Ligia Fascioni is (now) a UX/UI Designer, originally from Brazil, who moved to Berlin with her husband in 2011. Over a decade has passed and a lot has changed in that time. But one of the biggest changes – a change in her career – has happened rather recently. In this article, we share Ligia’s story of becoming a UX/UI Designer at 56. We talk with her about the struggles and fears she went through, how to make a career change after 50, her motivation for a change, and if she is happy with the decision she made. From Electrical Engineer to UX/UI Designer Turn the clock back 12 years and Ligia was arriving in Berlin with her husband. Back then she was an Electrical Engineer and worked in that role for decades. Before coming to Germany, Ligia completed her Master’s Degree in Automation and Control which led her to a career in Electrical Engineering but she felt that her technical skills were not enough. So, in 1999 she enrolled for an MBA in Marketing and a new world opened up for her. She has taken numerous other courses throughout her career and finally got a PhD in Design Management as part of a Production Engineering course. After some years in Berlin, infected by the startup atmosphere of the city, she and her husband (also an Electrical Engineer) started their own technology company. Her work varied a lot and included everything from Python and Javascript programming to helping with the production of GPS-Based reference devices. If you can’t tell by now, Ligia is a motivated woman who loves to learn. Throughout her career, she has continued to look for ways to learn new skills and improve the work she is doing. In 2022 a new phase of her career started. Her startup was sold and she decided to make a career change: UX/UI design was calling to her. Ligia took several courses about design thinking, service design, innovation, future thinking, future of work, UX Design, and related themes over the course of her career and knew that UX/UI design was a new path she wanted to explore. “I’m 56 years old and very excited about this new phase of my (learning) life.” How to make a career change that builds on your strengths Ligia notes that she chose to pivot to a career that not only interested her but that also built on her strengths. Her previous experiences in different industries have shown her that knowledge and Information is the best way to gain trust. “If people know what you're doing, they'll trust your competence.” She became an Electrical Engineer at the age of 23. As a young woman in a more chauvinist time, and in a male-dominated industry there were a lot of challenges for her to overcome. “I worked installing robots in industries and the environment was very hostile -- for example, there were no women's restrooms in most places I worked at that time.” These experiences were tough, but she also learned that the only way to gain respect and trust was to explain her work in detail to people who didn't understand why she was there. This mentality stayed with her over time and led her to become an expert in explaining complex systems in a way that anyone could understand – which is what UX/UI design is all about. “I think UX/UI design is about that: making information accessible to everyone.” Get ready to learn: Using a bootcamp to gain new skills Her decision was made and she knew it was the right choice. But naturally, any change can bring with it doubts and confusion. To help her quell the doubts, she knew she wanted to acquire the right skills that would help her thrive in the new career she desired. So she went to Ironhack and enrolled in the Berlin UX/UI bootcamp . When we asked her about her experience at the bootcamp she told us: “I highly recommend it as it was an unforgettable experience. For me, it was very enriching but of course, the experience depends a lot on the person who is on the journey. Success also depends on how much you are willing to dedicate yourself. I loved the teachers, classmates, and the whole team. It really is a transforming experience.” We pried further and asked Ligia about the challenges of the course and if she struggled with anything while learning. “Technically, I didn't struggle with challenges; the hardest experience was working with people from very different personalities. For example, we needed to create a Hi-Fi e-commerce prototype for a real business. In the beginning, there were four people, but two days after the start of the challenge, two of them contracted COVID-19.” Ironhack bootcamps give you the chance to study in a way that suits you – online, in person, full time or part time – but a part of the bootcamp requires group projects. This can be a challenge when you are collaborating with people and learning how to communicate and work together with new people. But these kinds of soft skills are incredibly useful in any UX/UI Designer role so it's beneficial for students to face them before they enter a job. Ligia continues, “So there were only two people left, with very different backgrounds and different ways of seeing the world. My profile is more analytical and pragmatic; my colleague was more spontaneous and intuitive. In the beginning, it was a big challenge, as we had limited time to discuss all the issues (even the philosophical ones, which my colleague loved to discuss). In the end, I learned a lot! My colleague was a very intelligent person and we both learned that with respect we could work and learn together. It was a very meaningful experience.” Why make a career change past 50? With challenges faced along the way, and