From the classroom to code - Why it is never too late to be curious

Meet Lauren: A Pathways to STEM Success Story

 Tell us a little about your career journey before joining Pathways to STEM. 

My career has taken a few different directions over the years. I originally worked as a primary school teacher, which I absolutely loved. However, after having my second child, I was ready for a change and really wanted something of my own. With barely any knowledge or experience, I set up my own photography business.

It gave me the flexibility to work around my family while still doing something I really enjoyed.

What made you start thinking about a career in technology, and what interested you about it?

What particularly appealed to me was the problem-solving side of it. I love being given a problem, working out why something isn't working and finding a way to fix it. Technology is also constantly evolving, so there is always something new to learn. No two days are the same, and I really like that.

I was also aware that technology is still quite a male-dominated industry. Rather than putting me off, that made me want to challenge myself even more and prove that I could find my place in it too.

How did you come across the Pathways to STEM opportunity, and what made you decide to go for it?

I first heard about the 'GFiE Pathways to STEM - Code First Girls' opportunity on social media the year before I eventually applied, and it sounded really exciting. I remember looking into it and thinking it sounded amazing, but I would never be lucky enough to get a place as I had no background in tech at all.

Twelve months later, I saw the opportunity on social media. This time I applied. I still didn't believe I would get very far, but I thought I had nothing to lose by trying. The opportunity excited me, and I wanted a real career that would challenge me.

One of the things that made the opportunity feel much more accessible was the way the recruitment worked. It was specifically an opportunity for people like me who were looking for a route into tech from a completely different background. Knowing I was being assessed alongside other people at a similar starting point made it feel like I genuinely had a chance. It wasn't about what technical knowledge I already had, but my potential and willingness to learn.

Before you applied, did you ever question whether a career in STEM was really an option for you? If so, what helped you take that step? 

Absolutely. I questioned it a lot. Before this opportunity, I had absolutely no technical background or knowledge. I genuinely started from scratch. I think there is a perception that you need to have been interested in coding from a young age, studied computer science or already know a lot about technology to move into the industry. I hadn't done any of those things, so I assumed I couldn't make the leap. I was also in my 40s and had children/family commitments, so it was very easy to think that perhaps I'd missed my opportunity.

Having a supported route into the industry made a huge difference. The opportunity was designed for people without a traditional technology background, so it gave me a way to learn and develop while moving into a completely new career.

That has probably been one of the biggest lessons for me: don't decide that you're not capable of something before you've given yourself the opportunity to try.

What has the experience been like since starting your new role in February? 

It's been a huge learning curve, but that's also one of the things I've enjoyed most about it. Since starting in February, one of the biggest things I’ve realised is that working in technology isn’t about knowing everything. I've also had a lot of support along the way. I've been able to ask questions, learn from the people around me and gradually take on more as my knowledge and confidence have grown. I've been given the opportunity to learn by actually doing the job, while having people around me I can turn to when I need help. I was allocated a Buddy when I started who I work with a lot, if I'm ever unsure of anything I know I can initially reach out to my Buddy who has been an amazing source of support.

I can be working on completely different problems from one day to the next, and I'm constantly learning new tools and skills.  There's a real sense of satisfaction when I've been working on something I didn't understand initially, and eventually got it working. I can’t believe the things that bring me joy now at times... solving a pipeline error that I haven’t seen before or getting a successful test run of some code I’ve been working on makes me so happy, especially when I take a step back and remember that 12 months ago, I knew nothing about any of this.

What has starting this new career meant to you personally, particularly after taking a different career direction? 

Changing careers is daunting anyway, but doing it at my age, with children and absolutely no previous experience made it feel like a big leap. It's given me a new career that I’m really proud of, that I can continue to develop in for years to come and has shown me that I'm capable of learning things that, not that long ago, would have felt completely out of reach.

More than anything, it's shown me that it's never too late to change direction and try something new.

What would you say to someone who is curious about a career in STEM but doesn't have a traditional technology background? 

I'd tell them to go for it! If the interest is there, that’s really all you need to start. You don't need to already know everything, or even anything. You just need to have the desire and drive to learn, ask questions, solve problems and keep going when something doesn't make sense straight away.

I'd also say to look for opportunities and programmes that are specifically designed to support people moving into STEM from different backgrounds. Having a route where you're not expected to compete on experience you haven't had the opportunity to gain yet can make a huge difference.