Career stories: Going mobile in NYC

LinkedIn Engineering Team
7 min readintermediate
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Overview

The article discusses Christine's journey from graphic design to mobile engineering at LinkedIn, highlighting her experiences with internal mobility and training programs. It emphasizes the importance of mentorship and support in transitioning careers within the tech industry.

What You'll Learn

1

How to transition from frontend to mobile engineering using internal training programs

2

Why mentorship is crucial for career development in tech

3

How to leverage coding bootcamps for skill enhancement

Prerequisites & Requirements

  • Basic understanding of frontend development concepts
  • Experience in web development

Key Questions Answered

What motivated Christine to switch from frontend to mobile engineering?
Christine was motivated to switch from frontend to mobile engineering due to her interest in mobile apps and the opportunity provided by LinkedIn's Mobile Academy bootcamp. This program allowed her to learn new programming languages, Swift and Objective-C, and gain the skills necessary for mobile development.
How did Christine's background in graphic design influence her tech career?
Christine's background in graphic design influenced her tech career by sparking her interest in frontend engineering, where she could combine her artistic skills with technology. This led her to explore coding and ultimately transition into software engineering, where she could enhance user experiences through design.
What role did LinkedIn's Mobile Academy play in Christine's career transition?
LinkedIn's Mobile Academy played a crucial role in Christine's career transition by providing structured training in mobile development. The program included mentorship and hands-on coding challenges, enabling her to successfully switch from a frontend engineer to a mobile engineer.

Technologies & Tools

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Key Actionable Insights

1
Consider enrolling in a coding bootcamp to enhance your technical skills and explore new areas in tech.
Bootcamps provide structured learning environments and mentorship, which can be invaluable for career transitions, as demonstrated by Christine's journey.
2
Seek out supportive supervisors who encourage your career development and exploration of new roles.
Having a mentor or manager who supports your career aspirations can significantly impact your ability to transition into new fields, as seen in Christine's experience at LinkedIn.
3
Leverage internal mobility programs within your organization to explore different engineering roles.
Internal mobility programs can provide opportunities for skill development and career advancement, making it easier to switch paths within the same company.

Common Pitfalls

1
Underestimating the importance of mentorship in career development.
Many engineers may overlook the value of having a mentor, which can provide guidance, support, and opportunities for growth. Actively seeking mentorship can help navigate career transitions more effectively.

Related Concepts

Career Transitions In Tech
Importance Of Mentorship
Mobile Development Frameworks