At CYF, many people helped Andriana on her path into tech
During her maternity leave, Andriana began exploring coding through online courses.
“I wanted to find a career that gave me the opportunity to work hybrid as well as maintain a healthy work-life balance with my new family,” she recalls.
First steps to a need for guidance
“I started learning HTML and CSS through Udemy, which I thoroughly enjoyed and started building a purely frontend webpage,” she says. Realising that she wanted more structured guidance and support, she decided to seek advice, and that’s when her brother, a CodeYourFuture (CYF) volunteer, told her about the programme.
Like many CYF applicants, Andriana initially faced practical barriers. “I was not in a position, financially, to travel into a London location every Saturday,” she shares. However, learning that travel expenses could be reimbursed by CYF removed this obstacle, allowing her to pursue her goals.
Balancing family and learning
“It was challenging balancing looking after a child and making sure I had time to learn and understand a new concept, practice what I have learnt along with completing the weekly tasks that were set,” Andriana recalls.
Her typical week involved Saturday classes followed by independent work. “I spent roughly 7 hours a day on Saturday, learning new tools and knowledge about coding at a location in London with CYF. We would then be assigned tasks to complete, either individually or as a group, which took the rest of the week, depending on my pace and availability.”
Finding strength in community
Andriana discovered the power of collaborative learning at CYF. “I learnt that having a solid study group in place helps relieve that pressure since everyone has different skill sets to bring to the group to help,” she says.
“I had a lot of support from my employability mentor, as well as my technical mentor, who were there to help me through issues I was encountering, be it a technical blocker or one related to job searches. It all helped keep me grounded and not burn out when things got a bit much.”
Achievement and continued growth
Andriana’s hard work paid off when she secured a position at Capgemini. “It made all the hard work and time I put into this newfound skill worthwhile,” she shares.
“When I started, I did not know what to expect, but I have learnt to expect the unexpected, work with what I have as best as I can and pivot when the need arises.”
For those considering CYF, Andriana offers encouraging words: “Things may seem overwhelming as you go along, but know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. There will be a wealth of people who will be there to help you and guide you towards the path you want to take.”
Andriana emphasises the value of embracing all learning opportunities. “Everything is a learning experience; you may not need it right in that moment, but there will be a time when you need it so try anything that is presented to you.”
Don’t wait to get started
Are you ready to begin your journey into the tech world? Getting started is simple, and you don’t need any prior tech experience. Just check if you meet the eligibility criteria, and if you do, we can help you transition into a rewarding career that offers excellent work-life balance.
Andriana with CodeYourFuture volunteers and trainees – a community!