How a Single Mother-of-four Landed Her Dream Job in Tech
Kate Morris shares her story of leaving kitchen design and retraining as a software developer
On the face of it, it was a crazy idea. I was a successful kitchen designer making a good living, designing beautiful kitchens for lovely people. Plus, I could walk the dog at lunchtime.
I had spent 18 years in the domestic construction industry, yet last year I started to experience a realisation I couldn’t ignore: I wanted to return to tech.
In an attempt to cure myself of this whimsy, I went to a Makers open evening. Initially (I have to admit) I was more interested in the poorly-designed kitchen than the beer!
I was confident that this was a waste of time. I was about to go home and regain some perspective when a friendly looking guy with a big beard (Eddie) asked me what my story was.
It was such a warmly genuine question I found myself answering at length. By the time I had finished, I had a drink in my hand.
The presentation was compelling, informative and fun. However, there were some glaring personal issues that I needed to consider.
I would have to find the course fees, lose my income and, crucially, there was no guarantee that I would be able to get a job at the end. It would be hard to come back to my job if this gamble didn’t pay off.
If that was enough disincentive, I am also a single mother of four.
I took the entire train journey home to decide and then completed the online application with my coat still on.
Starting Makers shattered any preconceptions I had.
I’d anticipated that this ‘refresher’ course would be enough to enhance my existing knowledge and rekindle my dormant habits. From there I would comfortably return to business as usual.
My experience turned out to be quite different, and not just for me.
Within days, the expectation that we were going to be taught, was dashed. The expectation replaced by frustration, indignation and disabling panic. Almost daily, new concepts were tossed in our direction like confetti. We grabbed at them trying to collect and retain enough to shore up our confidence.
Improbably complex tasks were set with nebulous goals.
Having ‘fun’ being a requirement and finishing being optional. Nothing about this learning process was comfortable and despite my resistance, my habits were being eroded. As the weeks progressed, and small victories became more frequent, I saw that my method for learning had changed.
I had become brave. I had learned how to teach myself. Equipped with new concepts, optimism, and curiosity, I no longer wanted to simply build something that sang: I wanted it to dance too.
In my head I imagined benign nodding from the coaches (‘this one is ready’, they would mumble to each other).
Getting a job was my top priority, but not just any job.
I now had preferences and opinions.
I spoke to everyone. I wrote and rewrote my C.V., filled in online applications and visited careers fairs; then did it all again.
I completed technical test after technical test, phone interview after phone interview; then did it all again.
Within five days I was talking to seven companies and had four face-to-face interviews under my belt. By the close of week two, I became more discerning and I started to turn down jobs.
By the start of week three, I had not one but two compelling, exciting and viable job offers. They were very different.
I accepted the job that promises to provide the ability to continue to learn, an unlimited career path and a variety of applications and tech stacks.
It has been an incredible journey.
I’m grateful for the comprehensively holistic support from the non-technical staff — from the free food, through yoga and meditation and careers team.
The banquet of skills I am now able to provide to an employer has been enhanced without a doubt: more importantly, the core ingredients are better.
The learning process that Makers use, a process that you are asked to trust from day one, is a discombobulating, but well-designed mental workout.
A bit of background
Before I joined Makers, recruiters would not return my calls. Despite several years in the tech industry and two relevant degrees, it seemed that I was unable to return to the industry.
My online applications were met with delayed generic rejections, if at all. The advice I received from anyone willing give it, was contradictory and unachievable in terms breadth and depth.
I probably could have persevered and self-taught JavaScript, HTML, etc.. yet without Makers’ support, I would most certainly not have got the job offer that I have accepted.
Kate accepted a job with Deloitte
Careers team member Emily Knuckey says, “With Kate, it was super easy to link her up to a company that really wanted to work with her. She’s proactive, positive, and she knew what kind of place she wanted to work for.”
Emily says, “This is a great fit because Deloitte is looking for active lifelong learners who jump in headfirst and take charge of their own career trajectory. They also have a range of options for our Makers — there are various parts of the organisation Makers can work with.”
About learning at Makers
“The learning style here can be challenging to adjust to, but that’s why we use it — we try to recreate what a ‘real’ working environment is like,” says Makers coach Katerina Georgiou.
“In this kind of environment, you have to figure things out on your own — there’s no one to hold your hand. Despite the initial frustration, we see students overcome those hurdles, build their confidence, and improve quickly. Kate was great at thinking on her feet and helping to lift up others when they were similarly frustrated.”
