“I was able to jump straight into writing test plans with everyone else and I would not have known how to do any of that if it wasn’t for Makers.”
Katie Coleman is currently completing a quality engineering apprenticeship. Set to graduate in 2025 she’s already added testing skills to her toolkit with Makers and is currently gaining valuable work experience during her placement at Aviva. Find out how she’s found transitioning from hairdressing into tech.
Katie Coleman
What were you doing before Makers?
Before joining Makers I was a full time mum and then became a hairdresser. I enjoyed hairdressing but struggled balancing running my hairdressing business and family life. I started looking into apprenticeships and found one for quality engineering. I have always been a gamer and had a curious mindset for how things are made and what boundaries can be pushed. For some reason I had never considered a career in tech but glad I went for it!
What has been a highlight of your apprenticeship so far?
I absolutely love learning all things tech! Our coaches Neil Studd and Paul Gilson were so fantastic, passionate and knowledgeable — there was never a dull day. After Makers Bootcamp I went back into placement with relevant knowledge that I could put into practice straight away at Aviva. I understood technical terms being used in meetings and gained experience using Selenium, which my colleagues were pleasantly surprised by. I was able to jump straight into writing test plans with everyone else and I would not have known how to do any of that if it wasn’t for Makers.
How has being a career switcher supported you as an engineer?
Thanks to my previous roles I have a great mix of transferable skills such as customer service and communication skills. This makes giving feedback and talking to various team members in an empathetic way a much easier and less stressful process. I have a keen eye for detail thanks to my hairdressing career and I have found I appreciate learning more being a mature student, it feels fresh and exciting to pick up a new skill and it reminds me what I am capable of.
How can organisations benefit from hiring career switchers?
More organisations should consider career switchers because they are going to be some of your most dedicated, multi-skilled and well balanced workers. Give a person wanting a new opportunity a chance to challenge and prove themselves and I can guarantee it will be done with full vigour.
Interested in kickstarting your career in quality engineering like Katie? Speak to our team today at contact@makers.tech.
