No Experience, No Degree: How to Start an IT Career in Your 30s
- Farera Helery
- Oct 2
- 4 min read
This is the story of Nikita, one of the job seekers I've had the chance to help. His journey is an inspiring example of how someone can overcome doubts and achieve their goals with the right guidance and support along the way. The story is told in the first person and takes us back to 2024 when farerahelery.com was just an idea and needed its first testers.
The Background Story – Doubts and Setbacks
I used to tell myself, “I am not good enough”, and even today, I still have my doubts. However, there is a big difference between who I was before and who I am now.
For years, I believed that staying in a stable job, even if it didn’t align with my passions, was what being responsible meant.
As men, we’re often told to “be strong” or “man up” and instead of doing something you like, you’re just expected to do things. Due to my insecurity, I wasn’t able to make a connection that a job should also meet my needs. I thought that the way I had lived my life hadn’t created the best conditions to find a job I truly wanted, and it was too late for me to make a change.
My failed attempt to pursue a university degree and low self-esteem mixed with a personality that avoids asking for help, had become a recipe for my current situation.
At least, this was the explanation I told myself for years. Years filled with seasonal waiter jobs in 5-star luxury hotels or routine-filled factory environments. I was okay with it and didn't have the courage to hope for more.
Plus, I was good at the job I was doing, so...
Why 2024 Was the Turning Point
In the beginning of 2024, a new project (today's Farerahelery.com) needed its first testers and I joined.
This experience made me to take the first step – exposure.
The test I participated in helped me create a job search where the focus was on regaining the ability to believe in myself and start thinking differently in order to create different results.
Starting From Zero: No Degree, No Network, No Time
My starting position wasn’t very promising:
Limited time to dedicate to a job search as I had my full-time job in the factory
Lack of network
No university degree
No work experience in the IT sector, where I wanted to work
Helery helped me put my experience on paper, showing me what I had and how my experience could be relevant to a new career. I started to look at my life and skills differently.
For the first time, I understood that I was good enough and it changed my entire perspective.
LinkedIn Makeover: From 11 Connections to a Professional Profile
When we started updating my LinkedIn profile, I had 11 connections and an old profile picture from almost 15 years ago – a young boy, blinking against the bright sunlight. Yep, that was me!
Following the advice I received, I created a professional-looking photo and chose the perfect background image: my favorite keyboard, representing my dream of working in the IT sector. But as we all know, a nice picture alone will not do the work.
Building a Network and Asking for Advice
The biggest challenge was overcoming my hesitation to start networking.
What do I say or ask?
Who am I in the eyes of LinkedIn with my 11 contacts, especially when it seems like the standard to look “cool” and accepted is 500+ connections?
I started connecting with people from the industry and roles I was interested in pursuing. I was transparent about where I was, where I wanted to go, and asked for advice they could share about getting there.
A key part of improving my job search was identifying local software development companies and reaching out to professionals in my area who were active on LinkedIn.
This allowed me to build meaningful connections, and gain insights into the opportunities around me.
To be honest, I was positively surprised that almost 80% of the people I reached out to responded, and it meant so much to me. It quickly became clear that I needed to start gaining experience, and I was directed to the free Harvard University CS50 course.
My First IT Job Interview: Lessons From Rejection
In summer 2024 I got my first job interview for an entry position and it was a big milestone for me. I also ran into a rookie mistake – setting my hopes really high and kind of forgetting anything else around me.
Instead, I was ghosted and never heard back from the company. Thanks to this experience, though, I walked into my second interview with more confidence than to the first one.
Also, I decided to start going to the gym (despite convincing myself for years that I didn’t like it) and playing ping pong again, which I truly love.
The Journey Continues 🧑🏼💻
This year has been about building confidence, learning new skills, and stepping outside my comfort zone. I am still on my journey, but instead of overthinking and doubting myself, I am taking action. I have found the courage to pursue a new career in IT and set aside my “what ifs”.
I’m no longer just dreaming about a career in IT – I’m taking concrete steps toward it.
And here’s the spoiler: the story doesn’t end here. In the next part, I'll reveal how these steps led me to landing my first IT job in 2025.
Comments