From Concrete to Code: How One Aussie Found His Dream Software Engineering Job in the U.S.

Meet Jacob, a software engineer at the Austin-based adtech company Koddi. Though he now spends his days building applications with PHP and JavaScript, just a few years ago he was working construction jobs under the hot Australian sun. This is the story of how he made the leap from concrete technician to coder—and how you can too.

Dreaming of a Different Life

Growing up in a small coastal town, Jacob had limited career options. With construction booming, he fell into the field right out of high school. For years, he worked 12-hour days shoveling cement, hauling heavy equipment, and pouring foundations in scorching temperatures.

"It was backbreaking work," Jacob recalls. "The heat was relentless, and the labor left me sore for days. I knew I couldn‘t do it forever."

Yet the stability of a steady paycheck and the camaraderie of his crew made it hard to contemplate a change. It wasn‘t until a close friend landed a job at a tech startup that Jacob began to dream of a different life.

"My mate would tell me stories about the crazy perks at his office, like free meals and nap pods," Jacob says. "But what really got me was the creative problem-solving he was doing. I wanted to build something meaningful too."

Making the Leap

Feeling stuck, Jacob made the bold decision to move across the world and start fresh in the U.S. Leaving his tight-knit community was heart-wrenching, but he knew staying meant giving up on his dreams.

"There was zero tech where I‘m from," he explains. "If I wanted a shot at a different life, I had to take a risk."

That risk began with enrolling in a coding bootcamp. Having never written a line of code, Jacob threw himself into his studies for months on end. He spent 60+ hours a week mastering programming fundamentals, building full-stack web applications, and collaborating with classmates.

"Those first weeks made construction seem easy!" he jokes. "But as challenging as it was, I loved it. Coding gave me a sense of purpose and creativity I‘d never experienced."

Indeed, the intense mental stimulation was a welcome change from the monotony of manual labor. Though the days were just as long, Jacob found himself energized rather than depleted.

"When you‘re coding, you get into this flow state where hours fly by," he describes. "Your brain is firing on all cylinders, but it doesn‘t feel like work. You‘re solving puzzles and making things come to life on your screen."

Breaking into Tech

The intensive training paid off when Jacob graduated with a robust portfolio of projects, including a mobile app for construction site safety he dubbed "HardHat." Yet he knew the hardest part was still ahead: breaking into the competitive tech job market.

His solution? Putting himself out there and making as many connections as possible.

"I reached out to every bootcamp alum and software engineer I could find on LinkedIn," Jacob says. "I sent hundreds of messages asking for quick coffee chats or phone calls to learn about their experiences."

To his surprise, dozens of strangers were happy to share their stories and advice. They guided Jacob through polishing his resume, prepping for technical interviews, and scoping out worthwhile job postings.

Those casual chats soon turned into formal interviews. When a junior developer role at Koddi opened up, Jacob had not one but three employee referrals to help him get noticed. After a round of technical screens and a take-home coding challenge, he sealed the deal.

"I‘ll never forget the rush of getting that offer," Jacob beams. "It felt unreal that my hard work had actually taken me from shoveling gravel to developing software."

Life as a Software Engineer

At Koddi, Jacob works on an agile team building applications for the travel industry. He spends his days writing clean, modular code, squashing bugs, and shipping features using PHP, JavaScript, and Python.

It‘s fast-paced and challenging work, but he wouldn‘t have it any other way. The constant learning curve keeps him engaged, while the supportive team culture makes even the toughest problems feel surmountable.

"The best part is seeing real people using the stuff I‘ve built," Jacob shares. "Knowing my code is out there making someone‘s life a little easier is incredibly rewarding."

Beyond the day-to-day responsibilities, Jacob appreciates the perks of tech life he once envied from afar. Catered lunches, office happy hours, and quarterly hackathons are now a regular part of his world.

But the biggest upgrade? The freedom and flexibility to create his own schedule.

"I still work hard, but now it‘s on my own terms," he explains. "If I need a break or have to handle some personal stuff, I can step away from my desk without asking permission. That autonomy is priceless."

