The path to becoming a Front-End Developer can be as unique as the talents themselves, with diverse backgrounds and experiences shaping their journey into the tech world. One such story is of Reiz's Front-End Developer Amadėjus Valionis, who transitioned from crafting jewellery to coding, demonstrating how skills developed in one field can often transfer and flourish in another.
Before embarking on a career in IT, Amadėjus worked in a completely different field - jewellery making. After completing courses in a vocational school and acquiring the specialty of a cook and confectioner, he found himself, through a friend's suggestion, in the world of handmade jewellery. It was a highly creative role where clients would often bring custom designs, some based on dreams, and they would bring those ideas to life. "I'm lucky to constantly run into amazing people, here was no different," Amadėjus reflects, adding how learned a great deal from his mentor, a master jeweller.
However, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, work became scarce and financial uncertainty loomed. It was during the second lockdown that a dear friend suggested programming to Amadėjus as a new avenue to explore. Initially sceptical due to a lack of confidence in his mathematical abilities, Amadėjus was reassured that programming is more about problem-solving than maths - something he was already familiar with through his experience with troubleshooting and learning new skills. This perspective intrigued Amadėjus and he began exploring programming.
Amadėjus began his learning journey by exploring online resources. "I found some courses on Udemy that I liked and I preferred the video format because it matched my learning style," he says. Even while working as a jeweller, he made time to study. "I used an Android app during breaks and my daily commute to learn the basics, and after work, I studied the Udemy courses." His passion for learning eventually led him to Kaunas Information Technology School. At that point, he decided to quit his job and enrol in their full-stack development program. This intensive three-month course focused on back-end .NET development and included practical team projects, such as building a workspace booking app.
Of course, the journey wasn't without its challenges. The transition demanded resilience, particularly when faced with the vast amount of new knowledge to take in. Financial difficulties added to the pressure as Amadėjus started running out of savings during the course. Moments of doubt crept in, with thoughts of not being cut out for the work, but he pushed through:
One turning point in Amadėjus' journey came when he joined a Front-End Bootcamp led by a programmer at Reiz. This experience ultimately opened the door to an internship at Reiz, where he found the support he needed to grow as a developer. "From the beginning, I was supervised by amazing people who helped onboard me to projects and set new learning goals," he explains. "I had opportunities for pair programming and shadowing other developers, which greatly contributed to my growth."
When reflecting on how his background in jewellery crafting translates to IT, Amadėjus sees clear parallels - both fields require problem-solving and creativity. In jewellery, he had to design new pieces, often finding better and more efficient ways to craft the items. Similarly, in programming, innovative thinking is crucial. He also learned the importance of perseverance. "Whether in jewellery or coding, you can't give up when faced with a tough task. You just have to keep pushing through."
Now, as a Front-End Developer, Amadėjus enjoys watching his work take shape. Seeing new features come to life and being part of the creation process is incredibly satisfying to him. "I love collaborating with smart people and learning from them as we solve problems together. It makes me feel useful and keeps me on a continuous path of improvement," adds Amadėjus.
For anyone considering a career transition into IT, Amadėjus’ advice is to create the right mindset and learning environment:
Amadėjus' journey from jewellery crafting to Front-End development is a powerful example of how diverse skills and experiences can come together in unexpected ways. His creativity, problem-solving abilities and determination have helped him thrive in a new industry, proving that it's never too late to pursue a new career path.
Ready to take your career to the next step? Browse our open positions and start fresh.
