Tech education that transforms careers.

Life before learning to code

Before learning to code, I was an electrical engineering student, but I decided to quit because it is difficult to find work in the sector. While I decided what I wanted to do, I found a job in the retail industry. It was the worst year and a half of my life. I could not see my full potential in the retail industry, and my manager was very discouraging.

Where coding has taken me

I am officially a Junior Web Developer at a fantastic company! I started as an intern developer, but after just 8 months I received a promotion. I have great colleagues who help me learn and a wonderful manager who checks in with me regularly. I've only gotten good feedback so far.

When I started as an intern, I worked with content management systems like WordPress. Now, I manage the backend and frontend logic of our CMS systems, and I'm learning new languages like Python, PHP, and SQL. I learned most of what I needed at CodeSpace and only had to learn the company's internal systems when I started. It's been four months into the role, and I'm enjoying the challenges that come every day.

Now that I have a new job in tech, I've left home for the first time and live in Joburg. I've had to adapt to my busier environment — I learned to go to town, catch taxis, and even speak Zulu. The tech industry has been so encouraging, and it's been great to see so many female coders I can aspire to be like. In the future, I hope to work remotely for international companies and study further.

How I landed my first job in tech

I joined a Slack community channel called ZA Tech and came across a junior developer role. I reached out to the person who posted it — it was actually the co-founder. I sent an email that afternoon and by the next morning I was invited to an interview. I took a taxi from my home in Rustenburg to Johannesburg for it.

The interview was not tech-related — they just wanted to find out more about me as a person. I was surprised there weren't more technical questions. During the interview it already felt like I had the job, and afterwards I was introduced to the team and offered the role of intern. I joined as a permanent intern so I could take the year to upskill and grow in the company.

My coding learning journey

I was scrolling through Facebook and came across an ad about learning to code at Bafokeng Code Lab, where students in Phokeng do CodeSpace's Software Development course fully sponsored by Royal Impact. I realised tech was an industry where I could grow, improve my earning potential, and even work internationally. I applied, wrote a few tests, and was selected for the program.

My life has changed since learning to code. Before CodeSpace, I was afraid of speaking in front of people, but through explaining my code during coaching sessions I slowly came out of my shell. That skill now helps me contribute in meetings and speak up for myself.

Takeaways

• Learning to code equips you with both hard technical skills and soft skills such as effective communication.
• The tech industry offers great opportunities for continuous growth and upskilling.
• Know your worth and look for careers that offer you growth opportunities.

Life before learning to code

One month into studying at CodeSpace, I found out I was pregnant. My parents didn't approve and would not contribute towards my fees. I felt hopeless and needed a way to keep studying. I was determined to pursue coding because I'd been part of a high-school program called Code4CT, where I first learned to code — and knew I'd found the right career path because I was really good at it.

The CodeSpace team stepped in and offered me a scholarship, which allowed me to continue despite my uncertain financial situation. Because of their support and the passion for tech I've carried since childhood, I felt I could push through.

Where coding has taken me

I work at a very successful fintech company while caring for my four-year-old son. They build online payment systems for merchants around Africa, enabling entrepreneurs and businesses to succeed in digital commerce. I'm two years into my role as an Account Manager and hoping to move into a Key Account Manager position soon. I'm merchant-facing — I manage the relationship between the company, the merchant, and the bank. While I don't code in my job, my coding background lets me give clients a better experience because I understand the technical challenges they face.

I now work in a hybrid model, which makes life flexible. My son attends creche, and I can fetch him and spend time with him during the day. Once a week I head into the office for in-person meetings. I still love coding and am allowed to freelance on the side, so I create websites for people I know. I feel empowered as a young woman thriving in both tech and motherhood, and I'm happy to share my story of growth and resilience to inspire other women.

Path from graduation to here

I started working in the middle of the COVID pandemic when my son was just five months old — it was hectic. I began as an intern but needed to prove myself for a permanent role while everyone was losing jobs, so I knew how much was at stake. There were challenging days full of tears, but remote work let me balance work and parenting. Emma from CodeSpace reached out to me about an internship opportunity at Peach Payments. I applied for an Applications Engineer position but was offered an operations role instead — a curveball that made me question things, until I realised I was chosen because the team recognised I was good at working with people.

After my three-month internship I was promoted to an onboarding role and then to Senior Ops Personnel. Wanting to grow more, I applied within the Accounts Management team and landed a role as a junior Accounts Manager. Since landing a permanent position and receiving promotions, my salary has steadily increased.

Advice for balancing tech and parenting

Drink lots of coffee — just joking. My main advice is to prioritise your mental health. Kids only get crazier as they grow up, and life comes at you hard. Make sure you're looking after yourself first so you have what it takes to look after your family and your work.

