Hey everyone! I'm a 30-year-old electrician currently working as a maintenance supervisor at a mine in East Africa. My job requires me to be on-site for two months straight, followed by four weeks off. I'm really considering making the switch to software engineering because I'd like to be closer to my family, ideally working remotely, and I see potential for better long-term earnings. I don't have a formal degree, but I've done some FreeCodeCamp courses and I'm halfway through The Odin Project. I'm thinking a coding bootcamp could help keep me accountable and structured, but I'm curious about the real challenge of landing a developer role without a degree, especially since I come from a trade background. Is a bootcamp worth it? Any insights from people who've made similar leaps would be super helpful!
5 Answers
As someone who transitioned from mechatronics to data engineering, I'd recommend studying something that ties back to your current skills like mechatronics or electrical engineering. Bootcamps might not be enough these days, and working with physical products can be rewarding. Data engineering offers remote work and flexibility, but if you’re passionate about your roots, stick with what you love.
Degrees don’t always matter in tech, but bootcamps can provide that structure you’re looking for. Just keep in mind that the junior developer market is pretty saturated right now, so patience is key. If you're passionate about it, I say go for it!
You could actually start applying for jobs now to see how it goes, as many companies don't require a degree. The market is competitive, but with AI changing things, there's room for growth. With your background, maybe something like working on electric vehicles could be a nice niche since they often have software-related issues.
Honestly, right now the job market is tough with a lot of layoffs and most junior roles asking for years of experience. It's pretty saturated out there, so I'd be cautious about jumping in without a degree. It might get better later, but it's hard to say when. I'd look into alternative paths that align more with your electrical experience instead of trying to break into coding straight away.
I think since you started as an electrician, maybe consider a path in electrical engineering or PLC development instead of software engineering. FreeCodeCamp and The Odin Project are great for basics, but you might need 2-3 years of serious experience to really get going as a junior developer. It can take time to get accustomed to coding if you're starting from scratch.
That makes sense! I really appreciate the insight. I'm just trying to get my foot in the door somehow!