How I Successfully Transitioned as Tech Engineer Using Free Courses, Scholarships and Community Support
Landing in a new country as a migrant is an adventure, but carving a professional path can be a whole other challenge. That’s exactly what I faced when I moved abroad.
Upskilling was the first thing that came to mind. However, traditional routes like bootcamps or universities often come with hefty price tags, which wasn't an option for me with a lot of € barrier.
Determined to carve my own path, my story takes a turn here: a career switch to Tech Engineering. Through extensive research, I discovered numerous incredible communities and (mostly free) resources that helped me pave my way into the tech industry without exceeding my budget.
This journey of opening my own doors and windows of opportunities required just the right investment: time, consistent effort, a reliable internet connection, and a trusty laptop.
But where to go from here?
In my journey, I discovered a crucial element I had previously overlooked: self-awareness. No one told me that career switching needs an awareness of oneself.
It wasn't just about keeping up with the latest trends, chasing the highest-paid job, or mastering the most popular programming language, but about recognizing your strengths and weaknesses and finding a path that aligns with your goals and interests – a path that becomes more than just finding a job.
Admittedly, narrowing down my interests into a concise list was challenging, which is why you’ll notice a broad range of topics in my exploration. Given my circumstances at the time and the cultural emphasis on financial security I grew up with, this also influenced my decisions.
One important thing I've learned from conversations with various people in the tech industry is that tech is vast and not just about coding. But I still wasn't sure what to choose from the myriad existing job roles I found. Fortunately, at that time I had the privilege of time to try it all, and this variety helped me explore different avenues and ultimately find my niche.
From this point, I will focus on sharing the specific steps and insights that were pivotal in my career switch. [Disclaimer: It's not an easy or quick path.]
This list is extensive, and it might seem overwhelming, but remember: your Googling skills and a curious mindset are your best allies. The resources and communities I will mention are just a starting point. Your journey may look different, and that's the beauty of it. Stay curious, keep learning, be patient, keep exploring until you find the path that resonates with you, find that balance point on how you learn effectively and take advantage of the incredible wealth of free knowledge available online.
Wait! It's been a long time since I last learn something new.
Let's be honest, sometimes it's been a while since we've tackled something new. If you're feeling a little rusty or want to brush up on your learning strategies, I highly recommend checking out the "Learning How to Learn" course on Coursera by Barbara Oakley and Dr. Terrence Sejnowski.
Trust me, this course totally boosted my confidence in my ability to learn anything as long as I have the right tools and approach.
Building the Foundation: Hello, World!
The first thing that was recommended to me was to learn HTML:
Learn HTML by Codecademy
HTML Basics by Freecodecamp
HTML is considered a relatively easy programming language to pick up, especially compared to more complex languages. It uses a simple tag-based system that's beginner-friendly. This makes it a great entry point to learn the ropes of coding and web development in general.
And the platforms I mentioned above understand the struggles of beginners, providing a user-friendly interface that makes grasping the basics fun and accessible.
Here's what excited me:
Interactive lessons: No dry lectures here! Codecademy and FreeCodeCamp make learning HTML an interactive experience, allowing you to code along and see your progress instantly.
No coding experience needed: These platforms are perfect for anyone starting from scratch. They break down complex concepts into easy-to-understand steps.
Choose Platforms to Showcase Your Commitment
Selecting the right platforms to demonstrate your career switching journey to tech is important. Here's a list of platforms I used:
VSCode
GitHub
Online Calendar (Google Calendar)
LinkedIn
Hashnode
VSCode
Writing code is often the first step in your journey into the "technical" part of tech world. To kickstart this process, it's essential to acquaint yourself with a dependable code editor like VSCode. Think of it as your digital canvas where you'll craft your code, much like Microsoft Word or Google Docs are for text.
GitHub
To showcase your coding skills to the world, you need to learn how to use GitHub. It's essential not only for hosting or saving your code but also for collaborating on projects and contributing to open-source communities.
Make sure to improve your project documentation (in README file), as clear documentation is highly valued. It facilitates better understanding and collaboration among peers.
I cannot stress this point enough: maintaining a well-curated GitHub profile can significantly elevate your chances of securing interview invitations. Recruiters and employers pay close attention to the consistency of your contributions. Therefore, strive to keep those green boxes on your profile filled consistently.
Consider "pushing" engaging activities such as coding challenges, thorough documentation, or even pushing unfinished projects with informative commit messages.
Here’s a snapshot of my GitHub contributions in the first year:
Every contribution, no matter how small, contributes to building a robust profile.