Paying It Forward

Reflecting on how far he‘s come, Jacob has a few key pieces of advice for other aspiring developers:

1. Believe in yourself. Learning to code is challenging, but anyone can do it with enough persistence. Don‘t let doubt hold you back.

2. Focus on fundamentals. Trendy frameworks come and go, but having a solid grasp of programming basics will serve you in any tech role.

3. Build real projects. Textbook exercises are important, but nothing beats the experience of shipping functional apps to showcase in your portfolio.

4. Find your community. Whether it‘s an online forum, local meetup, or bootcamp cohort, having a supportive network is crucial. Seek out people who inspire and challenge you.

5. Just start. You‘ll never feel 100% ready to make a big change. At some point, you have to take a deep breath and go for it. The first step is always the hardest.

Looking ahead, Jacob is excited to keep growing as an engineer and eventually take on leadership roles. He dreams of managing his own team and mentoring junior developers, particularly those from non-traditional backgrounds.

In the meantime, he‘s committed to sharing his story and encouraging others to pursue their passions, no matter how daunting the obstacles may seem.

"If you have a vision for your life, don‘t wait for permission to chase it," Jacob asserts. "Bet on yourself and put in the work. The payoff is so much bigger than you can imagine."

Following the Path

Jacob‘s journey is far from unique. According to Course Report, tens of thousands of students graduate from coding bootcamps each year, with 83% landing a tech job within 6 months.

For many, the appeal is the short training time and high earning potential. While a traditional computer science degree takes 4 years and costs upwards of $40,000, the average bootcamp runs just 14 weeks and $13,500. Yet bootcamp grads report an average starting salary of $67,000.

Of course, a successful career transition takes more than tuition money. It requires serious dedication, resilience, and a willingness to start from scratch in a fast-paced field.

But for those up for the challenge, the rewards can be life-changing. Just ask software engineer and bootcamp grad Priyanka, who tripled her income after leaving a dead-end retail job to learn full-stack development.

"I never thought I‘d be able to afford my own place or pay off my student loans," she shares. "But learning to code opened up a world of opportunity I didn‘t even know existed."

Similarly, former teacher Michael says the hard work of his bootcamp training paid dividends in job satisfaction and quality of life.

"I loved working with kids, but the long hours and low pay were burning me out," he reflects. "Now I use my coding skills to build educational apps, so I still get to make an impact—just with better work-life balance and way more room for growth."

Charting Your Own Course

Feeling inspired by these stories? Here are some concrete steps you can take to begin your own coding journey:

1. Try a free intro course. Platforms like Codecademy, freeCodeCamp, and Coursera offer beginner-friendly tutorials in languages like JavaScript, Python, and HTML/CSS. Dip your toes in and see what clicks.

2. Choose a learning path. There‘s no one "right" way to become a developer. Bootcamps work well for those who want live instruction and job support, while self-study may suit those who prefer complete flexibility. Consider your goals, timeline, and budget when evaluating options.

3. Join a community. Look for local tech meetups, join Twitter chats and Discord servers for #100DaysOfCode or #CodeNewbie, and follow industry blogs like DEV and Hacker Noon. Learning alongside others keeps you motivated and connected.

4. Build your portfolio. Once you‘ve learned the basics, start creating projects to showcase your growing skills. Choose something you‘re passionate about, whether it‘s a movie review site, a to-do list app, or a data visualization dashboard. The more you build, the more marketable you become.

5. Attend job fairs and conferences. Industry events like SXSW, Web Summit, and Grace Hopper Celebration are gold mines for networking and scoping out potential employers. Many have discounted tickets or scholarships available for students and career-changers.

Above all, remember that a successful transition into tech is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay focused on your end goals, but be patient with the inevitable ups and downs along the way.

With the right mix of persistence, creativity, and (occasionally) a well-timed Dance Dance Revolution break, you‘ll get to where you want to go. Just keep coding, and don‘t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

The world of bits and bytes awaits.

Did you find Jacob‘s story inspiring? How are you taking steps to learn programming and switch up your career? Let us know in the comments below!