How I Made It as a Tech Lead Without A CS Degree (A Lesson For People Who Feel Like They Don't Be)
Table of contents
Introduction
Have you ever wondered if you can make it to a tech lead or a manager or a Senior Developer without a CS Degree? Well I'll tell you that you can, I did. When I started out, I had zero experience working with technology or software. At first, it was difficult to find lots of job opportunities but now that I have some experience under my belt, I am finally in a leadership role. Now, I'm not saying this is an easy process there were definitely moments where I thought that it would never happen. But by working hard and putting your passions into it, you will make it happen.
This article are the lessons condensed in few words and what i had learned from my own story. My intention is to echo this to anyone who needs to find some motivation or someone who feels lost or even someone who is an absolute beginner.
Something about me
Once upon a time I had a business idea but to execute that idea we wanted to create a website to showcase what we were already doing with our business in real life. That is when i stumbled to the magic of HTML and CSS. That is when i knew we can build cool stuff online!
But I went down the learning hole! I'd keep learning and coding until bedtime rolled around. After few months, we decided shut down our small business because we had no revenue and a lot of expenses. But i had never stopped learning. After being rejected for like 12 times, I got the job and never looked back. Climbed the corporate ladder as the years passed and fast forwarding to present, I got promoted to Technical Software Lead last year. I never imagined to be a Software Developer, let alone managing and guiding a team.
Learning to learn and be agile
It's okay if you don't know everything right away. It's normal to feel overwhelmed at first — especially if you're new to programming or learning something difficult like JavaScript or Python. But it's important not to compare yourself with other programmers who seem like they've got it all figured out. Everyone struggles at some point in their career; even experienced developers sometimes have trouble figuring out how.
The key is to recognize the problem when it comes up, be self-aware enough to know that you don't know how to solve it yet, and then move on. You can always come back later if you need to. The best way I've found for learning is by doing — just start coding!
Pro tip: Create a second brain, and put all your learnings in one system. Our brains are not made for storing stuff, they are for solving problems and be creative. And Remember, Learning is a habit, not a skill.
Get out there and be patient
Learn from your mistakes and move on quickly by making sure you don't repeat them again! Don't be afraid to ask for help — If you need any help, don't be afraid to reach out. There are plenty of ways for you to get the assistance you need! Sometimes we just need to take a step back and fall back to the basics whenever needed. The good news is that there are plenty of people like me who are making it work without an advanced degree in computer science. The bad news? It takes time, effort and patience — just like any other career path. Be patient and consistent!
Get your hands dirty, try it out and fail
There are many different ways to learn how to code, but the most important thing is that you find something that works for you. Don’t worry about what other people are doing — just focus on developing your skills! And the best way to learn is by doing — so start with simple projects and gradually work your way up as you gain experience. As you work through more difficult problems, you’ll be able to identify patterns that will help you solve similar problems in the future.
Become a problem solving machine
If i could say if there was one thing that enabled me to climb the ladder and reach to a level where i imagined to be, it was "the ability to solve the problems in general". The ability to solve problems in general is one of the most important things that you can learn. It will help with everything from your personal life, to your career.
I follow a simple problem framework called "The 5 Whys". The 5 Whys is a simple but effective problem-solving tool that can be used in any situation. It works by asking five questions:
What happened?
Why did it happen?
Why was that important?
Why did it have to be that way?
Why was it a problem?
Just write it down somewhere as comments in your code and you'll unfold the paths you can take and how to smash the problem.
Become a part of learn communities and try cohorts
One of the best ways to learn anything is by teaching it. You’ll find that there are always people who are interested in learning from you, and this will help keep you motivated and inspired. Finally, we want to talk about how important it is for you to share your knowledge with others. If you learn something new, make sure that you write it down so that others can benefit from your experience too!
Cohorts based learning is the new trend in the market. Its basically how we used to learn in classes in our universities or schools but its time bound yet self-paced. It enabled us to master the material together and be a part of a learning community.
Get your personal life in order
Get some exercise or physical activity at least 3 times a week. Try meditation for clarity of thoughts. Even go one step further and try journalling to express yourself and get your thoughts out on paper because why not?! Get in touch with what you want to do next—and then set goals for yourself that will help you achieve it!
Embrace the journey, not the goal
It is easy to get caught up in the idea that success is dependent on reaching a certain goal, but this will only set you up for disappointment. Try focusing on what you can control—taking action and working toward your goals—instead of worrying about how long it takes or whether or not they happen exactly as planned. Network, make friends, contribute and most importantly have fun and be kind to yourself, while doing it. Its easy to think about all the negatives, but just remember how far you've come.
Conclusion
If you are still reading this, I want you to go away with a simple yet powerful thing i learned from my own journey: "Its a journey alright but you dont have to be the best, you dont have to be the fastest. Find a balance that works for you and embrace it". This post is part of my own journey and i hope you enjoyed it. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below.
Also, this is my first published articles and I have so much planned content in the pipeline. If you would like to see more articles, please give a follow and I will send them directly to your email. Also, it helps me a lot if you share this article with anyone this could help. Thank you!