Jane, what is Code Institute and what do you do there?

Code Institute is Europe’s leading online coding bootcamp. Essentially, we are tackling head-on the global technical skills gap. We are trying to make the tech industry more accessible for all.

My role is purely focused on careers. For those looking to accelerate their entry to the tech industry – from many different professional, personal and educational backgrounds – our programme is an attractive starting point. It’s one thing to learn to code, it’s another thing entirely to understand how to navigate the world of recruitment. That’s where I come in. My team and I support our coders in landing their new jobs in software development.

Why are coding and software development such hot topics on the jobs front right now?

The World Economic Forum forecasts that at least 133 million new roles will be generated in the software development space globally by 2022. These staggering numbers are difficult to comprehend! Figures also revealed that about 37% of workers in Europe don’t even have the basic digital skills, never mind more advanced abilities. To put this as plainly as I can, the distance between supply and demand of skills in this sector is stark. For those looking for a highly in-demand, rapidly developing industry to join – think about these figures.

What is coding or software development?

Software Development is the language of computer programming. It’s both creative and highly logical – and there are many different languages depending on what you’re looking to build, hence there is a lot to learn. There are complex programming systems involved here, and it’s a skill that many of us perhaps missed out on at earlier stages of our education or working life if we hadn’t been exposed to computer science. The good news is that education is evolving too, into a more flexible lifelong experience so there’s time for anyone to start understanding this better.

From what you’re seeing with employers now are the opportunities in this sector slowing or growing?

This sector is growing exponentially. Recent increased reliance on technical supports have, of course, brought this into an open arena. However, the demands for software developers is not something that has only come about in recent months – it’s been increasing year on year.

How can you tell whether you’re cut out for a career in coding?

Firstly, I’d encourage people to open your mind to this if you haven’t before. It’s creative, fascinating, challenging and logical all in one. You don’t need to have been a genius at maths to be good at this. You could really surprise yourself here – check out our five day coding challenge to see how you fare. You’ll need an aptitude of course, but if you have this, acquiring coding skills is largely down to the reliable age-old method of commitment and hard work.

How long is the course and is it all online?

Our diploma is 600 hours, it’s 100% online with enormous personalised support. You can start at any point in the year also, which really speeds things up for people.

What about the fun social aspects and academic support that make the college experience so rich?

We have a highly engaged and active community on SLACK, which is composed of thousands of people, in multiple locations, all committed to acquiring these coding skills. The camaraderie is incredible. The grind of studying and working is aided by meeting others making the same sacrifices. The humour (and kindness) between the coders on these online channels is unique! Outside of this, there’s 24/7 support, industry mentor engagement and of course our careers support. Plus, being online means that you benefit from our analytic monitoring system that can identify when you’re struggling and come to your aid. There are also regular community events and hackathons, webinars and more. I loved college – but looking back, I’d have had an entirely different experience if this level of support had been available. Plus, not being restricted to college calendars is a total game changer when we are looking at skills acquisition. I see this as a leveller – people of all ages, stages and walks of life can access these types of learning platforms.

Many people with backgrounds in sales, retail, hospitality and aviation are now looking for new opportunities, how will skills in software development help them?

Given the integration of technical requirements within every industry – it’s not really correct anymore to call out tech as being “separate” to other industries. There are touchpoints almost everywhere. If you’re coming from a different industry such as those mentioned, you’ll be bringing excellent client service, communication, delivery and team work skills which won’t be overlooked by a new employer. Finding people that can code and also easily navigate through business conversation is a fast growing part of this industry, plus applying industry knowledge to a software environment is hugely useful to certain businesses.

Any tips for integrating your past experience with your new coding skills when applying for a new role?

Lots! Like everything, the secret is in the preparation. Nobody is suggesting this will happen overnight, it does take planning. Start defining what you know now, check out software companies that sell into your industry. They will recognise your skills sooner than others. Remember, you’re not starting from scratch, you’re adding these coding skills to your experiences. You might want to take a stepping stone role to get your CV a bit more defined in tech in advance of a full coding role. Remember, there are huge options when it comes to this industry.

Can you share some examples of people who have reskilled with the Diploma in Software Development and the roles they’ve gone into?

Yes! We have worked with individuals from so many backgrounds – musicians, hospitality professionals, retail workers, artists, the list is long. I’ve watched a childcare professional relaunch into a tech consultant position with a major global tech business. Her career has gone from strength to strength in the last twelve months. This week, a stay at home mum that took the steps to go back into industry just landed her first tech role – an exciting, life changing situation for her. A wonderful navy sailor that trained with us has just landed his second job within twelve months and has just packed his bags to live in Amsterdam. This week I caught up with a hard working office manager that had secured herself a development role with one of the world’s largest tech companies when she was just mid way through the course. They worked hard, and have responsive companies that are hiring.

Finally, what are your top five tips for those faced with career uncertainty?

1. Firstly, if your industry is in trouble right now – you can’t take this personally. You haven’t failed. You will gain confidence from regaining some control here.

2. Speak to someone you trust and ask them what they see your skills as being. You’d be surprised what you hadn’t realised about yourself.

3. Before committing to a new industry do your homework. Chat to people, read up on this, try out online tests to see how you respond. Get acquainted with where you might be headed.

4. Don’t delay too long. Acquiring new skills can get you into a whole new network, frame of mind and trajectory in a way that can reboot your outlook.

5. Plan this maturely. Map out realistic timelines, actions and use the supports that are available to you. This also will help you break this down into smaller steps. Remember, how do you eat an elephant?…One bite at a time.

Visit Code Institute to see how you can become a software developer. For a free and fun introduction to coding try the five day coding challenge.