I'm considering a switch from my current DevOps role to a developer position in a product-based company, but I have some concerns. I've been in the industry for almost 15 years and have never coded professionally until recently when I started learning Go. I'd love some insights on the following:
1) Given my background, do I stand a chance of getting into a product company, even if I might not be qualified for top-tier companies like FAANG?
2) In interviews, if I choose Go as my language but lack understanding of classes and OOP concepts, will that hurt my chances?
3) I know that understanding system design is essential, but without practical experience, I feel out of my depth. If I'm willing to accept a lower-level position, will companies still consider me?
1 Answer
You can definitely make the switch! Many product companies are open to hiring people from DevOps or infrastructure backgrounds, especially if you have a solid grasp of basic coding and problem-solving skills. The key is showing that you can learn and write clean code.
Choosing Go is perfectly fine! Interviewers don’t usually expect textbook OOP from Go since it focuses more on simplicity and readability. You just need to demonstrate your logic and understanding of how to tackle problems in your code.
Don't worry too much about system design at the entry or mid-level—companies just want to see if you can think about scalability and data flow, rather than designing complex systems like Google. If you're willing to start at a slightly junior level, many companies would value your practical experience and willingness to learn.
Thanks for the reassurance! I chose Go because it seemed simpler compared to OOP languages, but I’m worried I’ve made the wrong choice since there aren’t many tutorials on it compared to others. If I’m upfront about my lack of development experience and willing to accept a junior role, do you think I’d still have opportunities?