How to Transition into an Engineering Career

As 2023 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on my recent journey to becoming a software engineer. I was very fortunate to have strong mentorship in place, Jerome Hardaway. If I had to start my tech career from scratch, these are the exact steps I would take: 1. 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞: Focus on either JavaScript, the language of the browser, or Python, widely used in data science and AI. Excelling in one language increases your employability, as companies value deep, specific skills over a broad but shallow understanding, especially when you're starting out. 2. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭-𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: The most effective way I found to learn was by building real things. I started with a personal website and then developed my own REST API. It's about applying what you learn in real-world scenarios. 3. 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧: Send 100 connection requests weekly with a 1-2 line personalized message. Seek out both senior developers and recent hires at your dream companies and people who share common ground with you, like the same school, coding boot camp, or other shared experiences. 4. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Engaging with people on LinkedIn often leads to opportunities for more personal interactions. Propose a quick Zoom chat or, if local, even better, a coffee meet-up. Focus on learning from their experiences and understanding different perspectives in the industry. It's about forging real relationships, not just expanding your network. 5. 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲: Engage in local meetups and hackathons, and when possible, attend conferences. These platforms are invaluable for learning, expanding your network, and uncovering job opportunities. 6. 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Engaging with open-source projects can really open doors. It helps you understand real-world codebases, teaches collaboration, and improves your coding skills. Plus, it's a significant point of interest on your resume. 7. 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐠: Document your learning journey. Share your challenges, successes, and insights through a blog. This not only reinforces your learning but also positions you as someone who is actively engaged in the tech community. Don't like writing? You can start a YouTube channel. 8. 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩: As you grow, seek guidance from more experienced professionals. Equally important is to offer help to those who are a few steps behind you. This exchange enriches your understanding and builds a supportive community. 9. 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬: Practicing coding interviews can be immensely beneficial if you aim for roles in big tech companies. Practice with a more experienced friend or connection, or utilize platforms like Pramp.

Thinking about a career change? Here’s how to actually make it happen, step by step. I’ve spoken with hundreds of people stuck between “I don’t want to do this anymore” and “But where do I even start?” Here’s the truth: Changing careers isn’t about starting over. It’s about repackaging what you already know, and proving you can solve a new set of problems. Here’s how to do it (with examples): 1. Start with your story. What’s pulling you away from your current path—and what’s pulling you forward? ✅ Example: “I’ve spent 6 years in education, but what I really loved was designing systems and learning tools. I’m now pivoting into UX design for edtech.” Make the shift clear and intentional. 2. Identify your transferable skills. You’ve built real value, name it. ✅ Example: Sales → Relationship-building, persuasion, handling objections Ops → Process design, cross-functional collaboration, execution List your strongest 4–6 skills and align them with your new target role. 3. Learn the language of the new industry. Every field has its own lingo. Start speaking it. ✅ Tip: Search 10 job listings in your target role. Write down the top 5 repeated words/phrases. Mirror those in your LinkedIn, resume, and pitch. 4. Rewrite your resume to match the direction, not the past. Lead with relevance, not chronology. ✅ Example: Add a “Career Summary” section: “Operations leader transitioning into product management, with 7+ years leading cross-functional teams, driving process improvements, and delivering results.” 5. Build proof fast. Don’t wait to get hired to show your skills. ✅ Options: Freelance Volunteer Build your own project Take a short course and create a case study Demonstrate that you’re not just interested, but also taking action. 6. Apply smart, not just often. Instead of applying everywhere, focus on quality roles in flexible environments. ✅ Pro tip: Use DailyRemote to find legit, remote-friendly roles across industries. It’s especially helpful for career changers who want fresh opportunities and a bit more breathing room. 7. Network with purpose. Start with conversations, not asks. ✅ DM example: “Hi Alex, I saw your post about transitioning into UX. I’m making a similar shift from content strategy. Would love to hear about your journey, no pressure at all.” Career changes take courage. But they’re absolutely possible. You’re not starting from scratch. You’re starting from experience. Now package it with purpose, and go get what’s next.

Breaking into Tech: A Personal Perspective on Paving Your Pathway 🚀💡 1️⃣ Harness Transferable Skills 🧠🔄: Every profession equips you with skills that tech needs. My journey taught me that analytical thinking in healthcare or finance can be invaluable in tech. What skills can you transition? 2️⃣ Network Intentionally 🤝💬: From my experience, it's about who you know as much as what you know. Join LinkedIn groups, participate in tech discussions, attend virtual webinars, and be visible in tech circles. Engage, ask questions, and seek advice. 3️⃣ Invest in Targeted Learning 📜📚: I've seen peers transition swiftly with targeted certifications or bootcamps. No need for a full degree. Focus on niche areas like cybersecurity or AI that resonate with you. 4️⃣ Seek Tech-Adjacent Roles 🌐🔗: My colleague transitioned from a finance expert to a fintech project manager, using her domain expertise as a unique strength. Where can your experience be an asset in tech? 5️⃣ Pilot Side Projects & Volunteer💡🔧: A friend developed an app solving a healthcare problem and that became his tech portfolio. Consider creating solutions in your current field or volunteering your skills. 6️⃣ Stay Engaged & Updated 📰💻: Tech is dynamic. I ensure I'm subscribed to key tech newsletters and participate in forums. What's your strategy to keep up? Transitioning might seem a mountainous task, but remember, every tech leader started with a single step. Your tech journey is unique and valuable; embrace it. 🌟 I'd love to hear about your transition stories or any additional tips you might have. Let's form a reservoir of shared knowledge and experiences! #TechTransition #CybersecurityFuture

