Career Change Success Stories: Real-Life Inspiration
With more than 3,500 graduates from our remote and physical bootcamps across the country, there are many incredible alumni and career-change stories to share. This post is a continuation of the Tech Elevator Alumni Spotlight series highlighting some of our graduates’ exceptional career-change journeys. We hope these stories will inspire and empower more individuals to make the change they’ve been dreaming about.
For this post, we caught up with two graduates who recently made career changes into tech. Guilherme Verardo worked as a car salesman for Mercedes-Benz and has now been a Software Engineer at DICK’s Sporting Goods. Adam Suver was a team lead at a law firm before becoming a Web Developer at a digital marketing agency. Read on to hear about their new roles and what advice they have for others interested in changing careers.
How are things going in your new role?
Guilherme: I can confidently say that things are going great! I am still in the adaptation process, where I have been [pair programming] with a more experienced engineer. However, I have been learning a lot, asking as many questions as I can so that when it’s time to take over by myself, I can confidently perform and add to the team as expected. There’s still a lot to learn. The onboarding process has been very successful, and I definitely feel welcomed by my team and thankful to work for a company that values sports and technology as much as I do.
Adam: Things are going well! It’s a lot to learn at once, but I have been able to manage so far. I’ve adopted the approach that, while I may not know now, I can figure it out. And that has served me well.
Is there anything from your former career that you’ve been able to carry over into software development?
Guilherme: Time management. You do have a lot of meetings in this industry, along with your assigned work, and you want to make sure you complete them before the end of the sprint. There are a lot of emails to manage, and also it is recommended to take some time to continually expand your knowledge because technology is always changing. Public speaking, problem-solving, and teamwork are also important in this field.
Adam: I learned to be pretty dogged with research at the firm, and it can sometimes take a long time to figure things out as a web developer, but sticking with it and going through the process has taught me a lot. Practical repetitions are very valuable, even if you’re trying the wrong things before you get to a solution.
What advice do you have for others who are considering a career change?
Guilherme: Change is good. I have risked a lot of things in my life and I believe that I am where I am today because I listened to what my heart was telling me, and I don’t regret a thing. My advice is that if you really want something, you should listen to your heart, plan for it, and go get it. It is definitely a scary process, but once you get your foot in the door, it’s worth it. It’s better than keeping the “what if” thought in your head. Believe in yourself and your dreams and keep moving forward.
Adam: Ask someone in tech what their days are like. Ask about the good and the bad. Not all jobs are the same, obviously, but get some sense of what you’re getting into. You’ll probably doubt whether or not you’re smart enough (I did), but coding isn’t rocket science. Don’t build it up in your head. If you find it interesting, you’ll be able to put the work in to figure things out.
Ready to Kickstart Your Own Career Transformation?
If you’re looking to take the next step in your career and think being a software developer is the path for you, take our Aptitude Test to get started.
Written by Margaret Green,
Technical Skills Development Manager