Tech
Taking the unusual route into a career in tech | Computer Weekly
For years, the traditional entry route into the tech sector was to obtain a degree in computer science, engineering or another related field and join the profession as a graduate.
But things are undoubtedly changing now as less conventional approaches, such as apprenticeships, T-level qualifications and coding bootcamps, become more widespread. They are also increasingly popular among new entrants and employers alike.
One professional who followed a decidedly squiggly career pathway before doing a six-month bootcamp in 2020 is Lucy Ironmonger, a tech lead at fintech Zuto, who studied English with creative writing at the University of Birmingham 13 years earlier.
While there, she found a bar job and, due to her love of music, seized the opportunity to run the establishment’s music night every Tuesday. On leaving, Ironmonger moved to Manchester to pursue her music dreams, undertaking a diploma in electronic music production and commercial sound engineering at the School of Electronic Music (SEM).
After writing the school’s first blog, SEM subsequently hired her, and she rose through the ranks over the next nine years to become operations director. One of her earlier jobs was as course supervisor, where she discovered a widespread fear of tech, particularly among girls.
“Part of my job was to convince them they’d enjoy it and to nurture them while they were there,” Ironmonger says. “The course changed lives, and I found that if you nurture people in the right way, they often become passionate and great at their job.”
As a result, she now takes her role as a people manager very seriously and makes time to prepare before one-to-ones with any member of her team.
“It’s about coaching people, so you want to maximise the time and help direct them in ways they want to go,” she says. “People need guidance, and it gives me the most satisfaction in my role to see people go from x to y to z.”
The growing need for soft skills
She also believes the need for all tech professionals to develop effective ‘soft skills’ will only continue to grow.
“It’s about how you communicate, how you problem-solve as tech is always changing, and how you learn to learn effectively,” Ironmonger says. “You have to have a growth mindset – it’s one of the secrets to success.”
She can demonstrate just such an approach in spades. For example, after working at SEM for four years, Ironmonger took a year’s sabbatical to practice as a plumber and electrician at her friend’s business – skills she had learned at night school to refurbish her own newly purchased house.
Despite initially experiencing anxiety about being the only woman in the room, she quickly became comfortable.“I realised that difference doesn’t need to separate you as other things can bring you together,” she says. “We talked about music and, before I knew it, I was part of the team, one of the lads, so it’s important not to let things like that hold you back.”
But developing a website for her friend’s plumbing company “sowed a seed”. So, after her wife had a baby following the first Covid lockdown when SEM was unable to offer the flexibility working opportunities she desired, Ironmonger followed friends’ advice and started to explore careers in tech.
Secrets to success
This led to her joining the Manchester Codes software engineering bootcamp. On completion of the course, she spent a week firing off a “ridiculous” number of job applications – to no response. This was when she learned the value of networking, which included building a rapport with recruitment agents and attending in-person events.
It was through such an event that she was approached by her first tech employer, Synch.Money. From there, she moved to Zuto, where she has now been for nearly four years, despite a disastrous first interview for which she was 10 minutes late.
“The hurdle of being late could have put me off, but it was a Sliding Doors moment,” Ironmonger says. “You just have to push through when your back’s against the wall – you can’t wait for a second opportunity.”
The lesson she learned is that it is impossible to “second-guess what people will think of you” as it boils down to whether recruiters think they can work with you or not.
But, Ironmonger says, if she was going to do it all again, she would advise that people “learn how to learn” by using a system such as notetaking or the Feynman Technique.
“Also make yourself visible in what you do – for example, by creating a ‘brag doc’ and regularly updating it,” she adds. “Finally, develop your confidence by exploring with your manager how to widen opportunities that help you move out of your comfort zone.”
Learning by trial and error
Another professional who took an unconventional route into the tech sector is David Parry-Jones, chief revenue officer at AI-based language platform DeepL. After undertaking a physics degree at Bangor University, Parry-Jones qualified as a teacher of maths and combined science, which he did for a year.
