My Journey: Transitioning to a Software Engineer on a Budget
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Chapter 1: A New Direction
In May 2015, I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree, but my career outlook was bleak. Initially, I struggled to choose a major and ultimately went with biology, realizing that a PhD was essential for a viable career in that field. As I gathered lab and field experience, my aspirations began to crumble during my final year. My mentor, a PhD candidate in quantitative genetics, was deeply unhappy, prompting me to reconsider my future in academia. I chose to forgo applying to graduate school and instead sought employment, despite feeling unprepared.
The job hunt post-graduation was grueling. Networking is crucial in academia, and as a recent graduate, I felt like an outsider. The available positions were often labor-intensive and poorly compensated, further complicating my situation. Through limited networking, I managed to secure a part-time role in an ecology lab, earning a modest $13 per hour. To make ends meet, I also took on waitressing, balancing two or three jobs for six months.
During this time, I found myself aimlessly wondering about my future, especially as a biology graduate facing a ceiling of around $30,000 a year in entry-level technician roles. It was disheartening, and I often questioned my choices.
My life took a turn when I went on a blind date with Trey, a soon-to-be Master's graduate in computer science who already had a job lined up at Amazon. During our conversation, I expressed my uncertainty about my career path. He recommended I explore the website 80,000 Hours.
Section 1.1: Charting a New Course
Following Trey's suggestion, I delved into articles that proposed data science as a fitting career for someone with my background. I began taking baby steps, initially writing small code snippets for my lab work. Despite no one else in the lab knowing how to code, I utilized online resources like Stack Overflow to create a histogram in R and wrote Python scripts to manage my ArcGIS database. These small victories boosted my confidence, but my coding journey truly began when Trey and I moved to Seattle in June 2016.
Section 1.2: Committing to Learning
While Trey worked, I dedicated my time to studying programming independently. With about $10,000 in savings and a $1,000 monthly unemployment benefit, I aimed to pursue education without spending money. I utilized Codecademy's free Python course and enrolled in numerous free data science certifications on Coursera. Over six months, I completed 17 certificates, applying for scholarships to cover course fees. I even built a personal portfolio using Jekyll and GitHub pages. However, my attempts to secure an entry-level data science position yielded no responses.
The first video titled "My Story: How I Became a Software Engineer With No Degree" offers insights into navigating a tech career without formal qualifications.
Several months passed, and just as my hopes were dwindling, I received an offer for a data analyst position at a local market research firm. My eagerness led me to overlook several warning signs, such as the job's low pay and the unkempt office environment. Despite these red flags, I accepted the position and endured a grueling three-hour daily commute.
Chapter 2: A Turning Point
After two weeks in a hostile work environment, I received a call from a recruiter regarding a position at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). I interviewed and accepted an entry-level data analyst role there.
The second video, "Fastest Way To Become a Software Engineer in 2024," provides strategies for aspiring software engineers to quickly gain skills and find job opportunities.
My first significant step into the data science field occurred five months after I began studying. Despite expectations of coding responsibilities, I found myself primarily performing copy-paste tasks without mentorship. This stagnation prompted me to take charge of my development. I began attending programming book clubs, advocating for more technical tasks, and eventually transitioned from simple scripts to creating a reusable framework.
As I became more technically proficient, I realized my passion for building tools that facilitated others' work. Inspired by a recently promoted colleague, I decided to shift my focus toward software engineering roles. I enrolled in two computer programming courses at the University of Washington and participated in a hackathon. My dedication was recognized when I received the "Rookie of the Year" award at IHME.
Despite my progress, applying for software engineering roles proved challenging. Many employers hesitated to consider candidates without specific experience. However, I remained determined, reaching out to various managers at IHME about available positions.
Ultimately, I accepted a role as a full-stack web developer at IHME, working on their significant websites and creating custom tools. Meanwhile, I continued my education with freeCodeCamp’s online development certificates. I became involved in a grassroots effort for better wages, only to discover I was significantly underpaid compared to my peers.
Reinvigorated by this realization, I initiated another job search. My first application was to Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center, where I highlighted my biology background and public health contributions. Initially, I viewed the opportunity as practice, but after a positive interview experience, I decided to accept their competitive offer over my current role.
Transitioning to Fred Hutch was a pivotal moment in my career. I not only enjoyed a more manageable workload but also gained a supportive mentor. The increased salary alleviated financial strain, allowing me to finally breathe after years of relentless effort.
While my journey was unconventional, it reinforces the importance of following one's interests and remaining open-minded throughout the process. I share my experience to remind others that challenges are common in the tech transition, but the support of communities can make all the difference.