My coding learning journey

My time at CodeSpace was fantastic. Everyone was supportive and engaging. I studied around the staff, making it feel more like a workplace than a learning space — they were young at heart and there to learn, which encouraged all of us students to love learning too. Being pregnant didn't stop me from pursuing my dreams; I gave learning my all, and look what I achieved: a beautiful son and a thriving career in tech.

Takeaways

• Stay committed to your goals, even when life throws unexpected challenges your way.
• A strong support system can make all the difference in your learning journey.
• Be open to unexpected roles, as they can lead to growth and long-term success.
• Flexibility and balance are key to thriving in both your personal and professional life.

Life before learning to code

Before learning to code, I studied Geology and Environmental Sciences at UCT. I did my undergrad and postgrad before I realised I couldn't see myself in the career pathways on offer. I went into teaching while I figured out what I wanted to do. While teaching, I came across some online courses, did the basics of HTML and CSS, and learnt more about the tech industry. I loved the problem-solving and logic of coding, and when I found out I didn't need a degree to pursue a tech career, I was sold. That's when I decided to grow my skills with CodeSpace.

Where coding has taken me

I am now a Junior Software Developer. The environment is nurturing and trusts me to learn and grow, and I'm expanding my skills every single day. As a woman in tech, I don't feel like a minority — my team has never made it a factor in how I'm treated. I've met way more women in this space than I expected, though I'm the only woman in my team.

How I landed my first job in tech

When I graduated from CodeSpace, I got a referral for a junior software developer position. I had a quick telephone interview and then was invited to an in-person interview.

During that interview they asked me why I decided to move from science to tech, and I really had to advocate for my decision. It was challenging because it was my first ever formal interview. After that I did a technical assessment, and about a month later I was offered the job.

My coding learning journey

My first exposure to coding was through YouTubers from all sorts of backgrounds who'd successfully entered tech after teaching themselves. I decided to give it a go. I started with a year of self-study — a bootcamp I ran on my own with my own schedule and all the resources I could get my hands on. Then I got a notification about CodeSpace's Software Development program run in partnership with the Bafokeng Code Lab. I applied and got in.

During my time at CodeSpace I attended classes Monday to Friday at the Bafokeng Code Lab. The most challenging part was learning to work with other people, but that teamwork prepared me for what the real-world work environment is like. The program gave me great structure, and my code coach was always there to help.

Takeaways

• Don't be afraid to change directions to find a career that works for you.
• There are many ways to enter tech — look out for different opportunities to study, whether self-study, a bootcamp, or a degree.

Life before learning to code

Life was more of a grind and a fight before I learned to code. I was working as a delivery driver at Midas, with a very low ceiling for growth and zero space for career advancement. The work was demanding and took so much from me. It felt like I was banging my head against a wall.

Where coding has taken me

Since becoming a web developer, my life has changed for the better. I currently work as an Intermediate Frontend Developer in a very small team at a fantastic company, building in-house systems for coaches and companies focused on staff development. I'm the tech lead and often deal with clients directly. Because the team is small, I've done everything from email marketing to social media. My company allows me to freelance, which has given me the opportunity to work with companies in America.

I've been in my current role for almost four years and have had three different job offers while here because of the work I've been doing. The tech industry is so vast that I know I'll never get bored or hit a ceiling — the opportunities are endless.

How I landed my first job in tech

My first job after graduating was an internship I landed through a speed-hiring session, where they chose the best candidates at the end of the day and I was one of them. The company was big, so I had loads of opportunities to learn from different people. I found a mentor who was instrumental in helping me learn, and worked with excellent developers who modeled both passion and skill. Unfortunately, my internship came to an end and I wasn't kept on.

The next phase was tough — it took a while to find a job. I started freelancing for a company through CodeSpace's employer network. After a while they saw my skills and desire to grow and hired me as a permanent employee.

My coding learning journey

I was still trying to find my feet and decide what to do with my life. By chance, I saw a post about CodeSpace that a friend shared on social media and decided to apply. I'm curious by nature, and that curiosity led me to give coding a try — it felt like the ideal space to use both my logic and my curiosity. My time at CodeSpace was great, and what I learned went far beyond just code. It was a holistic experience that taught me the valuable skill of learning how to learn, with no limitations on exploring and satisfying my curiosity.

Takeaways

• Don't get despondent when opportunities don't come at first. You can go months without a job, but don't give up — once one door opens, they keep opening.
• Do practical code projects you can speak about in interviews. Share them on GitHub across different tech stacks; the industry values real-world experience.
• Apply to as many companies as possible. When you land an interview, research the company and show how you can add value.

Life before learning to code

Before learning to code, life was a lot less structured. I started studying Psychology, but it wasn't for me, so I started working in promotions and sales. As an introvert, sales was very draining, and I had to keep going from job to job to keep up with the cost of living. While I didn't love it, sales taught me the soft skill of communication I'd need in my future career. I decided to pursue tech for the financial freedom and security that came with the industry.

