Skinny: Current PM (Project) non-tech role with 5+ yrs exp as BA/ Entrepreneur. MBA-Finance non ivy. Thoughts: Currently contemplating Bootcamp options (tradecraft/hack rector/codesmith) SF/LA. Why?: Time for growth before I become stuck. Nearing 30. Infant child and wife. Salary. Goal: Develop marketable SWE or Growth Marketing hard skills. (I’m aware SWE is not easy but I will give it my all as with GM and will continue beyond more than 12 wks to learn everything) Realistic: To expect 120k+ (TC) as SWE/ GM if obtained during/after said camp with my background/exp? Or am I drinking the kool-aid? Just feel like my tech career opportunities ship is sailing and I’m about to miss the boat. Honest thoughts/comments appreciated.
Developing marketable SWE skills takes at least a year (ignore what these boot camp guys make you believe). The outlier examples you read on Blind are people who have been programming since teenage. If I were you, I'd try to get a 'business side' job - like Sales Operations, Biz Ops, project manager, program manager, strategy associate, analyst relations, product marketing, corporate finance, planning, etc. I'd find what I'm missing in these interviews and learn that instead of trying to start programming right now.
Thanks for feedback
MBA non ivy? Half of the top 10 MBAs are non ivy, feels like you dont know what youre talking about. You have zero background on SWE and you're already 30 yo with decent business experience. Close to zero chance to crack into SWE, you have a chance as PM or marketing role in tech if your startup was tech related.
Fair points, thanks for feedback- maybe I don’t? As I understand it- reason for mentioning non ivy mba was to point out- in tech mbas aren’t as valued by swe but traditionally ivy mbas have had access/opportunity into non tech roles. My connections will be limited in SF/LA so I will have to hustle even harder. My startup wasn’t tech related but I have prior marketing experience operating e-com stores, building fb ads, acquiring users and operating campaigns. As for PM role, I’m thinking I can leverage my prior biz/pm/fin experience into this role after developing intermediate level of these skills: SQL, R, Python? Expert-level would cross over into Data Scientist? Age is a factor as previously stated I’m afraid of career stagnation. If incorrect, please redirect me.
I'm 30 as well. At this point you can still pivot, but within reason. You're too old to become a SWE or a Doctor but still in time to change to any other business field. You just need for get your story straight of why you're moving roles.
It's a lot more complicated than learning how to do whiteboard problems. It takes time and experience to get good. You'd definitely benefit more from doing a PM role and bullshitting your way through
Thanks for the feedback- PM roles align more with current skill set so I guess after breaking in I can continue self-studying swe to increase opps & TC