Chemical Engineer to Software Engineer — My journey
A year ago, I was doing my masters in advanced chemical engineering. Now, I’m a software tester — and have worked with companies like HSBC bank and Buzz Bingo- , a front end developer with a number of personal projects, and a growth and partnerships associate for an amazing community for black women in tech.
Even as soon as six months ago, I lacked direction and full understanding of what I wanted my journey to look like and I wish I knew then that that was okay. There’s no easy path, there’s no one size fits all approach to a goal and it took me a long time to realise that.
I have not achieved all that I would like to but my head is above water now and I have a clearer picture. There were quite a few things I needed to learn to be further suited for the tech industry and I think that they are worth sharing.
1. Accept failure
Because to succeed, you are going to fail many, many times. And you need to be okay with that. You need to be able to see failures as opportunities to learn and do better. Enjoy failing. Enjoy falling short. It only means there’s something else you can learn. It doesn’t mean you’re not getting it or doing as well as you should. In fact, it shows that you keep trying. Tech is a field in which you will constantly be learning, and contrary to what we see on the internet, not everybody gets it right immediately. In fact, everyone is failing. What we see is them trying again, and eventually succeeding.
When I first started out, I took failing very hard. I’d excelled in my previous field with little effort and here I was, feeling every bit of silly. It took a great change in how I approached failing to keep moving forward.
2. Plan, but not too rigidly
To get into tech, you need to know what part interests you. Would you prefer a coding or non coding role? Problem solving or organisational skills? Designing or programming roles? There are many training programs for various fields. Knowing where you want to be and what you want to be doing is extremely important.
Plans are amazing. Plans are structure, direction. Without plans, we wouldn’t be productive. But learn to let go too! Sometimes our journey doesn’t happen the way we want it to. Sometimes we won’t reach milestones as quickly, or see the ‘tech money’ as soon as we’d like to. Sometimes we start something only to realise it’s not what we want, that’s all okay.
Consistency is what is important. Plan, but don’t be discouraged if things don’t go according to what you have penned down. Sometimes the best opportunities are surprises.
3. Practice
Practice practice practice! The only way one can master a craft is by continuing to practice. When I was becoming a software tester, I would read any related article I could find practically every day. Manual testing, TDD & BDD etc. When I decided I wanted to be a front end developer, I joined a challenge called #100DaysofCoding that helped me to stay motivated and challenged. I would practice coding and post it with that hashtag and receive encouragement and gentle criticism that helped a lot.
Practicing also helps you to build your confidence which seeps into the way you speak about your path, your work, and how you perform in interviews too.
4. Connect!
There are many people that are either doing the same thing as we are at the moment, or who have done it a long time ago. Speaking to people helps you to adjust your perspective and expectations. To add to this, I also followed many accounts on Twitter of people in my field. I have learnt so much valuable information by connecting with people. It also helps that people in tech are lovely and always willing to help! I have found a mentor through Xuntos, met like minded women through Black Girls in Tech, even LinkedIn is a great tool.
Words cannot explain how much more self assured I felt finding black tech communities to join and there are so many! Code First Girls, Coding Black Females, Black Valley, Love Circular and more.
These are some things that have made my journey a bit smoother. I had quite a turbulent transition into the field and it was passion (though I didn’t realise it at the time), that kept me going. I wanted to give up so many times, I often made the mistake of comparing myself to others with way more experience than I did, I wrongfully interpreted my slow progress as not being suited for the environment. It was hard.
I’ve since realised that there is beauty in the journey and whilst I have an idea of where I want to be in years from now, I am now enjoying the process. I am exactly where I’m supposed to be and you are too.
