At 27, six years into an electrical engineering career, I decided I needed out.
I’d been coding since I was 16, modifying games and building websites and staying up late on something that felt more like play than work. But when it came to choosing a career I took the safe path. I followed my family into engineering, got the degree, got the job. For six years I told myself software was just a hobby.
Then I made the switch. Here’s how I did it and what I didn’t expect.
I didn’t quit and figure it out later. I built proof while I was still employed. Side projects, real ones, not tutorials. Things I could point to and say “I made this, it works, here’s the code.”
I leaned into what I already knew. Laravel and PHP aren’t fashionable, but I was fast in them, and speed to ship beats prestige when you’re trying to prove yourself. I applied before I felt ready because imposter syndrome will tell you to wait forever if you let it. Worst case, I’d learn what gaps to fill.
I messaged recruiters on LinkedIn, Welcome to the Jungle, and Cord.co twice a day. Over 100 messages in total. A handful of replies. That’s the reality of it.
Looking back, a company taking a chance on a self-taught junior with no CS degree was pretty bold. But I was also pretty good for a junior. I just didn’t know it yet.
In all, it took 14 months from making the decision to finally landing the role.
I was better than I thought. The engineering background wasn’t a weakness either. Electrical engineering is scientific by nature. Methodical, curious, wanting to understand how things actually work. It turned out software just made sense to a brain wired that way. I’d also been doing it as a hobby for over a decade, and I hadn’t given that enough credit.
On the other side, starting over stung more than I anticipated. People’s expectations of you are lower. But honestly, that’s powerful. It’s a shield. You get permission to learn, break things, and get it wrong for the first six to twelve months.
What surprised me most is how fast it got better. Within a year I wasn’t playing catch-up anymore. The skills compound quickly and the background adds context others don’t have.
I was promoted within my first 12 months and became a full engineer.
I’m 29. Software engineer. Took another leap into the startup world.
I love the job and the career. It’s challenging and stressful. Software takes a lot of effort to understand and work in. But it’s worth it if you have a willingness to learn and a curiosity to understand how things work.
Risk can be managed. Don’t wait until you’re ready. Start now.