Too far in to stop now!

12-14 minutes to read

In this article I reflect on the challenges faced when transitioning into tech. Now whilst this is very much my own story of failure, you might find some home truths that could stop you wasting invaluable time. Personally speaking, I wish someone had the chutzpah to slap me across the chops with the harsh realities I was arrogantly ignoring as I coded lonely on the cloud. I’ve no doubt this tale will resonate with anyone who has wilfully given over full access of their psyche’s hard drive to their inner saboteur, and how being reflective banishes that prick back into the shadows from whence it came. So if you feel you are making one wrong turn after another, just stop and kick that demon in his precious little nut sack and declare to the world that you’ve got this!

Article Sections …

1. You’ve made the first tentative steps but haven’t seen the fruits of your labour.
2. Don’t regret your decisions and instead follow every uncertainty with mindful reflection.
3. Build a unique roadmap that reflects the skills you want to leverage without compromising on your values.

Cautionary note: do not read on if you despise self deprecation.

1. You’ve made the first tentative steps but haven’t seen the fruits of your labour.

1a. Courses alone are not enough!

Since leaving teaching more than four years ago, I’ve had a measly six tech-related job interviews to date. Yes I know, hugely frustrating and utterly disappointing to say the least. It’s therefore only natural for me to keep coming back to the question, “have I done enough?” 

Well I’ve certainly explored my options thats for sure, but if I’m being honest, I could have dug in considerably deeper. My transition into coding began when I embarked on a postgrad in Web Development and Visual Design at Birkbeck, somehow gaining a distinction in the autumn of 2021.

Can everyone just stop for a moment and take time to appreciate what clever looks like! Surely it’s an image of my mug bearing all the smarts needed to secure a job as chief Gnasher at one of the FANGs? I couldn’t be more wrong! Sometimes your qualifications just don’t cut the mustard.

The competition in tech is fierce, and a flowery website on amateur photography isn’t exactly going to get Tim Cook salivating at your sorrowful submissions. I failed to land a single job interview following my time at Birkbeck and assumed I needed to get more education under my belt. 

So I went on to complete not one but TWO bootcamps. Come on, surely I deserve a massive “well done” medal for perseverance or whatever it is they dish out to us plebs these days? Nope! You deserve nothing. Your efforts are meaningless and you just need to face up to that. In fact, I recall being given two badly designed PDF certificates with my name spelt incorrectly on both occasions. What did I expect from freely available courses courtesy of the Department for Education, or should I say the British taxpayer?

We get our hopes up up when we complete projects and courses, which sadly prove to be of little or no consequence to bootcamp providers and the so-called employers they claim to attract. So we keep looking for affirmation, only to discover that at the end of the day we are just another number to them!

1b. LinkedIn can be frustrating but there are opportunities to be found.

Like me, you’ve maybe even shared your academic successes on social media and received that one ‘like’ from a now gleefully employed former boot-camper who can’t remember who the hell you are, but pities your efforts at dredging a depleted ocean floor. All whilst they’re reeling in a magnificent marlin. You’ve perhaps completed lots of portfolio projects and circulated them on LinkedIn in the hope that someone of importance will randomly see them and say “wow” in a sea of wows that employers have all become dead to.

Sadly, many employers these days only care about how woke they can present themselves to be on LinkedIn. These mad men and women of industry, preoccupied with posting holiday pics in parts of the world you will never go to, whilst using “unsustainable” modes of transport their PR teams nervously photoshop out in fear of them being labelled “brand damaging”.

And our pathetic snivelling little replies on LinkedIn aren’t remotely appealing, so getting noticed with our OpenToWork banners and bootlicking heart emojis will hardly make any meaningful inroads. LinkedIn is at times a weird job networking site morphing into social media, BUT that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways in which we can be part of the 16% of daily users leveraging all that it has to offer. The trick is to target people working in the businesses you could be an asset to by building relationships with them.

Reaching out to people was never really a focus of mine, much to my detriment. After the post grad and two bootcamps, I was developing as a coder and acclimatising to the ways of this fearful new world with people hidden behind screens, but this had serious implications on me leveraging my soft skills which were fading fast without me even realising!

1c. You can’t do it all on your own.

Look, I embarked on the course at Birkbeck in the midst of a global pandemic and this bizarre normalisation of all things remote was something that I found incredibly challenging. Especially so when trying to learn complex new things.

There were times when I literally needed someone pointing at my screen telling me where I was going wrong. And there were times when I simply needed a kind voice informing me to not lean too close to the monitor as my beer belly involuntarily became a third hand slouched on the keyboard creating some new Romulan-Klingon hybrid script. I was becoming independent but perhaps too independent.