an already successful career in hand, we were curious about what motivated Ligia to make a change. Many people get comfortable in the jobs they have, and they often even go on to make up a part of a person's identity – especially when they have been doing that same role for years, and have seen success in it. Not to mention the fact that a career change past 50 can bring about its own fears. There is always the doubt that it’s too late, or that no one will hire you. But Ligia proves those fears are unwarranted if you are ready to dedicate yourself to the change. Part of Ligia's motivation was wanting to make people's lives easier. She decided she wanted to move to a career that would allow her to have a greater impact and this helped her stay focused as she had a goal to work towards and meaning behind her decision. “I intend to learn more and more about how to make people's lives easier. I really think that's what UX/UI Design is about.” Ligia’s advice for anyone looking to make a career change Ligia has taken a step that many of you might be hoping to make too. Through her career pivot, she has learned a few things and she has some advice to share with any of you that will be walking on the same path soon. It’s never too late. Life expectancy is increasing with each generation and at 56 I believe I am in the middle of my productive life. Since you're always learning, there's no reason to stop. I think life is too short to have only one profession. IT is dominated by men these days, but I see the scenery changing. I hope that more and more women can occupy spaces that are our right. My advice is: be together with other women. Together, we are invincible. For many years I believed in the chauvinist idea that women were competitive and couldn't be trusted. But this idea is useful for patriarchy to weaken us. The truth is that women are the best friends ever to fight against injustices. The future is female! Get ready to start your tech career in Berlin Are you ready to kickstart your career in tech? Sign up for one of our bootcamps and learn the skills that German tech companies are searching for. Our tech school offers a range of immersive bootcamps from UX/UI Design to Cybersecurity which are delivered in formats tailored to your needs: online or on campus, full-time or part-time. Apply today .

RedSofa is a European Creative Recruitment Hub based in Berlin. A couple of days ago we sat down with their technical recruitment specialist, Alex Foreman to talk about how to land a job in tech. Software development roles in Germany are expected to grow 21% by 2028 – compared to an average of 5% across all roles. With many new people entering this lucrative and in-demand field, we decided to sit down with Alex, a tech recruitment expert to get his inside insight into what can set a candidate apart when looking for a new tech job. Alex has been at RedSofa for over six years and has a world of experience helping tech startups, tech companies, creative agencies, innovation labs, and more find suitable candidates for their tech roles. Whether you're looking for a role as a software engineer, a cybersecurity expert, or anything in between, Alex’s insights will help you land your next role. What Alex has learned from 10 years in recruitment Alex has been in recruitment for a long time – almost 10 years. In that time he has helped an unimaginable number of candidates not only find the roles they want to do, but also find them a role they could do or didn’t know they wanted to do. With so much experience Alex has learned to read people and companies and help find the right fit for a role, even where it might not seem obvious. He has also built an extensive network over the years which has become an invaluable tool in his recruitment role. “A lot of candidates come through recommendations, through my network, through online -- some online events.” Even with this vast network he still states that LinkedIn is his number one tool in recruiting for tech jobs. If you're not on LinkedIn, have a half-filled-out, or inactive profile, this is where Alex recommends you start. “It’s really important for engineers and developers now to have quite a strong LinkedIn presence.” Using LinkedIn to help you find a job in tech If you're not active on LinkedIn, finding the right place to start can be confusing – there is so much conflicting advice out there. From Alex’s experience, he recommends creating a standout profile, before trying to grow your network. Create a standout LinkedIn profile Alex says you should look at your LinkedIn profile as apart from your CV and more like your first impression. “It’s a cliche but first impressions count.” Some of his top advice for making the right first impression include: A normal decent photograph : This is the most important thing to consider, it doesn't need to be a headshot, it could be hiking in the mountains. But it shouldn't be out drinking beer and you should avoid passport photos because everyone looks a bit scary in their passport photos. A warm summary : Immediately let a visitor to your LinkedIn profile know who you are and what you do. You don’t need to go into too much detail but do cover the basics. For example, are you a junior developer or a senior? Backend or frontend? You can also cover what technologies you are familiar with. And this can all be quickly summarized in a few short sentences. Alex also points out that expectations for junior tech candidates are different from those who are applying for senior roles. If you are a more experienced candidate, then