After discovering that teaching was not for him, Parry-Jones then started working on oil rigs in the North Sea, where he undertook geo-physical seismic surveys to understand “where to point the drill bit”, adding: “It was a mixture of electrical engineering, computers and geology – none of which I was particularly good at, so I revisited what I wanted from my career.”
Taking advice received early on that his strengths lay in working with people, Parry-Jones’ next step was to take a sales job with a Lexus car dealership. After moving into the tech sector a year later, he has not looked back, particularly since moving into management.
But he did learn a number of lessons from “blundering my way through my early life, not knowing what I wanted to do and learning by trial and error”. The first was just how important it is to “find something you like, and something you’re good at. Then, to some extent, your career looks after itself.”
“It’s what I learned from my early jobs when I had either one or neither of those things, and it’s why I kept changing direction until I found them,” he adds.
Finding a good cultural fit
A third leg of the stool, meanwhile, is finding a company whose culture suits your personality and values, he believes. This was something he learned after working for nearly seven years at Microsoft.
“I found the culture was very aligned to those at the top and the traits of those individuals, and I didn’t share them,” Parry Jones says. “I didn’t enjoy the culture, but it’s important to find an organisation that’s at least close enough culturally for you to be yourself.”
He discovered that having to “display attributes that aren’t really me” was hard work as it involved “wearing a mask and pretending to be someone you’re not”. As a result, his next move was to VMWare in a bid to find an organisation that was “culturally closer to how I behaved myself, and where I would potentially be valued more”.
Another lesson that Parry-Jones learned along the way is that the tech industry is not a place for those who are uncomfortable with change or lack resilience – particularly as life in the sector appears to be constantly speeding up rather than slowing down.
But that is not to say that careers are equally quick to build, he says: “Some people focus on progression before they’re ready to go, but it’s important to be patient and learn how to excel in a role. Nothing replaces hard work – if you have the right attributes, you will succeed.”
By the same token, Parry-Jones also advises professionals never to be afraid of failure. “I’ve managed teams that have and have not failed collectively and, as long as they can stay together, those that fail perform significantly better after doing so,” he says. “I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but you can learn a lot and you certainly become more resilient.”
You don’t need a four-figure Swiss movement to know what time it is—or look good doing it. One of the most wonderful things about “budget” watches today (although it’s kinder, or more appropriate, to say “affordable”) is that brands have learned to take design cues from luxury timepieces while quietly getting very good at the fundamentals: reliable movements, thoughtful materials, and proportions that don’t scream “cheap.” Take a look at the Orient in WIRED’s selection below as a prime example.
It could easily be argued that we’re in a golden age of affordable horology (see our full guide here for definitive proof), where, if you choose wisely, $350 or less can buy everything from a desirable dress watch, or a high-end collaboration, and even a supremely capable and classically chic diver. Pieces that will see you right from sunken wreck to boardroom table. And let’s not forget the retro allure of digital watches right now, either, with the Shark Classic not only being one of our favorites here, but at $70, it’s also the most affordable.
Moreover, should you decide to bag more than a few (and who could blame you at these prices?), we’ve even got the perfect carry case picked out: Nanuk’s IP67 waterproof and dustproof NK-7 resin $175 910 Watch Case (pictured above) with patented PowerClaw latching system—ideal for securing any timepiece collection, be it bargain or big budget.
Be sure to check out our other wearable coverage, including the Best Budget Watches Under $1,000, Best Smartwatches, Best Fitness Trackers, and Best Smart Rings.
Same as the Five Senses deck above, this scratch-off card set happens in sequence, with optional “level up” cards to really push intimacy, and separate cards for each partner with secret directions. For this date, you’ll both bring a red item that you show at certain points to signify that you’re open to physical touch. Then you’ll go out to dinner and have intentional conversation, and every time a partner pulls out the red item, you’ll follow the prompts to initiate increasingly intimate physical acts, ranging from hand holding to neck kisses. So there we were, at Illegal Taqueria, edging each other over al pastor tacos (I kid).