You really can’t do it all on your own and you certainly can’t slither away into the background. Sure, it’s good to look back and see how far you’ve come as a programmer, but don’t abandon everything else you have in your armoury. You need to be a good communicator and networker in the changing world of work, where AI will play a greater role. And automation can make the roles you are currently gearing yourself up for potentially reductant. Be flexible and adaptable with your finger always on the pulse. 

2. Don’t regret your decisions and instead follow every uncertainty with mindful reflection.

2a. Nothing is ever a complete waste of time.

You might be asking, “so why web development and then change to data?” You’re maybe even noting it as a glaring mistake on my career progression. It is however a valid question, and I can only explain it by saying that it wasn’t until the data bootcamps that I discovered Python, or should I say Python discovered me? Doesn’t that just make you feel all warm and gooey inside, or should I say GUI? That was awful, sorry.

Don’t worry, any remaining warmth you have towards me won’t last long, as you’ve no doubt gathered I’m a complete and utter grump; a slow lumbering grump who has a brain wave one moment only to completely forget it the next. “This donut cant focus on anything” is a scornful assertion heaped loudest by my closest friends as well as my inner saboteur; in which there is much truth. Anyway, what was I saying?

Oh yes, I was talking about career progression. Look, I don’t believe for a second that my foray into web development was a waste of time but more a gentle way of understanding the nuts and bolts of the 21st century tech revolution which led to all things web-based, for which I was just a mindless consumer and not an active participant. 

Nothing however is a waste of time. In actuality, as I learn more about Django (a Python web-framework) with the aim of building a portfolio website for example, I will have to reapply what I learnt about HTML, CSS and even JavaScript from my time at Birkbeck.

2b. Try learning multiple programming languages.

Now back to me and my beautiful new beau Python, and my determination to woo her with my Pythonista charm. I’d discovered a programming language that was right for me, while at the same time dipping my toe into other languages. I did this in order to find out what I was good at, but to also become more employable by acquiring a wider range of hard skills. In fact, I’ve always tried to do multiple things simultaneously and that has built resilience but has not necessarily made me proficient across the range of tools I’ve dabbled in.

At Birkbeck, I was initially learning User Experience Design, Visual Design, HTML and CSS all in one go, before moving on to learn JavaScript and pathetically applying it to React JS within a few weeks. I never became competent in JavaScript, but it was my first real programming language and it has many similarities to Python but without the many quirks, in my opinion.

Much to my surprise, I actually enjoyed many of the design elements during my postgrad, but JavaScript and React JS didn’t tickle my bacon or sizzle my rocks.

During the bootcamps, I learnt Power BI, Python, SQL, and Microsoft Azure all concurrently. Many mention the steep learning curve during bootcamps, but it’s not until you attempt these intensive courses that you find your strengths, and limitations. Whilst data was the focus, Python was the discovery. I just saw so much potential in the language that everything else I was learning was secondary.

So you’re probably now wondering if the two data bootcamps I enrolled on were a waste of time, and if I should have just focussed on Python from the very beginning? Again, 100% NO!

For example, working with relational databases will become increasingly relevant as I delve into data engineering, so I will therefore be re-applying what I learnt about SQL from both bootcamps. Also, if I want to present findings from any data analysis I’m performing, I may opt to use Power BI; the business intelligence platform I used for my project during the first of my two bootcamps.

To date, I have only neglected to use Microsoft Azure, but that doesn’t mean I wont be coming back to it in the future. It’s possible to determine what languages are indispensable and what you can happily discard; certainly for the time being at least.

2c. When you’ve found out what you’re good at, run with it.

The bootcamps were worthwhile, but I had to drown out all the conflicting noise the facilitators were making on what they believed was important to learn, just so I could figure what was right for me! And for me, Python would be at the centre of my roadmap and all roads would point to Python! Setting up different environments and tools for writing Python code was both accessible and fast, so I immersed myself in my preferred programming language whilst gaining a taster to other relatable ones.

I personally plan to leverage Python to fields I am interested to pursue, which at the moment are web and game development, but I am also studying more advanced concepts in order to become competent in task automation and database management. These will cumulatively make me a more competent Python developer.

3. Build a unique roadmap that reflects the skills you want to leverage without compromising on your values.

3a. Be careful when following other peoples roadmaps.

