He walked away from a career in finance, even though it was on an upward trend, because he decided to follow his passion for programming. But before deciding to enroll at Informal School of IT, he asked himself:
"Isn't it too late for a career change?"
Alin Chitaș found the answer. Today he works in IT! What did his experience at Informal School of IT mean to him? Here's his story!
Informal School of IT is the only institution in Cluj where you can learn ABAP Development
1. What field have you worked in until now, and why did you choose IT?
My passion for IT has always been there. But the choices I made over time led me to a career in finance. My career was on an upward trend, but I wanted a second chance to pursue my passion for programming. I thought it was too late for a career change… and that's where Informal School of IT came in.
2. Why ABAP Development?
I had the chance to be a SAP key user during a migration, to explore different areas and different modules of that software, and I was intrigued by how it worked. That's where my decision to change careers and my resolve to "turn" toward IT began. The ABAP programming language was the link to my experience in finance and the missing piece in my decision to pursue a career in IT.
Informal School of IT is the only institution in Cluj that offers the ABAP Development training program.
You won't find this in traditional education
3. What was your experience at the School like?
What adds extra value to the School is that it's almost 100% focused on hands-on practice – something you won't find in traditional education! The mentor created a pleasant learning environment from day one, and that mattered a lot. If you come to class stressed, you'll never perform at your best. So, I really enjoyed the informal atmosphere.
4. Tell us what a day of class at Informal School of IT Cluj looks like.
Every class session starts with a dose of chocolate! Then comes theory taught through exercises, video clips or drawings on the whiteboard, followed by building various programs related to that day's material, thought up ad-hoc – either by Horia, the students' mentor, or based on questions from the room. How do we end a day of learning new things? Always with more chocolate, plus some well-deserved homework!
The experience at Informal School of IT, just like individual study, mattered a great deal
5. What did you appreciate most about interacting with your mentor?
The fact that, besides teaching information strictly related to ABAP, I also got hints and guidance – both about what we might be asked in an interview, and about what we could ask the interviewer.
6. How did the job interview go?
The conversation I had with the employer was very interactive, in both directions. Alongside my attempts to convince them I was the right person, and their attempts to convince me they were the right company, there was also a technical test. Here, my experience at Informal School of IT, just like individual study, mattered a great deal. I also used my CV and the course curriculum as supporting material.
In ABAP Development you don't build spaceships. Instead, you gain knowledge that boosts your chances of finding a job in the field
7. Is there a difference between what you thought you'd learn and what you actually learned in the course?
From the very beginning I studied the curriculum and knew exactly what this training program offered. Even though it's an "informal" school, this guideline existed, and Horia – our mentor, made sure we covered every point. If you enroll in ABAP Development hoping to build spaceships, you'll be a little disappointed. By the end of this educational program, you'll have basic SAP programming knowledge, which boosts your chances of finding a job where you can grow further.
8. What are your expectations for the future?
To gain as much knowledge as possible and to keep constantly developing. I want a career just as dynamic as the field I'll be working in. I know there are big expectations of me.
A message for those reading this interview:
We all have a reason why we decide to take IT courses. But before you enroll, it's important to know exactly what you're after. Whether you want to learn more about this programming language or you want to completely change your career, the ABAP Development training program at Informal School of IT is a great way to write your own success story!