Many of the cards urged a partner not to interrupt or solve problems, but ask questions and talk dirty. My date said, “I think this may be for couples who hate each other.” I had to agree. The second part of the date involved driving and stoplights, but since we were in Brooklyn, we walked down the trash-filled sidewalk and pretended to be a suburban couple on the fritz instead.
The rest of the date included buying things for sexy time, like whipped cream and blindfolds. I’m vegan and had no desire to lick cream from chest hair, so we came home, stripped, and did our best to keep our eyes closed (in lieu of a blindfold). It was overall a strange experience for us both, I think. If you and your partner need a lot of prompting to connect, compliment, and be physical, this set is for you.
Date: Greg, 10/10 (Note: I didn’t find this man on Hinge; I met him the old-fashioned way, in a bar at 2 am.)
Box: 6/10
Valentine’s Day is a sneaky one. It’s easy to let grabbing fun and unique Valentine’s Day gifts fall to the wayside while you recover from the Christmas holidays, but it’s not one to miss if you have a partner you want to shower with a little extra love.
If you’re feeling too wiped to shop, good news: I’ve got you covered. I’ve rounded up some of our favorite ideas for the year’s most romantic holiday, from Lego sets you can build as a date and date boxes filled with ideas to last you all year long to gorgeous flowers you can get delivered in a snap and cozy robes you’ll want to lounge in together. This guide all the Valentine’s Day gifts we’re excited to give this year.
Curious about what else we recommend? Don’t miss our Gifts for Lovers, Gifts for Moms, Gifts for Plant Lovers, Gifts for People Who Work from Home, and Best Blind Boxes for more gifts and shopping ideas.
Table of Contents
For a Gift That’s a Date
My husband and I are planning our fourth or fifth year of our favorite Valentine’s Day Date: building Lego sets together. We’ve done this for years, and then we get to enjoy the fruits (well, flowers) of our labor around the home forevermore. These sets serve as both the gift and the activity. Building the dried-flower centerpiece together was probably my all-time favorite, since you can each simultaneously work on one half and then click it together at the end, followed by each building a different-color bonsai tree.
For a Daytime Adventure
Retrospec
Weekender Crew Multi-Person Inflatable Paddle Board
Building on the idea of date activities that involve gifts, this multi-person paddleboard is a fun way to spend time outdoors while staying together the entire time. It’s massive, almost raftlike, so that it can support the weight of up to three adults, but once we got the hang of the size, it wasn’t hard to maneuver. Sometimes we’d both row together, sometimes I’d let my husband do all the work. It made for a lovely daytime adventure together, and I can’t wait for the next warm day for my husband and me to take this out on our local harbor again. It’s big enough that we could bring our son, though it’s much more peaceful as a date activity. It’s inflatable, and I’d recommend grabbing an electric filler since it takes a lot of manual pumping otherwise.
For Flowers on Demand
Photograph: Boutayna Chokrane
The classic go-to for Valentine’s Day is, of course, flowers. WIRED reviewer Boutayna Chokrane tested several flower delivery services to find the best one to get sent to your home, and her favorite is the Ode à la Rose, specifically the Edith arrangements. The business was created by two former French bankers, and the arrangements’ design choices feel distinctly chic in a way only French romance can. The Edith bouquet is entirely Columbus double tulips from Holland, and come hand-tied in a travel vase a fun pink box. The flowers ship nationwide, and there’s same-day shipping in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Austin, Miami, and Washington, DC.
For a Jewelry Upgrade
Maybe you’ve already exchanged rings, or maybe you’re looking for your first set without committing to I do. Either way, the most popular fitness tracker to get these days is a smart ring, and Oura is the ruler of the space. The latest model is the Ring 4, and it comes in both metallic and ceramic finishes. Many of my friends love theirs. I wish I had one, but they don’t make sense for my husband and me since we’re an aerialist and rock climber duo. Live my dreams for me and get this for your valentine (and yourself)!
