Meet Marcella, alumni of our Data Analytics bootcamp.

I am a former banker turned cloud solutions architect. After Graduating with an Economics and Management degree in 2019, I started my career in the banking industry and after working for a year, I noticed a lot of buzz regarding tech sector jobs and salaries.

This sparked my interest in a career pivot from banking to technology, specifically cloud technology.

Initially, I was unsure how or where to get started. As someone who didn’t major in IT, there were significant gaps in technical knowledge and work experience that needed to be bridged.

How did you transit to a career in tech?

In November 2020, I left my banking job and joined the Tech industry as a Technology Consultant, specialising in Financial Services Technologies- such as Core Banking Systems. I then dedicated my free time to learning as much as I could about the tech sector.

I learned how to code through online courses, read books on cloud computing, and earned industry-recognised certificates to validate my knowledge of various cloud technologies. I was making progress, but realised that I needed expert guidance. In October 2021, I enrolled in a data analytics course with tech training provider Vertical Institute. It was a 21-hour long, part-time course, which offered the flexibility to attend lessons from home.

How has attending Vertical Institute’s Data Analytics Bootcamp helped you in achieving both your personal and professional goals?

Despite not having an IT background, I have been able to leverage my newfound knowledge to contribute to various projects and work effectively alongside my peers. The journey was challenging, but I am proud to have taken the initiative to pursue my passion for tech and grow my skill set. Although I have come a long way, the tech industry is continually evolving.

As such, keeping pace with the latest developments remains an ongoing challenge. However, I have accepted this reality and have made it a priority to continuously learn through various means such as industry conferences and courses.

Do you have any advice for those who are looking to do a career switch?

If you are considering making a career change, I recommend that you explore upskilling courses and relevant certifications as they will make the transition easier. More importantly, surround yourself with like-minded individuals to bounce ideas off each other and share career transition advice.

As someone who has made this transition, it really has been one of the best career decisions I have ever made!