Learning to code so that you can land a job in tech can feel daunting. That’s why we’re sharing inspiring stories from Codecademy’s community — to show how people like you (yes, you!) can embark on a learning journey and end up with a totally new career. We hope these stories serve as a reminder that there’s no single path to a more fulfilling work life.
Today’s story is from Michelle Clement, a 38-year-old Web Developer for a creative agency in East London, while living in the South of England. Read more stories from Codecademy learners here — and be sure to share your story here.
Why I chose to learn to code
“I started learning to code just after the pandemic began, towards the end of March 2020. I was freelancing in marketing, but when the initial lockdowns happened, many of the companies I freelance for decided to pause their marketing activities. This left me with a few months gap. That suddenly gave me the time to learn, which was a blessing in disguise, but it wasn’t ideal because I wasn’t earning.
I already had lots of experience working with a lot of Web Developers when I was working in marketing. I also used to create websites for small businesses using web builders, and I always wanted to know how to make certain changes that clients wanted. These web builders allowed custom code, but I just didn’t have the skills to do it, regularly having to outsource the work. Coders are quite expensive, understandably. I wished I knew how to do it myself.
Learn something new for free
I always thought, No, I’m not a typical Web Developer. I’m not ‘into’ computers, mathematical, or a computer science graduate, you know, all those stereotypes. However, my dad was an engineer, and I have always been a problem solver, so this felt like this could be something I would enjoy as it combined those skills and interests in a new way. I also wanted to learn a skill that provided more job security, flexibility, plus it is a growing industry. That was really appealing.”
How I made time to learn
“I thought I would have lots of time to learn due of the pandemic, but then I found out I was pregnant about a month later. I coded as much of the day as I could, but pregnancy was tiring! You just go for it, start the learning programs, and all of a sudden hours have gone by!”
How I saved up money to switch careers
“I had to pay for it from savings and income, but Codecademy thankfully is inexpensive and affordable and you do not have to lay out for large fees at any point. Once I reached a certain point of knowing that I wanted to learn more, I knew it was worth investing more. I used savings for further specific training later when I knew it was for me.”
How long it took me to land a job
“I was planning to finish everything towards the end of 2020 to start looking for jobs. The pregnancy meant I had delayed applying for jobs for around a year, so that timeline unintentionally shifted. But my daughter was due in January 2021, so I really had to get everything finished before Christmas to give myself those last few weeks, because who knows when she could come! Thankfully, I did manage to finish by Christmas, which was great.
I started building my portfolio website in November of 2021 in the evenings after putting my daughter to bed. When she turned 1 in January 2022, I properly focused on sending out my portfolio and CV. It took 2 months from applying to being offered the job.”
You won’t remember everything, so don’t try to.
Michelle Clement
Front-End Engineer
How I got in the door
“I had forgotten what it was like to apply and interview for a job with no experience. Oh my gosh, it was mad! I hadn’t done that in nearly 20 years. I’d look at job descriptions and think, I don’t know how to do so many of these things! I found that quite jarring and often questioned if I should even apply at all. I often did, as lots of learning with coding is done on the job, and you also never know if you don’t try.
I was looking at a lot of different places for job listings, like SheCodes and other female tech companies, because they were supportive of career changes and encouraging more women to enter tech. I found that angle quite interesting and thought it might differentiate me slightly if I applied to these companies.
I applied for the job I got through LinkedIn. I knew I didn’t have all the skills they were looking for, but I wrote a killer cover letter focusing on my ambition to learn and grow, and my transferable skills and previous experience — it’s all relevant.
One of the main things I was advised to do was to come up with my own passion project. I tried to think of something different, not like what everyone else would do. I remember seeing during lockdown that someone started a site where you could log where you’d found open public restrooms, since all the toilets were shut. When I had my daughter, I realized that many cafes didn’t have changing facilities in the toilets. So, you were just putting your baby on the floor, which was pretty disgusting. I combined that idea with the public toilet one and started logging cafes that had baby changing facilities, hoping more cafes would install them.”
Writing a cover letter as a career switcher is key.
Read this blog for tips on how to write an effective cover letter when you’re changing industries or roles.
How I nailed the interview
“I focused on being myself and talked up my transferable skills like client management and experience, and organization from being Personal Assistant and Marketing Manager. I had worked across a range of industries, and I could talk about my history of working with clients. I had experience working with all levels of personnel, from interns to CEOs, and I think that was a really big benefit. It definitely played to my advantage.”
How I evaluated the offer
“I accepted an offer from one of the first jobs I applied for. I considered whether I felt like I would be supported in learning and progressing. I thought about how the team felt and considered the morals of the company. They felt like the perfect fit and I haven’t looked back.”
How day one and beyond went
“I forgot what it was like to start a job with no experience, because I was used to going in running with prior experience. I felt fully supported, and I wasn’t expected to dive into building sites right away. I created a master plan with my new manager, a path to improving the areas I felt less confident with.”
What I wish I knew before I started learning
“You won’t remember everything, so don’t try to. That drove me mad because I always thought, I can’t recall how to do something. That’s very normal.
My advice would be to reach out to people who have done it. Find a mentor or someone in the industry who has been in it for a while and can see how you could be useful to their team. Loads of developers are willing to do that. It’s a very nice community. Also, use what you have to your advantage. You might be coming from a completely different industry, but you’ve definitely got skills from your past that you can bring forward. Some of the stories I’ve read about what people did before and the skills they brought in are impressive.”
Not sure where to start? Check out our personality quiz! We’ll help you find the best programming language to learn based on your strengths and interests.
Want to share your Codecademy learner story? Drop us a line here. And don’t forget to join the discussions in our community.