“After a few months of self-studying, I realized that I needed to prioritize my time.”
With a diploma in Computer Engineering on hand, Norven decided to take the leap and join the IT industry through programming. Throughout the many obstacles that he faced, he continued strong paving his path until he’s successfully become the Web Developer that he is today.
(Interviewed and written by Akiko Iwai)
—— Introduce yourself to the Zuitt Community.
My name is Norven. I am a graduate of Zuitt’s Tech Career Program, Batch 337, and I am currently based in Cebu, working as a developer. Prior to Zuitt, I earned a diploma in Computer Engineering. Although the program didn’t involve much programming, I was still able to learn a good amount from it.
While I was studying, I also worked as an illustrator for a US-based company, mainly creating packaging labels and technical illustrations. By the time I graduated, I was already in my fourth year with that job.
After completing my diploma in Computer Engineering, I realized that I wasn’t working in the field I had studied for. That’s when I decided to find a way to transition into the tech industry.
In the beginning, my journey involved a lot of self-learning. While working in my illustration job, I spent much of my free time studying on my own. Back then, most of my focus was on learning how to make games because I wanted to become a game developer.
After some time, I landed my first job as a junior programmer. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to secure the role after the probationary period. I realized I needed to learn more beyond what I knew from game development. On top of that, the job wasn’t even in game development—it was in a completely different field.
When I left that job, I went through several months of self-discovery. I revisited graphics work to figure out whether I truly wanted to leave illustration behind. During that time, I brushed up on my graphic design skills and even learned a bit of animation. Eventually, though, I decided to fully commit to coding, branching out from game development into a broader path in tech.
That was when I started diving into all the resources I could find online. I went through YouTube tutorials, FreeCodeCamp, and bought a lot of Udemy courses—which I had been slowly collecting every time I got my salary. Since I didn’t have a job at that time, I used the opportunity to focus fully on self-learning and made sure to study every day.
However, after a while, I started to feel lost because there was just so much to learn. There were so many different paths into the tech industry, and I didn’t know which one to take. I remember literally searching online, “How do I get into the tech industry?” I combed through Google results, watched countless YouTube videos, and listened to advice from developers who shared their experiences.
In the end, I realized there were really only three main options:
- Continue learning on my own.
- Take the traditional route by going back to college to finish my bachelor’s degree (since I only had a diploma).
- Enroll in a training course or a coding bootcamp.
I started with self-learning, but I quickly realized it wasn’t enough. My progress was slow, and I wasn’t learning as efficiently as I needed to. That’s when I began searching for a program that truly stood out—and I found Zuitt, which was ranked as the #1 coding bootcamp in the Philippines.
Through Zuitt, I gained the skills and knowledge I needed, and it ultimately led me to where I am today: working as a full-stack web developer.
—— Did you have any doubts before enrolling?
I definitely had my doubts—not about the program itself, but more about whether I really wanted to make that kind of financial investment instead of just continuing to learn on my own, even if it would take more time. After weighing my options, I realized that my time was more valuable at that point. I wanted to make the career shift faster, and enrolling in a program was the best way to do that.
—— What made you enroll in Zuitt’s Tech Career Program?
Joining the bootcamp was exactly what I needed to strengthen my foundations in coding. As I mentioned earlier, I already had some experience with coding and creating applications, but there were a lot of gaps in my knowledge that I needed to fill. The program helped me patch those holes and build a solid foundation. It gave me the skills I needed to confidently do the work I have now as a web developer.
—— Was Zuitt able to help you with your goals?
I would say absolutely. Even though I already had some coding background, Zuitt was the course that truly stabilized my foundation. I’m now working as a full-stack web developer, using the same technologies that Zuitt taught. The knowledge and skills I rely on every day at work all came from the program.
Thanks to the mentors and the opportunities we were given to apply what we learned, I became confident in both my abilities and the process of learning itself. That experience made me comfortable with creating, experimenting, and growing as a developer—and I think that’s really cool.
Right now, I feel confident about where I am in my career. Wherever it takes me, I know I’ll be fine as long as I keep learning and persist. And I have Zuitt to thank for helping me reach that point.
——Any advice for those who are interested in career shifting?
To anyone interested in getting into the tech industry—whether you’re a student or someone currently working in a completely different field—my advice is to start with self-learning. When you want to pick up a new skill to land the job you’re aiming for, it often begins with exploring things on your own. Find the time, even if it’s just a little each day, and see if the interest really sticks. Try building small projects, watch tutorials, and use the resources available online. If you find yourself enjoying the process and the interest clicks, then you’ll know this path is for you.
If you have plenty of time, self-learning can work well. But if you’re struggling to figure out what to learn, or if you want to move faster, then I highly recommend joining a program. It really is a game changer. Having mentors guide you and learning alongside other students will help you gain skills more quickly and with more confidence compared to doing it alone.
That said, I always remind people to think carefully. Career-shifting into tech is not for everyone. It’s not impossibly hard, but it does require persistence. To succeed, you need to embrace being a lifelong learner. The tech industry is always changing—AI is emerging, new frameworks are being introduced, and tools are constantly evolving. You’ll always need to keep learning. If you’re genuinely interested in creating—whether it’s games, websites, or any kind of software—and if you have the drive to learn and adapt, then this is a path worth taking.
Remember: persistence and grit are essential. The journey never really ends because you’ll always be learning and creating. It’s not super easy, but it’s not super difficult either. You don’t need to be amazing at math or science to get started, and the bar for beginners is not as high as many think. With the vast resources available online, there will always be a way to begin. And if you’re not sure how to start, a structured program is the best option—I personally recommend Zuitt for that.
If you have a similar experience to share with our boot campers, drop us a message at marketing@zuitt.co.
