Jamie Hammond, a 31-year-old from Glasgow, has had a non-traditional path to success in software development. Despite leaving school at the age of fourteen with no formal qualifications due to personal reasons, including bullying and a disconnect with the school environment, Jamie's early interest in coding eventually led her to pursue higher education in computing.
Speaking to Jamie about her journey, she said “I started coding as a hobby at age 13, creating a website for my puppy. It was put together with HTML and very minimal CSS. It was pretty bad looking back at it, however from that day I knew I wanted to continue building websites. That led me to looking at college courses in the local area. As I didn’t have any formal qualifications, I knew my route was going to be long and unconventional. I first applied to study the NQ Computing and Games Development, which offered a gateway to explore different aspects of computing and gave me a clear sense of direction, leading to further studies at HNC and HND Software Development.”
During her time at college, Jamie credits the support and encouragement from key lecturers, particularly Sam Hassan and Clare Lowe, as crucial to her success. "I know it may seem very cliché, but they helped me excel during my years studying at the college," Jamie recalls. These mentors not only nurtured her technical skills but also gave her the confidence to pursue web development and design. Clare Lowe’s support extended beyond the classroom, as she assisted with her recommendation for university.
One of the standout elements of Jamie's college experience was the inclusive and supportive environment, she said
There was never any judgement of skill level all the lecturer’s cared about was building you up as person.
'The diverse curriculum also allowed me to explore different areas of software development, eventually helping me find my niche in front-end web development.”
However, Jamie admits that the journey was not without its challenges. She continued, “I frequently faced feelings of imposter syndrome, a common issue in the tech industry. There are so many avenues to pursue and a lot to learn.
Thankfully the support at the college was great, I was never afraid to ask for help or guidance.
'Another challenge was being focused on the end goal, which at the time was getting into university. My advice is to find your niche and enjoy what you do.”
In 2014, after completing her HND, Jamie transitioned directly into the third year of the BSc (Hons) in Web Systems Development at Glasgow Caledonian University. This was an intense experience, and while Jamie acknowledges that jumping straight into the third year was stressful, it was also a significant step in her career progression.
Post-university, Jamie's career began in digital agencies, where she gained hands-on experience working on various projects. However, the majority of her career has been spent in financial services, where she currently works as a Senior Software Engineer at JP Morgan. Jamie said, “My work focuses primarily on front-end web development, I can proudly say that without the access to free education and the entry requirements of the college courses I would not be where I am today.”
Reflecting on her journey, Jamie emphasises the critical role that her college experience played in getting her to where she is today.
Without the qualifications I received at college I would never have been able to go to university. It’s not just the qualifications that have helped me it’s the technical and soft skills along the way. You meet many different people and personalities at college, it prepares you for your career.
A decade has passed since Jamie completed her HND, and she remains committed to her career at JP Morgan. For those looking to build a successful career, Jamie advises: “If you find a great place to grow your career, hold onto it.” College in her words has been life changing and she is excited to see what the next ten years have in store.