What would I do today if I recently decided I wanted to start a career as a software engineer? This topic has come up in a couple different spaces I'm involved in, so I wanted to put my thoughts out here. These are the steps I recommend whether you're a college student, considering a boot camp, or just taking the self-taught route, although the process will be a bit different for each depending on the phase of life you are in. First, find out which domain is interesting to you. Do you want to build websites? Do you love munging data? Are you more behind the scenes? Love science? Math? Tech has it all. Find a few areas that seem interesting to you based on your personality and learn more about them. Once you've found what interests you, you need to figure out what skills you need to learn in order to land a job in that field. I'm not saying to go learn the skills - I'm saying to just figure out what they are. Start by looking at companies in your area (they're more likely to hire you), look at job postings online, and try to message some devs. I've found that most are pretty friendly. "Hey I see you're a front-end developer, what tech stack does your team use? I'm trying to figure out what I need to start learning." Most would be receptive to that. After you narrow down a few key technical areas to start learning, start learning! Start small - learn the mechanics. Try to get stuff installed on your computer and print out some numbers. Don't jump right into tutorials that you blindly follow. Be uncomfortable for a little bit. Learn something basic, then change it up a bit and try to do a little more on your own. Once you've spent a week or two feeling like, "what the hell did I get myself into?" You've begun! You'll feel like that a lot. (I still feel like that sometimes). At that point, start a tutorial. Build a small project. This project won't get you a job. Now build 10 more, but after you're second one, join a community and try to find a mentor (I'd recommend Code Connector :D). The community will be your single biggest asset while you are learning, because there are usually a lot of people in there who will help you grow. Dive in and get to know people, and keep building those 10 projects. None of those 10 projects will get you a job. I'll reiterate that. After you start to feel comfortable with the smaller projects, implement an idea. You like pokemon? Build something around that? You like dogs? Build something around that. This one should be a bit more real. Try to learn how to do things correctly on this one. If it sucks and you're really struggling - that's good! You should! It means you're growing. You should sit in that for awhile. You should really try to understand this project. At this point, you're getting closer. You might sit in that state for 6 months, or a year and a half. It's a hard road, but it's a fun job. If you ever want to talk about getting started, shoot me a message! Hope this helps. #softwareengineering

After studying Electronics Engineering and graduating during the 2007 recession, I transitioned my career to Telecommunications and IT... then recruiting #engineers and #careercoaching in 2010. I started Engineer Your Mission during the pandemic, adding #lifecoaching to how I help engineers make forward progress in their lives and careers. My mission is to help engineers live on their own terms and develop better lifestyles. On this podcast with Ryan Atkinson of TechGuide, I share actionable steps on reaching out to recruiters, negotiating a higher salary, and strategizing your #jobsearch. I also emphasize the importance of personal wellness and work-life balance and share my daily success routine, which prioritizes FITNESS, FAMILY, FAITH, and FINANCES (in that order). If you're looking to pivot your career or want to start #jobsearching soon, then I promise you'll benefit from the insights I shared in this video, which I gained after 13 years of helping engineers and technologists #gethired

Before you enroll in that degree/certificate program for that new role or industry that you're thinking of #pivoting in, do the following: 1) 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠. I know too many people who immediately enroll in a program because they were told that the need a certificate or degree for their line of work. They enroll, invest their time and money, only to find out that it's not really their jam. So, before you do this, talk to people in the role. Ask them, "what they did to get in their role? Do they enjoy their role? Did they have formal training in the role? What skills - both the hard and soft - do they use the most?" 2) 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐭. After speaking to those that are actually in the field, along with conducting your own research, conduct an audit on your skills. You may already have many or some of the skills that are needed for the targeted role. Identify what you have and what you need. 3) 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. You may need additional skills. You may already have the skills that you need. Wherever you are on the skills bank, you now need a plan. Your plan may require you to learn new skill; it may not. Maybe you just need to learn how to communicate the skill set that you have and meet people. This is what I recommend. Don't skip or jump any steps. Know where you are and what you have in relation to what you want. For those that have successfully pivoted, would you recommend any other steps? #thecareergem #ExecutiveCoach #careertips

Staying in your comfort zone can hold you back. I got my first role in tech at Facebook because I did projects outside of my role. Before Facebook, I was writing proposals for government contracts. But when the company needed a new website, I volunteered to learn wordpress and built it. When we needed to build an online course, I learned how to write a sales page and sold it. When we needed to start running some ads, I learned the basics of social media marketing and started testing. So when I interviewed at a tech company for a role on a team that helped advertisers use their tools, I had very relevant stories. Even though those stories weren't on my resume. And because I networked my way to the hiring manager, I was able to tell those stories to show that I was the best candidate for the role. Traditional education and direct experience aren't the only path to success. If you're interested in pivoting into tech, don't: ❌ Ignore the power of side projects ❌ Assume you need to code to build an app ❌ Overlook the value of digital marketing skills ✅ Embrace the side hustle - in and out of your current job. ----- Follow me for more on transitioning into tech and product management. Found this helpful? Comment below and share this with other veterans transitioning into a new field.