Shift happens: Orla’s personal journey into tech
Read how Orla made a massive career change, swapping teaching for technology through the Ten10 Academy
What makes a great technologist? After over a decade of training hundreds of new consultants, there’s one thing we’re sure of – talent can come from anywhere. Some people join us straight out of university, and others take a longer path, changing careers and entering IT with experience from other fields. Take Orla, who is living proof that it’s never too late to start a new career and take those first steps towards something you’re passionate about. She shared with us her personal journey into the tech world in the hopes that everyone out there who is considering a change takes that important first step, no matter how daunting it feels!
What position and industry did you work in before joining us?
Before joining Ten10, I had a fairly varied career path. I studied Spanish at university, but I didn’t have a clear idea of what I wanted to do afterwards. After graduating, I worked as a teacher in Spain to explore whether teaching might be right for me, but I quickly realised it wasn’t. I later worked in hospitality for a while before coming across Ten10.
What made you pursue changing careers to tech?
I’d been thinking about a career in tech for a while. I was drawn to the constant learning, growth opportunities, and flexibility the field offers. I wanted more stability in my career, and tech felt like a space where I could progress while building valuable skills. My sister is a software engineer, and hearing her talk about her work gave me a glimpse into a field that sounded challenging, creative, and always evolving. After taking some free courses and joining a bootcamp, I was sure tech was something I wanted to pursue, but with little experience, I wasn’t sure how to make the switch.
What was your perception of tech before joining Ten10?
Honestly, I used to think tech was only for people who were incredibly smart or had studied computer science for years. To me, it seemed like a career where you needed to have dedicated many years to build such a strong technical skillset. This held me back at first and made me doubt whether it was the right move, but after attending a webinar where others shared their experiences of switching into tech, and discovering companies like Ten10 that support people from non-technical backgrounds, I realised that with an open mind and hard work, it was definitely possible.
Do you feel that having prior work experience has been an advantage during your training?
Absolutely. I think any kind of work experience is incredibly valuable. Many of the skills you develop in other roles transfer really well into tech. Of course, you need to build up your technical knowledge, but foundational skills like communication, teamwork, and being proactive are just as important, if not more. Coming into a new industry without a technical background can feel daunting, but in my experience, a lot of the learning happens on the job. Having strong soft skills and a willingness to learn really sets you up for success.
How do you feel about your career change so far? How are you enjoying working in tech?
It’s been amazing – I’m so glad I took the leap. It’s definitely had its challenges, and I am still learning, but it has been so rewarding, and I feel proud of what I have been able to achieve in such a short time. Having started out with little to no experience, it’s hard to believe that eight months later, I would be working as a software tester for a government organisation. The core training at Ten10 gave me the opportunity to explore the different areas within tech and opened doors I hadn’t considered, and I’m excited to see where it could take me in the future.
What advice do you have for other people considering a career change to tech?
If it’s something you’ve been thinking about for a while, I’d say go for it – you never know where it could lead. I’d recommend exploring online courses or bootcamps to get a feel for different areas within tech and see what sparks your interest. Changing careers can feel very daunting, and it’s easy to compare yourself to others in the field, but I think this just makes the process all the more rewarding when you put in the work and achieve your goals. I think that no matter your background, the skills you already have will serve you more than you think, and it’s important to remember that it’s okay to start over!