Alex recommends that you have a strong career history to show. Another must-have for recruiters is that your CV and your LinkedIn work history match. Inconsistencies can be a red flag for recruiters so this is something you need to keep in mind. Network with LinkedIn If you're looking for a tech role as part of a career change, as many of our Ironhack students do, LinkedIn can be an invaluable tool for building those first industry connections. When building your tech network on LinkedIn, Alex has some advice you can follow: Connect with fellow developers: Don't only focus on recruiters as the content and post from other developers can help expand your knowledge. Start liking and commenting: Building a network means you have to be active and involved. Making a connection and then never interacting with them is a waste of time. Never use templates : They are too obvious and you won't get a reply. Keep your content positive : It's easy to fall into the trap of posting negative thoughts about not getting replies or struggling with your job search but it pushes people away rather than starts a conversation. Once you've got your LinkedIn profile locked in and start networking, you're already on your way to finding your first or next tech job. How to get a tech job in Germany in 2023 The tech job market in Germany has evolved quickly and in 2023 much more might change. Alex has the advantage of being involved with a community of tech workers in Berlin and this is a topic that often comes up. He notes that there is some concern about the wider layoffs happening in the tech industry (such as from Meta and Microsoft). But he also says that it's not a major concern. “The cool thing about tech is that a lot of the time you will find something. It might not be the most perfect thing, but there will be something there, you just have to be a bit patient. For all of the companies who are letting people go, there’s a lot of start-ups, there’s a lot of companies who are actively hiring.” Alex also mentions that in tech, hiring can have a somewhat seasonal cycle. At the beginning of the year, companies often hire developers when a new budget comes in. And then there is often a drop-off around midsummer. Around Christmas and New Year's is the best time to start your search. But with the market looking good for 2023, you need to think about how you can make yourself stand out in the hiring process as many new developers are also entering the field. 3 golden rules for standing out as a tech candidate We asked Alex what tech candidates can do to stand out from their competition in the recruitment process and he responded with three golden rules that every candidate should follow. Networking The first we already covered: is networking. Go to events, go to online events, join groups and be active on LinkedIn. Looking for some in-person events to help you build your network here in Berlin? Check out Ironhack Germany's Meetup calendar . Knowledge The job of a developer is forever changing. As you progress in your career, you will need to continuously learn, and especially for developers that are new to the field, you need to demonstrate your knowledge to recruiters and hiring managers. In interviews for junior positions, you’re might not be asked about what you can do, because for many of you, you haven’t commercially developed anything yet. Instead, you will likely be asked questions such as “what’s going on within the JavaScript world?” or “talk to me about what’s going to be the next big thing.” Keeping on top of trends, a being able to demonstrate insight into the software engineering world helps hiring managers feel assured that you are capable of the skills you have mentioned on your CV. Drive and passion A lot of companies hire juniors, not just on their technical capabilities, but their attitude, their drive, and their passion. If you can talk about the industry and show that you are passionate about it, this will help you stand out in the market. If you have time to create something, whether that be your own website, a blog, or a YouTube channel, this is a valuable use of time and sets you apart in the hiring process. Quite a few engineers that Alex knows personally started off with this strategy. They began creating videos about their problems and their process. Of course, they’re now working, and these are also great resources to look through in the future. How a tech recruiter can help you find the right role There is a lot you can do on your own to help yourself stand out when applying for tech jobs. But you can also lean on recruiters for help. As Alex says, that's what they are there for. Tech recruiters have insights that it will be hard for you to gather on your own. When applying for tech roles you need to know the market and you need to understand the companies that you’re applying to. Alex gives the example that many who are going through a career change to enter tech may have to take a pay cut in the beginning as they are entering junior positions but that is not always the case. Recruiters are positioned to understand the company and advise you where to apply, for example, knowing that sometimes the smaller startups might not have the budget to give you the salary you need. Get ready to start your tech career in Berlin Ready to kickstart your career in tech? Sign up for one of our bootcamps. Our tech school offers a range of immersive courses from UX/UI Design to Cybersecurity that are delivered in formats tailored to your needs: online or on campus, full-time or part-time. Sign up today .