YouTubers make roadmapping look so easy, but my recommendation is to always find your own roadmap and then stick to it as much as possible. There is endless distraction in the world of tech and you can be easily drawn out of your path and into someone else’s and worse more, hit a brick wall.

I’ve already mentioned the importance of finding a language that you are good at and the importance of assessing how well you can apply the language to the fields you have identified as important and of interest. After that you can continue acquiring the knowledge. 

3b. Come up with your own roadmap.

Focussing on one area and then moving on to the next in order of difficulty, may not always be the best way to acquire this knowledge. Now that I have learnt the fundamentals of Python, I’m continuing to gain traction through courses I purchased on Udemy, namely 100 days of Python by Angela Yu as well as Python Django – The Practical Guide by Maximilian Schwarzmüller. I’ve also bought a range of really advanced courses (again from Udemy) but I’m unsure about what exactly I need to be focussing on at this moment in time!

But wait, didn’t I say “stick” to the plan? Yes, I did, but I also said as “much as possible”. As stated earlier, web & game development, task automation, and database management are what I’m currently focussed on, but what I ultimately prioritise Python for, depends on what truly glitters from the array of emerging opportunities. In summary, my roadmap has some flexibility built into it so that I can be responsive to market demands. 

3c. Recommendations.

At the end of the day, my success depends on which of these emerging opportunities I can benefit most from; be it for myself or for a company I would like to work for. I think I can be forgiven for having a little flex in my plans. If my roadmap allows me to leverage Python across a number of fields I am interested in pursuing in order to obtain the employment I seek, then that’s surely got to be absolutely fine! So my first piece of advice would be to allow a little flexibility into your roadmap so that you can be responsive to change. 

My second piece of advice would be to avoid just watching tutorials. Actively code along and make annotations through the use of comments and really question if you understand what it is you are doing! Whilst at Birkbeck I coded along but didn’t annotate enough, so I never really retained anything. 

The third piece of advice I would have to offer is seriously consider certification – especially once you’ve found what you excel in. Whilst on my second bootcamp, I worked through the materials for the PCEP (Python Certified Entry-Level Programmer) course and also purchased the practice materials in order to pass the exam, which I did at the first time of asking. Check out https://pythoninstitute.org/pcep for more information. For me, this was an excellent way to test whether or not I knew the fundamentals.

My fourth piece of advice would be to learn how to promote yourself. The job market is very competitive so marketing yourself and creating a portfolio to showcase your projects may become increasingly important. Also, be selective about your projects so that you are highlighting the ones that will best leverage your skills for the type of work you want to do, and for the companies you want to work for. 

Create a GitHub account so that you have somewhere to publish your work, and if you want to create your own website, first consider WordPress or Wix before actually building one from scratch. That way you can showcase your range of skills straight off the bat. Blogging on Medium may be a sufficient starting point, and as you gain more confidence consider Hashnode. Collaborate with others on projects and share your findings on LinkedIn. On reflection, I wish I had connected with people on LinkedIn much earlier on in my journey into tech.

So you’ve got to this point of the article and you’re probably wondering, why bother? You’re maybe even saying, “just give up, if you haven’t made it now, you never will”. And it’s a perfectly valid point. There is a genuine feeling that I’m in way too deep, but I must also say that I enjoy what I am learning and I am beginning to conquer fears by no longer hiding behind my desk. Yes, I haven’t got the jobs I have applied for, but I am also very grateful for that. If I had secured one of those posts, I may have gone from burnout from teaching, my previous job, to something similar in web development or data analysis.

Also, I feel at this stage it might be more about how I leverage my skills for my own business. Working 40hour weeks on soulless projects for the man may not be my calling. Employment of that nature may not be underpinned by my values. And that leads me to my final piece of advice; assess what it is YOU want from learning tech and ensure that they are compatible with your values, which is exactly what I will be talking about next time.

Conclusion

Bootcamps will teach you the fundamentals, but they aren’t enough in a competitive job market. Making yourself more marketable could be more beneficial in securing employment compared to completing courses. LinkedIn can be minefield, but targeting who you would like to work and networking with employees at the earliest opportunity could help you make inroads.

Immerse yourself in a range of programming languages, and when you’ve discovered what you excel at, develop an understanding of how it can be leveraged. Consider certification over just mindlessly watching YouTube videos. Building your own comprehensive but flexible roadmap could be more meaningful than copying other peoples.

So that’s all I really want to say for the time being. Thanks for taking the time to read this article. In the future I will be writing about the importance of soft skills and why you should be supplementing your soft skills with hard tech skills and not always the other way around! I will also be discussing more about Python, so stay tuned!