Online Calendar (Google Calendar)
Make appointments for yourself and show up. Using Google Calendar, you can schedule dedicated time slots for learning, coding, and participating in coding challenges or tech talks. Setting reminders and tracking deadlines will help you stay on top of your goals and maintain a steady learning pace.
Example: Schedule "Code Practice" sessions daily from 6 PM to 8 PM to build consistency and discipline.
LinkedIn and Hashnode
To officially document and share your journey, utilize platforms like LinkedIn and Hashnode. LinkedIn is excellent for networking and professional visibility, while Hashnode allows you to write and publish detailed articles about your learning experiences and projects.
Choosing the right platforms, you'll not only enhance your skills but also make your career switch to tech more visible and credible.
Learning and Growing: Free Courses, Certifications and Scholarships
This journey wasn't meant to be a solo adventure. The tech world thrives on collaboration, and I soon discovered incredible communities, free courses and even scholarships!
Here's where things got exciting:
Leon Noel's Software Engineering Bootcamp that is totally free and fully remote
SQLcourse.com's beginner and advanced courses allowed me to delve deeper into the world of data
Code First Girls where I received a scholarship and Merit Award for their Software Engineering path with Project Management fundamentals and another scholarship for their +Masters course focusing on Development and another specialisation on DevOps
In addition to these online platforms, I also actively sought out local opportunities:
Techionista Academy's Machine Learning and AI. They opened doors to exciting Data, ML and AI specialisation which got me super interested in the future of technology (Sadly, they stopped offering services)
Codam Amsterdam where I was invited for a month-long coding challenge for C language, to explore Git and practice peer-to-peer learning
TechLabs's Data Science Program (with internship for a local startup during my cohort)
Techgrounds' Cloud Engineering Training with Microsoft Azure or AWS Certification and a job guarantee
Beyond coursework and certifications, I built a portfolio of personal projects to solidify my learning and showcase my skills to potential employers. These projects allowed me to experiment with different technologies, apply concepts learned in courses, and demonstrate my ability to solve real-world problems. This hands-on experience proved to be invaluable during interviews, as recruiters and tech professionals were impressed by the initiative and practical application of my knowledge.
Building a Supportive Network
The tech industry is full of amazing people and communities! Here are just a few where you can find invaluable support:
100Devs offered a supportive online community on discord where I could connect with other aspiring developers and share experiences.
Women Who Code provided a platform to connect with other female tech enthusiasts, allowing me to find mentors and role models who inspired me to keep pushing forward. (Unfortunately, the management decided to stop the community)
WWCODE Legacy/Alumni Community Groups This document serves as a comprehensive master list of all the community groups that have emerged from Women Who Code (WWCode). It includes legacy and alumni groups that continue to foster connections, support, and professional growth for women in technology.
Women in Tech slack channel
Stack Overflow will be your best friend with every bugs and errors you will encounter
ULAP.org is a for-purpose, non-stock, non-profit organization, providing scholarship, pro bono professional training, and community events. They help underrepresented STEM students kickstart a career in cloud, data, and technology.
Meetup is where you will find local tech meetups and networking events in your area and online.
Women's Cyberjutsu slack community
Pyladies specifically catered to those interested in Python, a versatile programming language with applications in web development, data science, and more.
DUO for a job Netherlands matched me with a local I meet weekly for a mentorship session.
Learn Python with Jupyter is an on-going project by Serena Bonaretti to learn Python in an unconventional way.
SheSharp in Amsterdam played a vital role in helping me refine my resume and cover letter, ensuring I presented myself effectively to potential employers. But they are more than that and have active slack channel for the community and project updates.
2hearts a diverse community of people with immigration backgrounds in Europe’s tech industry.
Paying it forward
Together with other tech professionals, we're building a local community – Rotterdam Women in Tech – to empower, connect and support other women who are passionate about technology.
I also launched my own initiatives, 100DaysOfCloudDevOps and this blog, to share my knowledge and help others on their tech journeys.
Lastly, I want to share these words that guided me along the way:
Learn to manage your frustrations
Be consistent
Take care of yourself
Find what works for you
Ask, when stuck
Document your journey
Network and make friends
Have a lot of fun
Celebrate
My story is a testament to the fact that possibility thrives where there's determination, discipline and dedication.
If you're looking to break into tech, remember: it's not about the size of your wallet or your former job description, but the depth of your desire to learn and connect. The tech industry is brimming with free and accessible resources waiting to be discovered.
Also, you'll definitely find countless helping hands along the way. Don't be afraid to reach out, ask questions, and share your experiences. So, are you ready for your adventure?
Thank you for reading until the end! If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to leave a comment. If you found it helpful too, give back and show your support by clicking heart or like, share this article as a conversation starter and join my newsletter so that we can continue learning together and you won’t miss any future posts.