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how i got into tech from healthcare
Hi! I’m Naomi, a former Mental Health Nurse, now a Finance Systems Analyst.
I always knew I wouldn’t stay in healthcare forever and would eventually leave to explore other ventures, I just didn’t know what that would look like at the time.
I started getting curious about the systems I used at work, and who would’ve thought that would spark a whole new career? One minute I was writing care plans, the next I was learning how to code.
My journey from healthcare to tech hasn’t been conventional, but that’s the beauty of staying curious and open to learning. Along the way, I created a framework to guide my decisions: the 4Fs: Funds, Fulfilment, Freedom and Flexibility and honestly, it changed everything.
MY HEALTHCARE JOURNEY AND THE POWER OF TRANSFERRABLE SKILLS
Before stepping into tech, I had been qualified for four years and worked across a range of healthcare settings, my favourite was prison services. Each environment challenged me in different ways, and I built skills I use every day.
I learned how to stay calm under pressure, think critically, and communicate clearly with people from all walks of life. I became adaptable and developed resilience through challenges. Most importantly, I already had a strong sense of empathy, which I carried into a human-centred approach to problem-solving.
At the time, I saw these as “nursing skills.” But moving into tech, I realised they were highly transferable. These strengths have become my foundation, helping me navigate complex systems, collaborate with diverse teams, and approach problems with both logic and empathy.
My background in healthcare gave me an edge that shapes how I show up in my career today.
HOW THE 4F’S HELPED REDEFINE WHAT I WANTED FROM MY CAREER
When I started thinking about leaving full‑time healthcare, I knew I was taking a huge risk. I wasn’t choosing to switch careers on a whim; I wanted a lifestyle that matched my drive and ambition.
To figure out what really mattered and aligned with my values, I broke things down into four categories: Funds, Fulfilment, Freedom and Flexibility.
Here’s how each one shaped my career pivot:
FUNDS: CHOOSING FINANCIAL SECURITY WITHOUT COMPROMISING PURPOSE
I had to be honest with myself in that financial security matters. As a mental health nurse, I loved helping people, but the compensation didn’t always reflect the emotional and physical demands of the role. I wanted a career that offered growth opportunities and long-term high earning potential. I knew tech would give me the chance to build on those foundations.
FULFILMENT: CREATING IMPACT
This was a non-negotiable for me. I enjoyed supporting people through recovery but sometimes the impact felt short lived. I am driven by making a lasting impact, one that sticks even after I have moved on from a job. I became intrigued by the medication management system used on the wards. I was curious about how it worked behind the scenes, the workflows, the data pipelines and how technology could make things safer and more efficient. This curiosity planted the seed that eventually led me to tech.
Now, I find fulfilment in improving the system and workflows to make people’s work easier. Leaving a legacy is important to me, both professionally and personally. Knowing that something I have built can continue to make an impact gives me lasting satisfaction.
FREEDOM: SPACE TO BE CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE
Tech is a world that encourages you to ask, “Is there a better way to do this?” whether it’s automating a process, building pipelines or designing something completely new. That question alone opened a whole new way of thinking for me. I knew I thrive from thinking outside the box. I wanted work that challenged me, let me be creative, to test and see ideas come to life.
In my role as a Finance Systems Analyst, that is one of my favourite parts of the job. I work with teams, troubleshoot, and introduce new developments that make the system smoother and more intuitive.
FLEXIBILITY: RECLAIMING MY TIME AND PRIORITISING WELL-BEING
Shift work in healthcare can be intense, between the long hours, nights, weekends and minimal control over my schedule. I often felt burnt out. One of my goals in this transition was to prioritise balance.
Hybrid working has supported my mental wellbeing while giving me more time to learn and invest in my personal growth. Flexibility has been a perk as it’s allowed me to build a career that supports my happiness, health, and long-term success.
HOW RESEARCH HELPED ME DECIDE IF TECH WAS RIGHT FOR ME
I wanted to fully immerse myself and understand what ‘tech’ was all about. I attended events and basic coding workshops. I had honest conversations with professionals in the industry and volunteered for a well-known tech community.
I even threw myself in the deep end and joined my first hackathon, I had no clue what to expect but it was fun and confirmed this was a space I wanted to be in.
Personality quizzes helped me discover which tech roles fit me best and if the field aligned with my 4Fs.
If you’re considering a career in tech, here’s my advice on first steps to take:
Talk to people in the industry - Go beyond online research, reach out to people on LinkedIn in different roles to learn what their day‑to‑day really looks like.
Learn what makes you tick – Use self‑reflection or personality quizzes to find roles that match your strengths, values and interests. Knowing where your skills can shine will make it easier to choose the right tech path.
Try before you leap - Join workshops, sign up for short courses or attend hackathons to get hands‑on experience and see which area of tech genuinely excites you
LEVELING UP WITH CODE FIRST GIRLS AND MENTORSHIP
TikTok has become the new search engine. A simple “software engineering” search led to me coming across a video from a former CFG alumna sharing how she completed the CFGDegree for free and broke into tech. My first thought was, “Wait, this sounds amazing, I need to know more!’’
I signed up for the eight-week Web Development Kickstarter course (now JavaScript), and I was instantly hooked as it combined creativity with problem-solving.
I was accepted onto the CFGDegree in Full Stack Development (Spring 2024 Cohort). This was the game changer, and everything became real. I was really learning core technical skills to build a career in tech.
From the CFG instructors to others learning alongside me, everyone was rooting for each other. As someone from a non‑technical background, I often doubted if I belonged, but that support reminded me that my experience in healthcare was a strength, not a setback and helped me build confidence.
Mentorship also played a big role. My mentor guided me on refining my portfolio, preparing for interviews and even approaching salary conversations.
Finding a community and a mentor gave me direction and kept me accountable: Here’s how to get the most out of mentorship:
- Be curious and open – Ask questions and be clear about what you want to learn, mentors can’t guide what they don’t know.
- Take action – Apply the advice you’re given, show genuine commitment to working on projects and share your progress
- Give as well as receive – Bring positive energy and treat mentorship as a two-way relationship.
LANDING MY FIRST ROLE AND WHAT I’VE LEARNED SO FAR
The constant cycle of job applications and rejections was discouraging, but one day, I finally landed my first role. I was over the moon. I remember the mix of excitement and nerves before starting, wondering if I’d be able to keep up in such a fast-moving industry.
Soon enough, I realised the skills I brought with me were the perfect foundation to hit the ground running and keep learning along the way.
Transitioning into tech hasn’t been without its challenges. There have been moments of imposter syndrome and plenty of steep learning curves along the way. But every project and every debugging moment has taught me something new. The biggest lesson so far? Progress doesn’t happen overnight; consistency builds confidence and keeps you moving forward.
CONCLUSION
As I continue to grow in my new career, one thing has become clear: my transferable skills matter more than I ever thought, they’re my superpower. Stepping out of my comfort zone and taking a chance on a new path has been completely worth it.
If you’re where I once was, feeling uncertain or thinking your “non-tech” background might hold you back, let this be your sign to go for it. Whether you create your own version of the 4Fs or simply follow your curiosity, remember this: the tech industry needs your unique perspective. Your next chapter can look completely different from your last, it is all within your reach.
