As far as introductory posts go, this one feels as though it may be a double-edged sword. Still, it’s something that I feel get’s pushed to the side a lot when you see people promoting “Transfer to Tech in 6 months” on social media.
There’s no denying that Technology is the field to be in right now. Everything is powered by the internet at this junction in humanity’s existence, with no signs of slowing down. It makes sense that with so much of our lives being centered around tech, that the industry would expand and thus, require more manpower. Which leads back to the recruiting on social media. Some bold claims I’ve seen in my journey have included:
“Transition to Tech in Six Months”
“What did you accomplish during Covid? Switch to a career in tech in just one month.”
“With just this Twitter thread, you can start a career in UI/Backend/Frontend/AI.”
And for some, this may be a realistic path that actually bears fruit for them. I’m happy for those that are able to manage their time and retain the information quickly enough to land themselves a job in such a short time. However, these statements cannot be painted as broadly as they have been and achieve results. The human brain just doesn’t work that way, and our hyperbolic promotions often leave those taking a longer route feeling inferior. I cannot speak for everyone, or every mom, but I can speak for myself in this regard.
A little background:
In 2019, my youngest was born early and spent a month in the NICU. He was then released too early, and stopped breathing in the middle of the night which then placed him back in the hospital. Due to not having paid maternity leave at my current job, I worked remotely (post c-section) from the NICU so that I did not use up my unpaid FMLA before I actually got to hold him. While going through this experience, I realized that where I was in life was not where I wanted to be. I began utilizing resources such as FreeCodeCamp and ProjectOdin to teach myself Frontend Development. My dad had been a programmer growing up, so technology was something I was comfortable with, but in my mind it was not “artsy” enough for me.
At the beginning of Covid, I resigned from my job as I had run out of FMLA between my youngest’s appointments and my own surgeries. I spent three months creating a schedule where I worked my way through The App Brewery’s Udemy courses. Frontend was fun, creative, and I was surprisingly good at it. Granted, there were multiple moments Javascript made me feel like my “mombrain” had ruined me, but I kept persisting. I read posts, watched videos, and followed others who rapidly switched to a career in tech. After roughly 50 applications to entry-level positions, the primary feedback I received was that they felt being self-taught would be a hinderance and suggested I returned to school. I had just started a new, full-time position but I enrolled in school. During this time, I was also being urged by my medical care team to return to Disability until they figured out what was wrong with me.
I am an overachiever. I am overly ambitious, and when I am passionate about something I tend to obsess over it. Much like my son, the fascination with something for me comes from learning how it works. With technology, there is always something new to learn.
A year later, and I graduate next semester. As I prepare myself to send out applications once more, I’m finding that my peers are stating the requirements for getting hired have changed. Now, things such as your social media following (something I’ve distanced myself from for mental health reasons) and the content you create, is being factored into jobs. Employers want to see that you take initiative, which is understandable, yet basing part of your interview on your social media presence seems a mere step away from a popularity contest.
Now factor in switching careers, working full time, creating content, building a social media presence and being a mother. Even with help, there is very little time left for anything resembling self-care or a work/home life balance. I am lucky that I have a great support system; I cannot imagine the difficulties single mothers/parents experience while attempting to break into tech. There have been weeks-months, even- where I have felt like I am drowning. Or that I’m not retaining information. That I’m too old. I’ve spoken with peers who advise me that maybe I “just don’t want it enough” or that I’m only focusing on the negatives.
That’s life, though. Positive and negatives. Balance. A lot of social media posts using blanket statements that promise a life-changing experience in such a short time,, also promote forgoing any balance in your life to do so. Some people can do this without burning out. Most people, mothers included, cannot. There’s a saying “You cannot pour from an empty cup.” but at the end of the day, most parents’ cups are already empty. We are digging into an empty bag of holding and hoping we can pull out something like a party trick to keep going.
Then, when we have used up what energy left we reserved for ourselves, the goal post is moved. It is not enough to be good at what you do, but now thousands of strangers must also deem you worthy in order to get your foot in the door. This then causes people to produce content that is incorrect, redundant, and sometimes even plagiarized.
I am a software engineer, and I love what I do, but I am always a mother first. We need to prioritize following your dreams but not burning yourself out before you actually achieve them.