stereotypical “Hollywood hacker.” The world of development is far more inclusive than I initially believed.
The Spark: An Unexpected Origin Story
My journey began with an inspiring conversation with my partner. She was researching the underrepresentation of women in STEM, particularly in tech. Driven to make a difference, she decided to become a programmer herself, aiming to be a role model for younger girls in our family. Her decision sparked my own curiosity.
We soon realized the wealth of accessible learning resources available. Programming wasn’t some arcane art, but a skill we could learn and master.
Spoiler alert: she successfully transitioned from HR and secured a developer job a month before I did!
One day, we stumbled upon a children’s programming book in a science museum. Back home, we opened Notepad, typed <h1>Hello World</h1>, opened it in a browser, and then, miraculously, changed the text color to red. We were ecstatic! It felt like magic!
I was instantly captivated. I wanted to build things with code, to command computers to do my bidding!
Why Leave a Job I Loved?
At that point, I had dedicated eight years to teaching children. This isn’t a narrative about escaping a soul-crushing job. I genuinely enjoyed teaching, loved working with kids, and felt comfortable in my role. It was fulfilling and pleasant.
However, sometimes, even when you cherish something, you sense it’s time for a change. I was entering a new phase of life with fresh perspectives and ambitions. Above all, I craved a new challenge, something to push me far beyond my comfort zone.
Dispelling the Myth of “One True Path” to a Programming Career
There’s no single, guaranteed route to success in changing careers to programming. Three of us – my partner, a close friend, and myself – started learning to code around the same time, aiming for a career shift. All three of us now work in the field, and our approaches were vastly different. We each gravitated towards materials and methods that resonated with us. If there’s a common thread, it’s our unwavering persistence. We all invested significant effort and refused to give up.
So, instead of presenting “the one true path,” I’ll share my personal journey. It’s not the only way, nor necessarily the best, but it’s what worked for me when changing careers to programming.
Getting Started: Dipping My Toes into Code
Initially, I immersed myself in articles and YouTube videos about programming to understand the starting point. Then, I started experimenting with HTML and CSS. I followed tutorials, coding along to construct basic web pages. This hands-on experience solidified my desire to delve deeper into programming and confirmed my interest in changing careers.
Setting Clear Objectives: A Roadmap for Career Change
I sought advice from friends working in the tech industry. Their early encouragement and guidance were crucial in motivating me and focusing my efforts on a clear goal: changing careers to programming.
It took time to evaluate options and set realistic objectives that aligned with my circumstances. I needed a relatively quick career transition, as I relied on my existing job for income and couldn’t afford to stop working before making the switch.
I decided front-end development was the most accessible and in-demand path for a career change. I further narrowed my focus to the skills needed for a startup environment rather than freelancing.
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 academic year would be my last as a teacher. By September 2018, just over a year later, I aimed to be working in the programming field, successfully changing careers.
It would be disingenuous to claim I had everything perfectly planned and controlled at this stage. I didn’t. Certainty is a luxury you often can’t afford when making a significant career change. Doubts lingered throughout the process. The key was persistence. Once I committed to this path, I was determined to see it through, regardless of the challenges.
The Learning Process: Immersion and Consistency
I knew dedicated study was the only way forward for my career change. With a full-time job, waiting for “free time” wasn’t an option. Learning had to happen alongside my work, or not at all. I was fortunate that my partner was also learning, creating a supportive environment. 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: Continue coding
8:00/11:00 PM: End for the day
When summer vacation arrived, I maximized the opportunity by transforming the “weekend bootcamp” into a “daily bootcamp.” I rigorously adhered to this schedule, resisting the urge to relax and enjoy the summer.
September brought the return to work. I made a conscious decision to reduce my work hours, accepting a lower income in exchange for more study time. This further solidified my commitment to changing careers to programming.
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 intervened. The start of a school year demands significant preparation and organization. As any teacher knows, it also encroaches on personal time.
This was a critical juncture where my mission could have faltered. Despite my best intentions, coding time dwindled. Momentum waned. I tried to maintain consistency, but some days, time simply vanished. Even with strong motivation, life can complicate things, especially during a career change.
