[tsuujin]

I started my career working in paint stores and worked my way up to home renovations before I finally got into tech, and today I am an engineering manager for a large enterprise company focused on health care.

Lean into the skills you learn outside of tech. I constantly find that I have unique perspectives on problems and outcomes, which I attribute to a decade working outside of development.

Also, don’t downplay what you’re doing now. When you’re interviewing be honest and transparent. Let them know that you find value in what you’re doing now and that it has let you grow as a person. You know how to dig in and work through difficult and unpleasant realities, you are not afraid to get your hands dirty.

Sometimes it feels like people expect that if you don’t come right out of high school into tech you will never make it, but it isn’t as difficult as you may think. Find a smaller local consultancy and apply as a jr dev, someone will give you a chance.