5 Lessons from 2 Flatiron School Career Pivots

Table of Contents

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• Lesson 1 – Structure Drives Growth
• Lesson 2 – Projects Are the Proof, Not the Résumé
• Lesson 3 – Depth Matters More Than Perfection
• Lesson 4 – Treat the Job Search Like a Second Bootcamp
• Lesson 5 – Career Support Multiplies Technical Skills

Breaking into tech doesn’t hinge on a single moment of inspiration or a perfectly timed career move. More often, it’s the result of sustained effort and building a real portfolio, then networking with intention. Two Flatiron School graduates, Mai Vang and Spencer Polans share lessons for pivoting into tech – even with different backgrounds, timelines, and goals. Together, they offer a realistic picture of how career pivots work in practice.

Lesson 1 – Structure Drives Growth

Motivation alone rarely carries someone through a career pivot. Structure is what turns effort into progress.

Spencer relied on a weekly rhythm centered on lectures, assignments, and larger projects, with little margin for falling behind. Live classes with his cohort twice a week created accountability and a space to work through challenges collectively.

Mai experienced a similar structure in Flatiron’s Software Engineering program. Each week followed a clear cycle: lectures on new concepts, hands-on projects, and assessments to confirm understanding before advancing.

“At Flatiron School, I built new friendships and a strong technical foundation for my new tech career. So yes, it was worth it. I’m sure I still would have found a way into tech somehow as a software engineer, but it was worth it because Flatiron School gave me structure and the accountability to show up every day.” – Mai

Compared to her undergraduate experience, the pace was dramatically faster. But the immersion helped accelerate her learning and build confidence quickly.

“It was a cycle of lecture, project, and assessment – rinse and repeat. Compared to undergrad, the pace was much faster. I lived and breathed code every day for 15 weeks. It was intense, but the full-time immersion helped me learn more quickly and gave me the confidence to ask questions and get help. It was a busy experience, but it was absolutely worth it.” – Mai

Rather than leaving students to self-direct endlessly, Flatiron’s structure created momentum – a key ingredient for career changers who need to build skills efficiently.

Lesson 2 – Projects Are the Proof, Not the Résumé

For Flatiron School graduates, projects are more than portfolio pieces – they are the foundation of how students demonstrate readiness for technical roles.

Spencer worked on three capstone projects during the Data Science bootcamp, including a large-scale analysis of over 7.7 million U.S. traffic accidents. The project involved cleaning messy data, engineering features, running statistical tests, and translating findings into actionable recommendations for policymakers.

“We actually had three different capstones! These projects I worked on are my foundation. This is where I’ve learned my lessons in data.” – Spencer

The value of the work wasn’t just in the technical stack – Python, SQL, machine learning, Tableau – but in the ability to explain decisions, justify assumptions, and discuss tradeoffs during interviews.

Mai’s projects told a different but equally compelling story. One of her favorites, a group project called Tiny Task, required collaboration, version control, and navigating real-world challenges like merge conflicts. Presenting the finished product and walking through the code gave her confidence that translated directly into interviews.

Projects became proof of capability – not because they were perfect, but because they reflected real problem-solving.

Lesson 3 – Depth Matters More Than Perfection

One of the most overlooked aspects of technical work is how often progress involves rethinking, reworking, and discarding early assumptions. Spencer’s experience with large datasets reinforced that reality.

Working with millions of data points meant there was no obvious starting point. He had to choose which questions to pursue, test hypotheses, and abandon ideas that didn’t hold up under scrutiny.

“The data surprises you, and with every dataset I worked with, I felt like I learned something every time. There is certainly trial and error. There is learning as you go, taking lessons, and applying them.”

At times, visualizations looked “wrong,” forcing him to revisit filters, assumptions, and statistical significance. Those moments weren’t setbacks – they were where the learning happened. Flatiron School’s emphasis on experimentation prepared him for the realities of data science work, where clarity emerges through iteration, not shortcuts.

This depth-first mindset applies equally to software engineering. Mai learned quickly that mastering fundamentals mattered more than racing ahead. Understanding why code works – and how systems fit together – became more valuable than simply completing assignments.

Lesson 4 – Treat the Job Search Like a Second Bootcamp

Graduating from a bootcamp doesn’t mean the hard work is over. For many Flatiron School grads, the job search becomes a second phase that requires structure, resilience, and persistence.

Mai took nearly a year to land her first software engineering role after graduating. Rather than becoming discouraged, she approached the search with the same discipline she applied to learning code.

“I treated the job search like a full-time job – constantly networking, applying, refining projects, and building new ones.”

That consistency paid off. Over time, she became more confident discussing her skills, refining her portfolio, and articulating her growth. The process tested her resilience but ultimately strengthened her ability to navigate uncertainty, and today, Mai is a software engineer at Maizeee, where she improves performance and builds scalable UI components.

Lesson 5 – Career Support Multiplies Technical Skills

Technical instruction alone rarely carries students through a career pivot. Both Spencer and Mai highlighted the importance of Flatiron’s career services in bridging the gap between learning and employment.

Spencer leaned on career coaches to rebuild his resume from the ground up and understand what employers expect from entry-level data professionals. Coming from financial services, the shift required him to reframe his experience entirely.

Mai met regularly with a career coach for mock interviews, resume reviews, and networking strategy. 

“Flatiron also offered career services. I had a career coach who helped me practice mock interviews, improve my resume, and build a networking strategy. We met at least once a week to check in and adjust the plan. I really appreciated how robust the career support was.”

The common takeaway: career support doesn’t replace technical skill – it amplifies it by helping students present their work clearly and confidently.

Flatiron School career pivots don’t succeed because they’re easy or perfectly timed. They succeed because students commit to structure, build meaningful projects, embrace depth over polish, and approach the job search with intention.

Whether through an intensive data science immersion or a longer journey into software engineering, the same principles hold: consistent effort, thoughtful support, and a willingness to keep learning. For career changers ready to do the work, those habits make the difference.

Find out more and read Flatiron School on Course Report. This article was produced by the Course Report team in partnership with Flatiron School.