From Cement and Constructions to Zeros and Ones
It’s never too late for a career switch.
Introduction
I did something that most people would think is impossible; I switched my career!
In 2013, I graduated from high school with the second-highest score in the country’s Tawjihi examinations. Full of energy and ambition, it was time for me to decide on a university major. I was interested in everything related to computers, cutting-edge technologies, and innovation!
However, as is the case in many Middle Eastern households, my family was keen on me studying civil engineering — a program that admitted only top-scoring high school graduates. Although it wasn’t my number-one passion, that’s what I went with!
The first two years were very enjoyable since I was studying my favorite subjects, like math and science. But in the following years, as we delved deeper into more advanced civil engineering topics, I gradually lost interest. I consoled myself by thinking I could switch careers upon graduation. I kept pushing and, eventually, graduated as an engineer. My parents were thrilled! Me? I was happy yet skeptical!
In 2018, I kickstarted my career as a civil engineer at the Ministry of Public Works and Housing. I participated in exciting projects, but I wasn’t enjoying the overall work experience, which just confirmed my earlier doubts.
Sometime later, I moved to Dubai to work on the Expo 2020 project, hoping to find my passion there. I worked long hours and perfected my roles and duties; nevertheless, I still felt something was amiss.
The Deciding Moment
The biggest question on my mind was: Should I work for a different employer but stay in my comfort zone (civil engineering), or should I embark on a different path?
The time seemed right for a career switch. This decision stemmed from my curiosity to find my passion, my ability to dream big, and the courage to do whatever it took to make my dream a reality.
I knew that programming compiles everything I love: Math, science, problem-solving, and building new things using creativity and teamwork.
I consulted with my cousin, who, unlike me, had gone ahead and studied computer science. He encouraged me and gave me valuable advice. He also introduced me to a more experienced programmer who ended up being my mentor. To be honest, I was feeling lost, but he developed a detailed plan for me to study many online courses within a specific timeframe. He advised me to start with Python first to grasp the basics of programming and then move on to more advanced topics, such as web development and modern JavaScript frameworks.
It was refreshing to rediscover my appetite for learning. The satisfaction and joy I found in coding was something very novel to me. I felt like I found my ‘perfect’ career path.
“The sooner you do it, the easier it is.”
I quit my job and went back to Jordan to immerse myself in this new self-learning journey.
The Learning Journey
My new goal was to land a job as a software developer. But to get there, I needed to prove that I could complete my plan. Relentlessly and without fail, I spent 12 hours a day working on it. Not because I had to, but because every module felt great to complete, and I was genuinely enjoying what I was learning. I took many Python, Flask, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, React, and Redex courses. Ultimately, I finished the plan in half the timeframe. I learned so much in three months, but I knew there was still a long way ahead.
I conducted several projects to grow my GitHub portfolio and, many courses and books later, I became confident in writing code. I finally felt ready for my first interview.
After several job applications, I got a call from Edraak (the first non-profit Arabic MOOC platform), scheduling an interview with the Head of Engineering and Research. It was my first interview as a software developer, and I was incredibly nervous throughout. He asked many questions, each harder than the previous. During the interview, I started doubting this new path: Was I ready for this step? Have I been wasting my time all along, attempting a career shift?
My interviewer was straightforward. He told me I needed to improve and offered me a learning project for two months, followed by another interview. On my way home, I received a pleasant call from the company informing me that my interviewer had seen potential in me and invited me to complete a three-month internship that would accelerate my learning by being in an immersive feedback environment.
On my first day, I asked the department head why he offered me the internship instead of the project. He said that Edraak’s core mission is to enable the Arab society to fulfill its potential — a belief practiced internally as well.
From the start of the internship, it was clear there was nothing in common between the construction and tech industries. I could barely understand what was going on; I was faced with a completely different environment and work processes.
Within a short period — and through great teamwork and support from my colleagues (shoutout to Salah, Fahmi, and Qutaiba from Edraak Engineering) — I was set on a clear path, with two projects to accomplish.
The first one was a greenfield project (building a website or app from scratch). I created a website compiling Edraak’s new UI design system, similar to Bootstrap, using React, Javascript, and CSS. My main objective was to build it using best practices and clean code and ensure its high performance. When I was done, I felt thrilled with what I had learned and accomplished!
My second project was a brownfield (improving upon an existing application). I developed an automation solution for business development reports using Python, Django, MySQL, and Celery. The challenge here was to finish it within two weeks. I did it in 10 days.
On October 18th, I received an official job offer from Edraak. This moment proved to me that all the time, effort, and emotions I had invested for months had not been in vain!
I am now a proud member of the core development team at Edraak. I’m gaining new experiences with every project and expanding my knowledge across multiple languages and technologies — including Python, Django, JavaScript, React.js, CSS, MySQL, and Git.
It’s been a fulfilling journey in many ways. Despite the uncertainties, risks, and fears, it led me to my true passion: software engineering.
What’s next? As I tackle bigger challenges, I worry less about the code and more about the problem we’re meant to solve, such as offering better educational opportunities to learners in need. I believe a software engineer is a problem solver and, as they advance, they impact not only the codes but also the world around them.
The bottom line is don’t be afraid of change, no matter your age. You will always have options. But the sooner you do it, the easier it will be.
