7 Lessons from Two Career Pivots at Springboard

Table of Contents

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• Lesson 1 – Start Before You Feel Ready
• Lesson 2 – Structure and Accountability Matter
• Lesson 3 – Projects Should Show How You Think
• Lesson 4 – Mentorship and Coaching Multiply Progress
• Lesson 5 – Treat the Job Search Like a Job
• Lesson 6 – Use AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch
• Lesson 7 – Stay Open to Adjacent Roles

Breaking into tech looks very different today than it did just a few years ago. Hiring expectations have risen, portfolios carry more weight, and AI has reshaped how many teams work day-to-day. Miriam and Julie – two Springboard graduates – both have journeys that highlight a shared truth: successful career pivots aren’t driven by shortcuts or perfect timing. By starting even before they felt ready, leaning into mentorship, building meaningful projects, and approaching the job search with intention, both were able to turn uncertainty into momentum.

Lesson 1 – Start Before You Feel Ready

One of the biggest myths about breaking into tech is that you need to feel “ready” before you begin. In reality, many successful career pivots start from a place of uncertainty. That was true for both Miriam and Julie, despite their very different backgrounds.

Miriam returned to technology after spending more than a decade in education and school administration. While she held a computer science degree, the gap between her past experience and the modern tech stack felt enormous.

“Even though I had studied computer science years ago, I was basically starting fresh. I initially tried [Springboard’s] experienced track, but I felt lost, so they moved me into the beginner track, which worked out great.”

Julie had already worked in product design and held multiple credentials, yet found herself struggling to gain traction during a competitive job search. Rather than waiting to feel fully prepared, she recognized that forward momentum mattered more.

“In 2023, I was job hunting and struggling to land interviews or build a portfolio independently. I wanted structure, accountability, and support, so I looked into bootcamps and decided Springboard was the right fit.”

These stories reinforce an essential reality: successful career pivoters don’t wait to eliminate uncertainty. They move forward with it. Programs like Springboard work best when learners are willing to start imperfectly and build confidence through progress rather than preparation alone.

Lesson 2 – Structure and Accountability Matter

Flexibility is valuable, but without structure, it can stall momentum. For Miriam, the difference between Springboard and self-paced learning was clarity. Rather than piecing together isolated tutorials or short online classes, she saw a clear path laid out from start to finish.

“It wasn’t like buying a $30 online course – I could see the full curriculum laid out, broken down into sequential modules, sub-courses, and assignments. That made a big difference. Learning online can feel scattered, but Springboard’s clear and structured path helped keep me grounded and purposefully moving forward.”

That structure allowed her to study around parenting and family commitments while still maintaining momentum. Progress dashboards, completion goals, and defined milestones gave her a tangible sense of forward movement – even when life slowed things down.

Julie benefited from similar guardrails, even extending her program beyond 6 months (at no additional cost) to deepen her portfolio. That flexibility wasn’t about procrastination; it was about giving herself the space to strengthen her capstone project and Independent Design Project. Structure didn’t limit her – it enabled more thoughtful, higher-quality work.

Lesson 3 – Projects Should Show How You Think

In today’s tech hiring market, portfolios matter – but not in the way many candidates expect. Employers are less interested in polished outcomes than they are in understanding how candidates approach problems. 

Miriam completed two major capstone projects, including a full stack meal planning application and an Airbnb-style booking platform. Beyond the technical tools involved, what stood out most was the confidence she built by owning projects end to end.

“I felt accomplished by taking those projects from idea to final product and building a full stack project.”

For someone returning to tech after a long gap, that experience wasn’t just about coding – it was proof that she could design, build, debug, and ship functional software in a modern environment.

Julie’s portfolio grew through real client work, not just hypothetical exercises. For her Independent Design Project, she was paired with a women’s health physiotherapy clinic, where she worked with a team to design the clinic’s onboarding experience, mobile app, and internal platform.

After Springboard, that same client hired Julie as a contractor to continue developing the product. The project became a central portfolio piece and helped her land her current role at Twin Health. Rather than showcasing polished screens in isolation, the work demonstrated end-to-end ownership, collaboration, and the ability to design for real users and business constraints – exactly what employers look for when evaluating experienced candidates.

Lesson 4 – Mentorship and Coaching Multiply Progress

Technical skills and strong projects can only take you so far without guidance. Mentorship and career coaching played a critical role for both graduates, helping them navigate uncertainty and stay grounded.

Julie worked closely with an experienced design mentor who brought years of real-world perspective into each session. 

“I felt so validated being able to talk through ideas with someone who was just as passionate about design. My mentor helped set real-world expectations and guided me through refining my process and building confidence.”

That validation mattered, especially during a challenging job search. Having someone consistently sense-check decisions – and remind Julie that she was on the right track – helped her stay focused and confident without second-guessing every move.

Lesson 5 – Treat the Job Search Like a Job

Landing a tech role requires just as much structure and discipline as learning the skills themselves. Miriam’s early job search focused heavily on cold applications, which yielded little response. Over time, she reevaluated her strategy and leaned more intentionally into networking.

“I barely got any responses from cold applications. Eventually, I focused more on networking – that’s what paid off.”

Julie approached the job search with clear metrics and weekly goals. With guidance from Springboard’s career services team, she tracked progress and built habits that kept momentum going even when responses were slow.

“I applied to nearly 300 jobs in three months and did almost 30 interviews. The structure helped me stay on track.”

By requiring herself to submit applications, grow her network, and refine her portfolio each week, Julie treated job hunting as a repeatable process rather than an emotional rollercoaster. That consistency paid off when interviews began converting into offers.

Lesson 6 – Use AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch

AI tools have rapidly become part of everyday workflows in tech and design, but both Miriam and Julie emphasized the importance of using them strategically.

Miriam uses AI to troubleshoot, explore unfamiliar concepts, and accelerate her learning on the job. In her data engineering role, AI has become a productivity boost – helping her unblock problems more quickly without replacing her own reasoning.

Julie’s use of AI is more selective. “AI is great for synthesizing large amounts of research, but when it comes to designing full experiences – systems, edge cases, and prioritization – that still requires human judgment.”

For both graduates, the takeaway is clear: AI is most powerful in the hands of people who already understand their craft. Used thoughtfully, it accelerates learning and productivity – but it doesn’t replace foundational skills.

Lesson 7 – Stay Open to Adjacent Roles

One final lesson from Miriam’s and Julie’s experiences is the importance of flexibility. Career pivots don’t always follow a direct path – and sometimes, the best opportunities sit just outside your original target role.

Miriam wasn’t targeting data engineering roles until a referral encouraged her to apply.

“I wasn’t even applying to data engineering roles. During the interviews, I was transparent about what I knew and didn’t. They were hiring for Python and SQL skills – both of which I had learned at Springboard – so they felt I was a good fit. It shows how valuable it is to be open to adjacent roles in tech.”

By being transparent about what she knew – and what she was still learning – Miriam built trust with the hiring team and demonstrated readiness for growth. That openness led to a fully remote data engineering role that aligned well with her skills and life priorities.

Miriam’s and Julie’s journeys highlight a shared truth: successful career pivots aren’t driven by shortcuts or perfect timing, but by structure, support, and a willingness to keep moving forward. By starting before they felt ready, leaning into mentorship, building meaningful projects, and approaching the job search with intention, both were able to turn uncertainty into momentum.

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