#115 From 36-year-old Mom to Developer with Phoebe Voong-Fadel
Mar 15, 2024
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Phoebe Voong-Fadel shares her inspiring journey from working in her parent's restaurant to becoming a software developer at 36. She discusses her self-study path in coding, balancing motherhood with learning, and the challenges of transitioning careers. Phoebe's story highlights resilience, financial considerations, and the importance of supportive environments. She reflects on overcoming imposter syndrome, completing coding certificates, and landing her first developer job. The podcast also explores her work in educational research and offers advice to parents looking to enter the tech field.
Age is not a barrier to starting a tech career, as demonstrated by Phoebe's transition from stay-at-home mom to developer at 36.
Practical projects and community support are crucial in overcoming self-doubt and enhancing coding skills.
Building a portfolio with real projects increases job prospects and sets candidates apart from certificate holders.
Deep dives
From Stay-at-Home Mom to Developer
Phoebe Vong-Fidel's journey from a stay-at-home mom to a developer showcases the remarkable shift in her career path at the age of 36. Despite her challenging background as a second-generation refugee, she ventured into coding and obtained her first developer job, demonstrating that age and personal circumstances are not barriers to pursuing a career in tech.
Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Learning
Phoebe faced setbacks, experienced impostor syndrome, and took a break from coding due to overwhelming self-doubt. However, she regained momentum by participating in the 100 Days of Code challenge and enhancing her skills through practical projects like building websites for family businesses. This hands-on experience and community support reinvigorated her passion for coding.
Transitioning to Developer Roles
After gaining experience with freelance projects and Wordpress sites for businesses, Phoebe applied for developer roles. Her practical experience in delivering sites for clients provided her with industry exposure, paving the way for her successful transition from a stay-at-home mom to a professional developer in a relatively short time frame, showcasing the power of determination and continuous learning.
Gaining Practical Experience for Job Applications
Building a portfolio with practical projects before applying for jobs significantly increases the chances of securing interviews. Demonstrating real experience and having projects in your portfolio sets you apart from certificate holders. Starting with projects for friends or personal websites enhances learning and experience, paving the way for successful job applications.
Transitioning to a Meaningful Career and Reflecting on the Journey
After transitioning to a front-end developer job, the career journey evolved into working on a significant educational research project. The focus shifted towards improving children's educational experiences by developing an assessment system. Emphasizing the value of time, resilience, and community support, the individual navigated challenges and found fulfillment in contributing to meaningful projects, showcasing the potential for personal growth and success.
This week freeCodeCamp founder Quincy Larson interviews Phoebe Voong-Fadel about her childhood as the daughter of refugees, and how she self-studied coding and became a professional developer at the age of 36.
Phoebe worked from age 12 at her parent's Chinese take-out restaurant. She was able to study history at the London School of Economics, before working in higher ed.
She left her job to raise two kids due to the high cost of childcare in the UK, and spent years self-studying coding before becoming a software developer at age 36.
I recorded this podcast live and I haven't edited it at all. I want to capture the feel of a real live conversation, with all the human quirks that entails. As with all my podcast episodes, I start by performing a classic bass line. Can you guess what song this bass line is from? It's from 1989.
Phoebe has earned multiple certifications from freeCodeCamp, and also published a number of articles on our publication.
If you've read this far, consider supporting our 501(c)(3) public charity, and aiding us in our mission to create more free learning resources for everyone: https://www.freecodecamp.org/donate
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