Iulian Biban, Software Testing graduate: "In IT, they're looking for people who aren't afraid of change"

When, after 9 years of job market experience in a different field, you say you're starting an IT career from scratch, you'd think what follows would be words like "hard" and "challenge".

But no — our graduate — Iulian Biban, talks about "change", "opportunities", "real chances for a new beginning".

Let's do a quick calculation, if you will, to show what change actually means: too many years of traditional school that didn't bring him the life he dreamed of, 108 months of experience in another industry that offered him insecurity, 8 hours a day on the job, 3-shift rotations. But the calculation only gets him to the result once he adds: a passion that started with a Pentium 4 in childhood, 6 months of training at the Informal School of IT, 2 courses, 120 hours of mentoring, n days of leave and shift swaps to physically make it to the course sessions, x hours past midnight spent sending his homework to the mentors at the Informal School of IT.

And n and x aren't unknowns, but stand for effort and dedication, which can't be quantified.

Iulian Biban has just turned 31, graduated from Intro in IT and Software Testing at the Informal School of IT, and these lines are only the beginning of an interview that isn't just about courage, but above all about passion. And change. That's what, he says, employers in IT are looking for: "people who aren't afraid of change have real chances". Iulian is one of them, and he tells us about the experience that changed his life.

"I decided I wanted to make a major change. Getting a diploma wasn't enough for me"

1. Why IT?

For 9 years I worked as a Team Leader at a multinational automotive factory. The not-exactly-pleasant work environment, the shift schedule, the risks I was exposed to every day — all of it fueled my desire for a career change. Once I decided I wanted to make a major change, I thought about what I'd like to do in the future, what my passions were, and what growth opportunities a new professional field could bring me. That's how I chose IT.

1. Why the Informal School of IT?

I needed an environment where I could really learn for real. Getting a diploma wasn't enough for me. That's why I chose the Informal School of IT, thinking I'd build up a body of knowledge that would give me very good chances of getting a job in the field. And that's exactly what happened: I made it.

1. How was the educational environment you found at the Informal School of IT different from other learning contexts?

At the Informal School of IT, you're not just handed materials or courses in electronic format that you have to get through, and then that's it: exam, diploma. I noticed that's the tradition at other institutions in the alternative education space. Not here! At the Informal School of IT you actually learn the knowledge you need to get into this industry. There's an emphasis on participating in class, on completing projects, and on turning them in on time. What I liked most was the teaching style, focused mostly on hands-on exercises, which helped me understand the theory better. The homework and projects we had to work on at home were also very important. That's when you understand best what you've been taught — when you look things up and try to properly finish the project you're working on.

"The first day of class started with a coffee"

1. What were the mentors like?

The pedagogical tact they showed, their pleasure in coming to class and sharing with us, just starting out, their own experience from IT companies, did nothing but boost my chances of getting a job in this new field.

I relived moments from around 5th grade when, I remember, I came to love English purely because of the teacher I had and how involved they got in class. I don't know if you've ever had experiences like that, but that's exactly what I felt throughout the courses, alongside the mentors at the Informal School of IT. They were wonderful. I won't forget the teaching method they used often: at the start of a session, we, the students, had to ask each other a question from the material covered in the previous session. It struck me as the most interesting and interactive teaching method I've ever taken part in.

5. What do you think someone who wants a career in the software industry should know about the Informal School of IT?

Here are a few things I consider very important, for anyone reading this interview:

• The Informal School of IT really helps you gain the knowledge you need to get hired and work in IT.
• Your chances of getting a job interview after graduating are very high. Representatives of some of the most well-known IT companies even attend the school's final project presentations.
• The mentors have notable experience in IT. They work at companies in the industry and share various practical things they've experienced firsthand in the workplace, which are extremely useful.
• The school's platform has a feedback section. The team insists that every student give feedback after each session. They care about what students think and always want to improve their services.
• The Intro in IT course is for anyone passionate about technology, regardless of age or occupation. It starts from the most basic level, so that everyone can understand the concepts being taught.

6. Do you still remember your first "day of school" as a student? What was it like?

The first day started with a coffee, in a pleasant, friendly setting. I remember being a bit surprised by what we were taught at the start of the Intro in IT course. The material was simple, basic-level stuff. Later on I understood that the goal was for absolutely everyone to understand the material, regardless of each person's level of knowledge, which I really appreciated. Step by step, we got deeper into the "heart of the matter," and I think we managed to absorb all the information.

"If you set yourself a certain goal and do everything within your power to reach it…"

7. Your biggest fears?

That I'd finish this course, just like college, and never actually manage to work in the field. That employers' requirements would be much higher than the knowledge I'd manage to pick up. I was wrong and I stressed for nothing. IT is a field with lots of opportunities — it wasn't long before I got a job. What's more, I've already applied a lot of what I learned at the Informal School of IT to my new job. And it's only the beginning… :).

8. What do you think are the essential things an employer looks for in a Software Tester, that you've also met?

Besides the technical knowledge you definitely learn in the courses, every employer is looking for someone serious, ambitious, eager to learn new things, someone who isn't afraid of change. In my case, the involvement I brought to the course sessions counted for a lot. On days when I couldn't finish a project in time, I made sure to send it in anyway, even at midnight. I think the positive feedback from the Informal School of IT also counted. A small piece of advice for anyone reading this interview: if you set yourself a certain goal and do everything within your power to reach it, the results will definitely show — sooner or later — but the point is not to let yourself be negatively influenced by the opinions around you.

9. What new things did you learn about yourself and about the IT industry through this whole experience?

I learned that I can. That I can be much more organized, that I can stick to deadlines (extremely important in this field), that I can work as part of a team. I learned that in IT it's not just you and your computer, as most people outside the industry probably think, but that a whole team works on a project. I also realized something else: the opportunities to work in IT are enormous. It's not just programmers or testers that are needed. There are many departments where there's still a big need for well-trained people.

10. What do you think is the most common prejudice in the mind of someone who doesn't have the courage to change careers, and why is it just a prejudice?

The biggest prejudice is that it's very hard to switch away from a field where you already have years of experience, that you won't be able to adapt to a completely new field, that you can't start from 0. Believe me, after 9 years of experience in another industry, I fit in and adapted very well in IT. I'm part of a wonderful team that gives me support and help whenever I have questions.

Another thing that might discourage someone could be pay. Salaries are decent even for a junior, and the growth opportunities are numerous.