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How the Sponsored CFGdegree launched my tech career
Hi, my name is Aude. I am a CFGdegree software engineer graduate from the Spring 2022 cohort, a career switcher and a happy backend software engineer! I want to share my honest journey, the stumbles and the lessons, to show that the CFGdegree can be a real launchpad into tech, even if you do not have a company sponsoring you from the start.
Starting on a rocky path
Looking for a change
I felt stuck in my biomedical lab position, so I took advantage of the free time I had during Covid to expand my horizons. That is when I discovered that I love coding! It allowed me to create, try, fail, and solve problems in a safe environment.
I was given the advice that I needed visibility and projects to show if I wanted to switch careers. During my research for courses and project ideas, I found Code First Girls. I enrolled in the Kickstarter courses and a Hackathon with them. It was a really good experience, great community and a lot of fun! So I decided to apply for their CFGdegree.
Why did I choose to accept the offer without a partner company sponsor ?
I had originally applied through the sponsored route, where a company supports you through the programme and you join them in a tech role at the end. I made it through to the video interview stage, and got rejected at that point.
However, a few weeks later, I got a call from Code First Girls and they offered to sponsor me directly. It was a different path to the one I had imagined, but I said yes.
And honestly? It was one of the best decisions I have made. The CFGdegree gave me the skills, the confidence, and the credibility to make a real career change into tech. I graduated with a Distinction!
Here is why completing the CFGdegree, even without a sponsor, is a strong signal to employers:
- It shows real passion and dedication. Choosing to study for 16 weeks almost daily demonstrates that you are driven and able to learn independently, it is a highly transferable skill for any software engineering role.
- Team projects mirror real industry experience. Engineers spend a significant amount of time collaborating and communicating. The group project work in CFGdegree reflects that reality closely.
- CFG is a recognised, trusted brand. A long list of amazing companies understand the value of the CFGdegree and actively partner with Code First Girls.
I Got My Degree, Now What?
After graduating, I had to be strategic. I asked myself: what type of company do I want to work for? Small, medium, or large? What domain do I want to work in? These questions helped me focus my job search rather than applying everywhere.
Building a Targeted Job Search
I put together three focused lists:
- Companies that actively partner with Code First Girls
- Companies in sectors where I already had domain knowledge
- Companies running apprenticeship programmes that I was eligible to apply for
That last category turned out to be especially important. I noticed I was getting much more traction with apprenticeship roles and companies where I had relevant domain knowledge (biomedical and pharmaceutical). If you are switching careers, do not underestimate the value of what you already know from your previous field.
joB hunting Tips
Not all companies have the same policies when it comes to their early career programmes. Some companies will consider your application even if you graduated a couple of years ago or if you are not a school leaver so do not rule yourself out too quickly!
Apprenticeships allow you to learn while getting paid. Not all apprenticeships are the same and it is worth knowing the difference before you start. In the UK, there are two main types:
- Level 4 apprenticeships equivalent to a foundation degree, a great entry point into tech
- Degree apprenticeships (Level 6) equivalent to a full bachelor’s degree, you earn while you learn
You can search for apprenticeship opportunities in the UK at Find an Apprenticeship service at GOV.UK.
Both are valid paths. It really depends on where you are on your journey.
When it comes to finding opportunities, larger companies usually advertise on their own career pages and on official platforms. Smaller companies often post directly on their website or LinkedIn, so it is worth checking those too. Do not rely on just one place!
These positions usually open at the same time each year, so make sure you are ready. Note the key dates in your calendar so you do not miss the window.
Building my CV & highlighting my transferable skills
I updated my CV to lead with my technical skills while also highlighting my transferable skills. The CFGdegree team project, the problem-solving, the collaboration with others under deadlines, all of this is relevant experience. Do not hide it. Put it front and centre.
One important lesson: always research what the company is looking for and what they value. Then adapt your CV accordingly. A tailored application is far more effective than a generic one.
Preparing for Interviews (and Learning from Failures)
I failed a lot of interviews. But with each one, I understood the process a little better and I got sharper. I started to find the right angle for each company. Rejection is not the end, it is information. Use it.
I prepared video interview answers. They used to be my nemesis, remember, that was the stage where I was initially rejected! Now they have become second nature because I have done a lot of them!
I also practised coding challenges at the easy and medium level on platforms like LeetCode.
I spent real time understanding each company’s values, interview process, and what they look for in early-career candidates.
I also practised coding challenges at easy and medium level on platforms like LeetCode, and spent time understanding each company’s values, interview process and what they look for in an early-careers candidate.
Little by little, I was finally getting to the final stage interview and finally getting offers at the end of 2022 and in early 2023!
What the process actually looks like to apply
At large company early career program
If you are applying to a large company for their early career program like I did, expect a few stages before you meet anyone in person. A typical process might include a motivation or values based application, a recorded video interview, a coding challenge, and some values or culture fit questions. It can feel like a lot at first, but I promise it gets easier.
At small or medium size company
For smaller and medium sized companies, the process tends to feel a bit more personal. I usually reached out directly to the recruiter with a short message explaining my background and why I was interested in the company. Most of the time, the next step was a take home exercise — either a system design task or a small coding project. After that, I would have a technical conversation with the hiring manager to talk through my experience and walk them through what I had built. It felt more like a conversation than an exam, which I really appreciated.
My honest tip? Use your application as practice
Think of those early applications as training rounds. I did exactly this, and it made a real difference. When I finally got to the interviews that mattered most, I was not going in blind. I had already been through the process enough times to know what to expect and how to show up well.
The goal is simple: arrive at your dream company as the most practiced, confident version of yourself!
Full time software engineer lens
I accepted a software engineer apprenticeship offer at a large company in March 2023 and secured the permanent position I hold today.
When I finally interviewed for the role I now hold, we talked at length about my experience with CFGdegree. The team project, handling feedback and failure, working to deadlines, communicating with different people. These topics were central to the conversation. The programme had prepared me for exactly the questions that mattered.
On my first day as junior software engineer, I was told: “We are not expecting you to know everything. Ask questions and learn!” I became very well known for asking a lot of questions. Curiosity and the ability to apply what you learn is what moves you forward in this career.
Now that I am a full time software engineer with experience under my belt, I can tell you this communication is key. A huge part of my day is talking through ideas, asking questions, reframing problems, and explaining my thinking clearly and concisely to bring people with me.
And here is the truth about tech: nobody knows everything, and nobody is expected to. We are here to adapt, to learn, to ask good questions, and to figure things out. That is the job.
I work with a team, and we win together. Collaborative skills are not a nice to have, they are at the heart of everything!
The Journey Is Worth It
Taking the CFGdegree sponsored by Code First Girls may have seemed unconventional at first as there are no guaranteed job placements tied to the programme. Looking back, I’m really glad I took that opportunity! It gave me the skills and freedom to carve my own path into tech. I have learnt a lot on the journey from building confidence and resilience to strong communication and adaptation skills!
Conclusion
If you are thinking about enrolling but are worried you do not have a company backing you, I want you to hear this: you do not need one to start. What you need is the commitment to show up, learn, build, and keep going when things feel hard. The CFG community, and the programme itself will be there to support you.
And when you are ready to job hunt? Be strategic, tailor everything, embrace the failures as lessons. Remember what the programme taught you about working with people and communication.
You’ve got this!
