Ok Ana, first of all we have to know… how did you go from Librarian to Junior Software Engineer?!

I’m originally from Brazil – I got my Librarian degree there and then after university got a job working in a Library in a small town.

Not long after, I moved to England where I wanted a change, a new challenge. So after some time working as a Line Chef, Warehouse Operative, and then taking some time out of work to take care of my young family, I decided I wanted a new challenge that offered me more flexibility and that would make more sense for me and my family (work-life balance, right?).

So, I started to study Front-End Development on Udemy and using free resources on the internet, and then joined a Front-End Development program from EdX that before landing my first job in tech in July 2023 as a Junior Software Engineer.

Amazing transition! So now you’re in the world of tech, what’s your favourite thing about your day to day?

There are actually two things for me:

1)    Completing a ticket — there is something amazing in seeing that ClickUp ticket changing colour to yellow, which in my case means that it is ready to be tested. That means that I’ve found the solution to the problem or issue that I had to solve or fix.

2) The team — having the chance to learn from someone who is years ahead of you and still takes the time to teach you, and share their experience I find really nice in the development world.

And what about challenges – can you share something you’ve struggled with and what your advice would be to someone else facing this?

I think it is really hard to not have impostor syndrome in this area. There are a lot of new concepts to learn. Before starting to study some of them, I had never even heard of them. So definitely I would say that there are a few obstacles to getting to the tech industry. Finding the first role itself is the first of them.

I would say keep a positive mindset, and network, network, network. One of the pieces of advice that I heard most from experienced developers was that meetups are really important in a tech career. They are a good way to make professional connections, know about new opportunities, share interests, and learn new things.

And importantly, remember to give yourself time, you got this!

Love all of those! You mentioned networking, so it feels like a good segue to ask you about your role as a co-organiser with WITB! So tell us… what’s your favourite thing about being part of the team?

It is incredible to be able to be part of a group that empowers women, gives them a safe space to bring their concerns, and celebrates their successes. I enjoy observing and learning from the organisers who have been making this happen for a long time, the chance to meet other women, and contribute to the tech community. I also love the fact that I have the chance to hear so many different experiences and some great advice.

I have had a lot of help since the beginning of my Tech journey, and I like to believe that I am giving something back to the community.

Well we love that you’re on board! Ok final question… What would be your top tips for someone else looking to start a career in tech?

Easier said than done, but be kind to yourself, and don't self-sabotage.

Let me explain…

The tech industry is an evolving organism, so understand and accept that everything you know will always be just a small part of it. So, don't go crazy trying to learn everything but make a choice and be good at what you're doing (good being a relative concept).

It's okay not to be the best; it’s okay to feel overwhelmed by the amount of new information out there, but you can do it. So just keep going, don’t limit yourself, keep learning, keep coding; it is going to happen.

I know this is a cliché, but you only fail when you give up. Until then, you're just trying.

There will be days that you will probably need people around you that understand exactly how hard it is or how good it is or, hey, I made it through. So I’ll say it one more time… network, network, network!