I was a teacher for 6 years before making the switch to tech. The decision came after realizing I wanted more growth opportunities and better work-life balance.

Started with Java basics on Codecademy while still teaching full-time. Spent evenings and weekends coding for two years before feeling ready to job hunt.

The hardest part was explaining my career change in interviews. I learned to frame my teaching experience as relevant - I understand how to break down complex problems, communicate clearly, and help others learn.

Rejection was frequent at first. I was applying to senior roles when I should have focused on junior positions. Once I adjusted my expectations and highlighted my transferable skills, opportunities opened up.

On the interview

Long process with multiple rejections. Typical flow: phone screen, take-home coding test, 3-4 technical interviews, then final culture/team fit interview.