Are you considering a career change into the world of technology? Wondering how to become a software developer without a traditional background in coding? Meet Ella Bastian, a Software Engineer at Funding Circle UK, whose inspiring journey from a digital policy role in government to becoming a software developer is a testament to the endless possibilities in the tech industry. In this exclusive interview, Ella shares her experiences, insights, and advice for anyone looking to make a similar career transition into the exciting field of software development.
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Can you tell us a bit about yourself, please?
Hi everyone! My name’s Ella and I’m a Software Engineer at Funding Circle UK. When I’m not coding you can find me either on a netball or badminton court or in a swimming pool. My favourite programming language is Ruby; it’s easy to read and was designed for developer happiness! I’m also interested in cloud technologies and love all things data.
What was your job history before getting into tech?
Prior to becoming a Software Engineer, I was working for the government in a digital policy role. My team was working on a digital strategy for the government; I would look into cloud, legacy IT and interoperability and how these things could be improved. I studied Maths and Spanish at university. My first love was data but I soon realised that software engineering was way more fun!
Why tech?
My previous job was a tech-adjacent role so I got to observe a lot of cool projects happening and met a lot of people working in tech. I thought that the tech roles were more interesting than mine so I started speaking to people to see if it would be possible for me to move into a tech role. Luckily I managed to find a great mentor at my previous company who gave me advice and supported me throughout the process.
What was your career-changer journey?
My journey into tech was through an 18-month apprenticeship program which I’m coming to the end of now. It began with a three-month software engineering Makers bootcamp and then I started working full-time at my company.
Prior to beginning the apprenticeship, I’d done two courses over the course of about one year. The first was a Python intro course with Code First Girls and the second was the @Get Into Tech course with Sky. I found the Get Into Tech course quite challenging. I was learning GIT for the first time and we had to work together in a group to build a full-stack project incorporating everything we’d learnt during the course.
Although it was hard, that experience was essential in landing my apprenticeship and was an amazing foundation for bootcamp as I’d already covered the major programming concepts, was familiar with GIT and was used to working in a group.
I really enjoyed bootcamp although it was quite exhausting at first as my brain was adjusting to coding all day. The second half of the course especially was fun as we built mockups of Facebook and Airbnb before eventually going on to build our own apps.
I was considering paying £9k for a bootcamp but I’m so glad that I stumbled upon the apprenticeship program as it saved me a tonne of money!
What was your first role in tech like?
I’m currently working in a full stack role; mostly working with Ruby and a little JS. I found that starting my job was a massive step up from bootcamp as I was working in a legacy codebase rather than building from scratch. The first few months were really quite challenging for me. Alongside the programming there was a myriad of new technologies that I didn’t know about; Kubernetes, Kafka and AWS to name a few. The past year and a half has been a massive learning curve for me but I’m doing well now, making steady contributions and have learnt so much!
If you could go back in time what advice would you give yourself at the very beginning of your journey?
It’s so easy to get burned out especially if you’re doing a bootcamp or evening course after work so I would say make sure to prioritise time for self care; make sure to take regular breaks and get outside for walks to clear your mind. My bootcamp also did meditation sessions which I really recommend.
I’d also say to make sure to do your research as there are many free opportunities to get into tech right now, especially for women. I was considering paying £9k for a bootcamp but I’m so glad that I stumbled upon the apprenticeship program as it saved me a tonne of money!
It’s so easy to get burned out especially if you’re doing a bootcamp or evening course after work […], make sure to prioritise time for self care…
What would you say to someone who is at the stage when they’re looking for their first job in tech?
My advice to people looking for their first job in tech is to apply to roles even if you don’t meet all of the criteria. Tech job adverts can be intimidating, often listing multiple different technologies. I’d say to not let this limit you and apply even if you only have experience in one thing on the list – you may be surprised! I think with junior roles curiosity and willingness to learn are the most important skills to have. And don’t be disheartened by rejection as it happens to all of us!
Apply to roles even if you don’t meet all of the criteria. Tech job adverts can be intimidating, often listing multiple different technologies. I’d say to not let this limit you and apply even if you only have experience in one thing on the list.
If you’ve pursued a career in tech through unconventional routes, just as Ella has, I’d love to hear your story. Whether you’ve transitioned from a different field, self-taught your way into coding, or have a unique journey, let’s connect on LinkedIn. Your experiences could inspire others on their path to tech success! ~ Amina
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