Where coding has taken me

My world has opened up since starting my career in tech. Just before I landed my first job, I was almost homeless. But since working in tech I've been able to provide more and help my family — it's a privilege. I've just passed my ISTQB-CTFL exam and am a certified QA analyst, and I've started my BSc in Computing through UNISA.

My experience has been transformative — I've grown in both skill and confidence, and my manager and team have been so willing to help me learn. There are so many ways to join the industry: some people are self-taught, some come from a bootcamp, some from a Computer Science degree. There's a path for everyone, and there are so many opportunities.

Path from graduation to here

When I graduated I initially received lots of rejections, until I got an offer for a QA Intern role. This internship opened my eyes to what QA testing is and showed me its value. Based on that experience, CodeSpace's employment support team secured me an interview for a Junior QA Analyst role. I had an in-person interview about my experience and a technical interview to test my skills — both went really well, and the next day I got the call to say I'd gotten the job.

When I landed my junior role, my salary doubled. As a Junior QA Analyst I had to play every role on a testing team for the product I owned, and my practical and theoretical knowledge grew rapidly. I've had to speak to stakeholders, which as an introvert grew a muscle I didn't know I had. I've now landed a new job as a Test Analyst at a new company, and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

How I landed my first job in tech

In high school I was really great at IT, but I was discouraged from pursuing it at university because I believed it was for "mega-smart" people and felt I'd fail. One day, scrolling through social media, I came across someone's coding journey. It reminded me of my love for IT and inspired me to look at how I could learn to code. I applied for an income share agreement to study Software Development through CodeSpace and got it.

I felt super supported at CodeSpace. I had practical support from the program coordinators and my code coach, financial support from the Chancen ISA — necessary for someone from a difficult economic background like me — and employment support from a career coach. It was the best learning experience since primary school.

Takeaways

• Don't be afraid to pivot in tech. I studied Software Development, but through my internship I decided to pursue QA testing.
• If you'd like to work in QA, connect with other testers and get a mentor — everyone is willing to help.
• If you can, get certified as a QA. Some companies will even pay for your certification.
• You don't need to be "mega-smart" to study something in tech. Tech is for everyone.

Life before learning to code

I had just finished high school and hadn't done really well. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, so I started taking a few online courses by myself, enrolling in an Intro to Programming course. I was really enjoying learning about coding, but I was struggling to learn independently. That led me to CodeSpace, which provided the support I needed to succeed and catapulted me to where I am now.

Where coding has taken me

Now I'm a Software Engineer at an awesome company with offices in Boston, London, and Cape Town, where I'm based. My role is remote, but whenever I'm in one of those cities I head into the office because I love collaborating with colleagues. I worked remotely from Sweden for three months — an incredible opportunity made possible by having a remote job. My salary is great, and there are incentives too, like bonuses and stock options.

A perk of the company is a yearly stipend for any courses. I've used it to study Computer Science remotely at the University of London. Since learning to code I've changed a lot — from an unsure high-school graduate to a thriving software engineer who is fully confident and capable. The tech industry has been so open and sharing; it's very community-focused, and everyone is happy to collaborate.

Path from graduation to here

The story of my first job is an interesting one. While studying at CodeSpace, I was contacted by a recruiter, went in for a technical assessment, passed, and was offered the role on the spot. Funny story: I went into the internship but left after a day — I did not love the company at all. But all was not lost. I got another internship with my brother's help, was an intern for three months, and then landed a permanent position as a Junior Developer for a year and a half, before one more role as an Intermediate Full-stack Developer and then my current job. Although my first job lasted only a day, it empowered me to know exactly what I wanted to achieve and that I had other options.

My coding learning journey

In high school I'd done a little coding, so when I took a gap year I started taking online courses by myself. It was tough, and I struggled to learn alone, but I really enjoyed it. I found CodeSpace, and they provided the support I needed to thrive. While studying there, I continued online courses on Udacity, FreeCodeCamp, and Udemy in my own time, which supplemented my learning. My brother — a UX Designer — was a massive inspiration and we started learning together in the early days. Now, through my company, I'm studying Computer Science at university and enjoying the theoretical side. A degree isn't necessary to become a developer, but the fundamentals can provide a massive leg up.

Takeaways

• University is not the only path to an international career. Alternative institutions like CodeSpace let you access high-growth jobs.
• Being a lifelong learner will massively propel a software engineering career. Public resources like Udacity, FreeCodeCamp, and Udemy alongside an institution like CodeSpace can be an alternative to a CS degree.
• Network with as many people as you can, and start while you're still studying — your network will help you find opportunities.
• Don't be afraid to walk away from a job that isn't right for you. Jasper spent only one day at his first job.
• Take an internship as a door to where you want to get.