Can you achieve the impossible?
We often categorise things as impossible. An unreachable target that we like to daydream about, but never actually achieve. And why do we never take that first step towards attaining this seemingly unobtainable goal?
Easy.
Because it’s impossible.
But what if that thing that we’re longing for isn’t tantalisingly just beyond our grasp? What if the impossible is actually possible? What if it’s just a case of finding the right key to unlock that apparently unbreachable door?
We sat down with TechSwitcher Elena to find out how she made the impossible, possible.
From deputy headteacher to working for one of the biggest companies in the world
TechSwitchers come from all sorts of backgrounds and careers. In this case, Elena came from an educational background but had previously had some experience with software development:
“Just before starting the TechSwitch bootcamp, I was a deputy head of a community school for about eight years. It was a part-time role where I was teaching kids music and working closely with the parents. I had gained some experience with software testing while working for a start-up for around six months and before that, I worked in software for two years for a marine safety company.”
As a mother of three young children, Elena thought that working in tech would be impossible:
“I was mostly dealing with my family and raising three kids. My spare time was spent working at the school. I always wanted to work in software, but I just didn’t believe it was possible. But once my children got older I wanted to see if it could happen. I had tried some self-educated internet courses, but they didn’t really work for me. That’s when I found TechSwitch.”
After starting the bootcamp, Elena found her passion for software only grew. She was learning more and more about what it takes to become a software engineer, and her dream was starting to become a reality:
“The experience (with TechSwitch) was great…. And when you have a purpose behind what you’re doing, it’s just incredible…. I loved the projects, the teamwork, the people. It helped me to understand a lot about the industry. The best thing I learned from TechSwitch was how to write code in the best, most organised way possible.”
The right hire
Soon after finishing the bootcamp, TechSwitch organised an interview for Elena with one of the giants of the tech industry, for a software engineer trainee role within their video-on-demand streaming and rental service:
“They opened the door for me to work with the streaming platform. It was my first interview out of the bootcamp. I never would have got this role without TechSwitch. They were a tremendous help.”
A lot of the time, companies aren’t looking to hire just anyone. They want to find the right person who fits in with their company ethos, someone who is dedicated and has that drive to succeed. This is something that resonates with Elena, as she highlights the sort of person you need to be to get ahead in this industry:
“You need to be self-driven. If you’re not ready to study extra or to work extra time, or if you want someone to tell you from the beginning to the end what to do and how to do it, then this isn’t for you. It’s a lot of work and you need to be dedicated.”
It’s a never-ending journey
TechSwitchers know the value of hard work. Switching careers and starting again from scratch can be incredibly difficult, but also incredibly rewarding. Elena is now currently studying for her next interview to apply for the next-level position working at the tech giant:
“The original contract with the streaming platform was for nine months. After that, you need to pass another interview to become a level 1 software engineer, so I’m currently getting prepared for that.”
So at the end of this impossible dream, we have a TechSwitcher with a job in one of the biggest companies in the world, and a company with a fantastic new hire.
It doesn’t seem so impossible now, does it?