Gabriel Ayela joined the 12-week, full-time Ironhack Cybersecurity bootcamp in November 2020. When we interviewed him in mid-January, and he had completed more than half of the bootcamp. Gabriel is French, lives in Germany, and has worked in the music industry for 10 years: hiring DJs, managing events and concerts, bookings, and networking with musicians were part of his daily life. But he has always been passionate about technology. As a kid, he got his first computer and the first thing he did was to open it to see what was inside and rebuild it again. Due to the pandemic, his work in the music sector was at danger, so he decided to make a radical change. A friend of his studied at Ironhack and recommended it to him. Looking at the programs, he decided to take cybersecurity. And why this one? Gabriel suffered a cyberattack a while ago; someone accessed his accounts and since then, he has been wondering why and how this could have happened. He wanted to understand what is behind a cyberattack. Even though he was interested in coding, he didn’t want to specialize in any language; he wanted to understand the security implications for a company on the technical side. First Days at Ironhack's Cybersecurity Bootcamp Gabriel comments that at first, “I was a bit scared, didn’t know exactly what to expect.” Before classes begin, there is a mandatory, 20 hour pre-work to complete which, according to Gabriel, “really makes you ready for the program. I felt comfortable with the classmates and instructors soon, because they are there to support you, which creates a really interactive and dynamic community.” Regarding the lack of previous experience, he says that “it’s not a barrier. I am interested and passionate. Even though the class finishes at 6pm, I can’t stop, I am always checking new tools, it’s a never-ending topic.” Neither online nor in-person: hybrid! The format of this program is hybrid, which means that it’s taught online and self-guided. During two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon, there is one person (the facilitator) who is there to answer questions and checks that all the daily exercises are complete. Thanks to this methodology, all students learn at the same time and combine online learning with live sessions with a person available for help. During the rest of the day, classmates share their questions and best practices in the Slack channel; they can have calls and work together on whatever they need. This format is “perfect for cybersecurity. You need time alone to work in your labs and challenges, but you never feel alone. We use the channel and it feels like being in class. The workload is good, it’s really intense and you need to adapt until you get your working routine.” Gabriel says that he is keeping up with everything now, but the program is getting a bit harder, since it’s an intensive program. What is the Bootcamp Made of? The platform combines videos, case studies, and quizzes that allow students to put themselves in real life situations. We recently had an introduction to Javascript, but there is coding involved. They focused on networks, how to build them, and how to respond and react when facing a cyberattack. At the end of the program, they have to present a group project completed in teams of two during the 12 weeks of the bootcamp. Every two weeks, they give a 30 minute presentation to the rest of the class to explain what they have been working on. The topic that Gabriel chose is “Public transportation and cybersecurity;"cybersecurity is a really broad topic, so there are different roles and each week, they focus on one of these roles. Gabriel feels that “you need to work on your own, be really autonomous and face more challenges” as the program gets deeper in the content. According to his experience, working like this is “really fulfilling, it is you who makes learning possible.” Why Cybersecurity at Ironhack? When he was thinking about making this change, Gabriel looked for other options but most of them were in the US or didn’t have a real follow up and connection with the teachers. “I saw that at Ironhack, the instructors and facilitators are genuinely interested in helping us, to know who we are and support us.” He also values the contact with Careers, they already reached out to the team; he feels that Ironahck “has the great advantage of being focused on job placement. These are unique elements that make this program different.” He has a final tip for those who are thinking about joining Ironhack: “yes, it will be intensive but no fear! It is so exciting that you forget about the difficulties.” If you are thinking about joining a cybersecurity bootcamp but have questions, don't hesitate to reach out to one of our admissions managers and ask any questions you may have! We will be delighted to hear from you.