Even if you don't look like the hackers in the movies.
Even if you don't have a degree.
Even if you've had three careers before.
In 2020, opera singer and new mother Anna McDougall realised she needed a change. She had tried coding as a kid and was excited about a technological future, but couldn’t help but wonder “If I try learning this now, will I be laughed out of the room?”.
Since then, Anna has not only forged her own career in software engineering, but has also helped hundreds of career changers find their way into tech. Now, she distils all her best advice and insight into one book, designed to take you from zero knowledge or experience through to signing a contract for your first tech job.
This is not a motivational quote it is a jam-packed, super-practical guide with step-by-step instructions for learning the skills, standing out from the crowd, and nailing the interview process.
Chapter titles
What Skills, Tools, or Programming Languages Should You Learn?How Can I Learn Programming Given My Life Circumstances?The (Mostly) Unwritten Rules of Coding CommunitiesSocial Media Dos and Don'tsMentoring and Coaching'How Do I Know I'm Ready?' Mental Preparation for the Job SearchCreating an Application Kit (CV, Cover Letter, Portfolio)Understanding the Classic Job Interview Stages for Tech
This book had a lot of interesting information but the title was not very descriptive of the content - I thought it was something more aimed at helping someone outside of the tech world fit in, feel worthy and feel they belong in tech. It was more about the practicalities of finding a job: how to brand yourself, create an application and interview. These are obviously very useful skills but not what I was expecting from the title.