From merchandiser to web developer

Starting out with no clear direction

After graduating from university, I started my career as a merchandiser. Honestly, I never imagined that one day I would become a web developer. Like many graduates from non-specialized backgrounds, I had no idea what kind of job I wanted, let alone any concrete career plans. My mindset back then was simple: as long as I put effort into whatever job I took, I would eventually be rewarded.

Realizations from years as a merchandiser

A few years into my role as a merchandiser, I met many different people and made a lot of friends. Even though the work was busy, I rarely encountered any major challenges on the work. To be a competent merchandiser, I learned that attention to detail and the ability to collaborate with others were the most important qualities. However, after several years, the major struggle for me was not knowing how I could further improve myself or stand out, since the technical demands of my daily work were not particularly high. My colleagues around me seemed quite satisfied with their current situation, but I still wasn’t sure about my own career path.

A turning point: Discovering web development

Until one day, the company I was working for needed someone to create a company website. They had been communicating with several web development companies for a while, but when they received the finished product, they were not very satisfied with the result. At that time, I knew nothing about web development, but this incident sparked my curiosity about what it really takes to create a website. I started to learn about HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. I watched many related tutorial videos, read books, and took some online courses. I learned a lot of things I had never encountered before, and I became fascinated by it. I finally realized what I wanted to do for a living, which led to the idea of changing my career.

Facing the challenges of a career change

Although I had the desire to switch career, taking real action was not easy. I had never studied anything related to IT in the university and had no idea if I could handle the work. On top of that, I had already been working in the merchandising industry for some time. Was it too late to make a change? I was full of questions but had very few answers. Fortunately, after persistent learning and repeated attempts, I finally got an opportunity to become a web developer. I know I was lucky, and I’m truly grateful that I made this decision.

Main reason for a career change

I won’t say that salary wasn’t a factor in my decision to change career, but it was definitely not the only reason. More importantly, I wanted to excel at my job. One of the best things about being a developer is that there’s always something new to learn — if you’re willing to, the industry never stops evolving. Besides, being able to create something with my own hands gives me immense satisfaction.

Embracing uncertainty and self-doubt

I believe that everyone faces struggles at different points in life, but trust me, you’re not alone. You’re not the only one who doubts yourself or lacks confidence. It took me a long time to figure out what kind of work suited me. Going from a merchandiser with no portfolio to a web developer was a huge and difficult step for me. Even after making the switch, I still have plenty of doubts about the future: Am I capable enough to handle the work? What should I learn next to improve myself? Can I become a good developer? There will always be new questions, but we have to believe that it’s never too late. Believe in yourself, and keep working step by step to become the person you want to be.

Looking ahead: My ongoing goal

In the end, my goal is to keep learning and improving, continue to make things I like, and to do my best to become a better developer.

To everyone who is thinking about changing career or struggling with their current situation, keep going. You might not be able to change your circumstances immediately, but as long as you make a little progress every day, you’ll eventually reach your destination.