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How this software engineer pivoted from social work to tech

Handshake Software Engineer Joel Pratt breaks down how he changed paths and built his dream career.

Interested in getting a first hand account of a full-time career in software engineering? We joined with Handshake's own Joel Pratt to get just that. Joel is a software engineer with a background in social work, who shared his insights on topics like:

  • Pivoting your career to find the right path for you
  • An average day in the life of a software engineer
  • Soft skills needed to thrive in a technical skill heavy career
  • Independently learning to code

During the event he also gave tips on finding that first internship or job as a software engineer, highlighting personal projects on your resume, and the ways in which he overcame challenges early in his career. Enjoy the full conversation below!

Like what you see? Add a post on the Handshake feed about your favorite lessons from the session, and check out our upcoming Handshake events!

Photo by ThisIsEngineering on Pexels

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