For Your Fave Photographer
If your romantic partner loves to capture photos, a digital photo frame is the perfect gift (and you’ll benefit, too, as likely the number one fan of their photography!). I’m the photographer of our house, and our Aura frame is my husband’s favorite gadget because it showcases photos I’ve captured of our son and life together over the years. Our wedding photos can be found on there too, as well as the occasional good photo of me that he’s captured. It’s a monthly ritual for me to go through my camera roll and add my latest favorites. Aura’s my favorite because the range of frames is beautiful, and the storage is unlimited with no fees or subscriptions.
For the Cozy Couple
One of my favorite souvenirs I have around the house is a matching robe set that my husband and I bought on our honeymoon. Our all-cotton robes are from the Ten Thousand Waves Japanese spa in New Mexico (the final destination of a Southwestern US road trip) and are great for taking to the pool or using after a shower on a hot day. But I still love a good fluffy robe during the colder season, especially since it can double as a towel. Get your partner one of these cozy robes to give them something luxurious to use after their next everything shower or quick rinse-off. Cozy Earth’s robe is crazy-soft thanks to its blend of cotton and bamboo viscose, while this flannel robe from L.L.Bean is one of our favorites for anyone who works from home.
For Your Inner Theater Kids
If your partner loves to sing along to the Wicked soundtrack and is regularly suggesting karaoke as a group activity, then give them the gift of making karaoke happen anywhere with these gadgets. The Bonaok Karaoke Microphone is one of our favorite karaoke microphones, letting you sing anywhere without lugging bulky equipment. The Ikarao Shell S2 is a portable device with two mics, a built-in screen, and support for streaming services, so you can sing along to your favorite songs on Spotify.
For the Fitness Couple
After the Christmas season, I saw a video on my For You page that roasted how every mom had clearly gotten a matching workout outfit set for Christmas and was out wearing it on Boxing Day. As a mom myself, all I could think of was how much I would love another matching workout set. I’m serious. They’re great for workouts, quick errands, and day care or school drop-off. My latest favorite set is from Bombshell Sportswear. The set is both super soft and fits securely without any annoying squeezing. It’s getting the most compliments of all my sets. I wish I’d sized up with the bolero, but as an aerialist, my lat muscles are a little bulkier than an everyday person’s.
Have a partner who doesn’t need a matching set? Try some fantastic running shoes instead, which are even more useful for both workouts and daily life. WIRED reviewer Adrienne So says these R.A.D. shoes are fantastic for a range of uses, as they’re designed for gym, HIIT, CrossFit, and hybrid workouts and are soft enough for treadmill running. They look fantastic, too.
For the Beloved Bookworms
A Kindle is always a great gift for anyone who reads in any format. Funny enough, my siblings and I are about to buy one for my dad for his birthday (two weeks before Valentine’s Day), and I recommended my favorite pick, the Kindle Paperwhite, since the standard Kindle is a little too small for his 6-foot-4 frame to hunch down over, and he doesn’t read enough illustrated books to make the Colorsoft the right jump for him. If they already have a Kindle, I’m still in love with my matching PopSockets Kindle case and grip, and they’ve since launched a new Bookish collection with beautiful designs.
For Some Bedroom Spice
Looking to spice things up? These adventure boxes can add more fun to the bedroom without creating additional mental work for you and your partner. An offshoot from the Adventure Challenge, “The Adventure Challenge … In Bed” scratch-off date book has 50 date ideas designed specifically to help facilitate fun and connection in the bedroom. The dates are categorized by activity type in sections like food, dancing, “sexploration,” and more. Each date is covered by a black box, with only icons indicating required fields such as duration, cost, and more. Meanwhile, the Fantasy Box is a date-night box service offering a range of themes, from sexy wine tasting to a kinky poker night, all designed to help couples communicate and connect more intimately. Before opening the box, each partner will fill out a questionnaire of potential intimate acts, and this box comes with everything needed for a truly kinky night in: a satin blindfold, pleather paddle, lingerie, lube, massage gel, feather wand, mini vibrator, and silky wrist restraints. —Molly Higgins
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