My GitHub activity showing the dip in October
However, as my GitHub activity illustrates, I persevered. I continued to dedicate time, even if just an hour, even if just reading an article. I did everything possible to avoid losing all momentum. Prolonged breaks make it increasingly difficult to resume any endeavor, especially something as demanding as changing careers to programming.
As December approached, the looming new year and my approaching deadline spurred me to refocus and reorganize. I pushed forward, dedicating hours regardless of fatigue or time constraints. Sometimes, I coded before dawn; other times, late into the night.
My life essentially narrowed to my income-generating job and studying. Little else existed. I maintained this rhythm until the day I packed to move to Madrid in spring 2018, several months ahead of my self-imposed deadline for changing careers.
Essential Tools and Resources for a Career Change to Programming
Over the ten months leading to my job offer, I became fully immersed in the world of code. The most frequent question I receive on Twitter is about the resources I used during my career change. I’ve detailed this in another article. Here’s a concise list of the most impactful tools and resources for anyone considering changing careers to programming:
Courses: Foundational Knowledge for Career Change
- freeCodeCamp.org: An invaluable free resource offering comprehensive web development curriculum.
- Udemy Courses: Specifically, courses by Cassidy Williams and Colt Steele provided structured learning experiences.
- Wes Bos’ JavaScript 30 and other courses: Focused, project-based learning for JavaScript mastery.
- YouTube: Channels like Traversy Media and LevelUpTuts offered free, accessible tutorials on various web development topics.
- Christina Truong’s Lynda.com (now LinkedIn Learning) courses: Structured courses covering a range of front-end technologies.
- Udacity Front-End Nanodegree: A paid, more in-depth course (I received a Google scholarship).
While courses provide a strong foundation, I supplemented them with other tools to enhance my learning and job prospects for my career change to programming.
- Twitter: A cornerstone of my experience, particularly the supportive and motivating #100DaysOfCode community.
- GitHub: Essential for version control, collaboration, and showcasing my projects. It’s often the first place potential employers review to assess your work when changing careers.
- Portfolio: Building my portfolio and other self-initiated projects was crucial for developing practical development skills and demonstrating my abilities for a career change.
You can explore my Learning Tracker GitHub repository for a complete list of resources and learning paths I used during my initial ten months of changing careers to programming.
Landing the Job: Focused Application and Interview Success
Surprisingly, the job search phase wasn’t overly complicated for me during my career change. I didn’t send out countless resumes or spend endless hours job hunting. Instead, I focused on being selective and targeted in my applications.
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 offers from all three. One offer was significantly less appealing. The other two, arriving almost simultaneously, were both highly attractive. One of them is my current job.
I don’t want to sound nonchalant; it was an intense period. I was still uncertain if my skills were truly employable. I entered interviews unsure if my limited experience would be a disadvantage. It was nerve-wracking but also exciting and hopeful. Receiving two excellent job offers was exhilarating and almost unbelievable after dedicating myself to changing careers to programming.
I will always be deeply grateful to those who made the hiring decisions and gave me a chance to embark on this new career path.
The interview processes at the two companies differed significantly. One involved a series of video calls with various team members at a smaller, established company expanding their front-end development team. After a few weeks, they extended my first job offer.
The other was with a rapidly growing startup. Following a phone interview, I received a technical challenge to complete within a few days. It involved building a component, making API calls, and displaying data correctly. This was followed by a video discussion about my code. Finally, I was invited for a casual meeting with the tech team to assess team fit. Afterward, I received an offer to join as a junior front-end developer, completing my journey of changing careers to programming.
In the end, I had to choose – a luxury I couldn’t have imagined. I selected the startup (Lola Market Tech) primarily because they emphasized mentorship and providing guidance for growth and learning. This focus on mentorship was key, and it proved to be the right decision for my career change.
And so, on that rainy day in Madrid, after finishing my coffee, I walked into an office in the business district, introduced myself as the new front-end developer, and began my new career, successfully changing careers to programming at 40.
I hope you found my story inspiring and helpful if you’re considering changing careers to programming. If you enjoyed it, please consider sharing it so others can learn that they, too, can make a successful career transition. I plan to write more about this journey, so if there are specific aspects you’d like to know more about, I’d love to hear from you. Connect with me on Twitter @Syknapse.
Read my article detailing all the resources I used to land this job.
