From Baker to Software Engineer at MICROSOFT in 2 Years

Welcome back! I've made a video on my journey before, but since I am making weekly videos now decided it would be a great time to retell my story to anyone that is new!
Yes, I did in fact go from being a full-time baker to working as a software engineer at Microsoft in under 2 years time. In this video, I talk all about how I got there, what I learned, where I worked prior and what program I took to make it happen.
Here is a link to the Microsoft LEAP Apprenticeship Program: www.microsoft.com/en-us/leap/
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Instagram: / synsation_
TikTok: / synsation_

[@synsation]

Comment here what you want me to talk about on my channel next

[@ArabSoul212]

Hey so you still don’t have a bachelors degree ? And if you did do you think the journey would have been harder or easier ?

[@alexp8854]

Thanks a lot for sharing all your story. Love it a lot!!! Want to be successful in my life like you. Thanks 🙏

[@shawwalmuhammad]

Your favourite tech stack, a day in Microsoft office vlog and how to make a great content on KZbin and Instagram.

[@andreaskonomis3]

Talk about the experience so far with your startup. Would be really interesting to hear about it

[@Viralvlogvideos]

Inspiring. How did you prepare the dsa and which language you did?

[@ani7453]

Thank you for taking out the time and making such inspiring videos, really appreciate it!!

[@ahmetsou]

Very inspiring story, thanks. Good luck on your journey.

[@TFRandolf]

Thank you for sharing your journey! Gave me extra motivation, coming from the kitchen life. My journey just began this year. Ready for a life change.

[@lucas-vq3qe]

Thanks. It's a beautiful video. I think and think, after the pandemic I tried to make the leap to the technology industry but I can't. From time to time it makes me sad because of the time that has passed and continues to pass. See that maybe the route is the wrong one, think about saying Enough of this and think that there is nothing else to do. I also add to this the urgent need I have to change my residence. You made it. Congratulations.

[@BryVan777]

Thank you much!!! I definitely needed this

[@juankaos20]

Your story is great, I'm glad to hear you talk about how much risk you took on donig this and how satisfied you are with the results right now, I had been working as a web developer for 13 years now and i never got the chance to work for a big company like microsoft the fact that you achived this it's even inpiring for me as well as i keep tring to move personal projects and achieve my own goals this really fuels myself to keep going.

[@amit243406]

I needed it, inspirational!!

[@abidmridha7442]

Awww love this ! You are truly amazing 😍😍😍😍😍

[@dearcoder589]

Please produce more video content because your experience is very important for people like you who are starting from scratch. Thank you very much for your explanations.

[@humansoftech5905]

Respect on the journey! So awesome

[@holymason7]

I am so inspired by your journey ! I dropped out of design college back in 2017 and started working as a graphic designer (stable income). Honestly I felt just like you, the de-motivation, sense of long hours of work, and etc... I can totally relate! I was thinking about dropping out of college and joining a bootcamp too but because of the stuff I've heard with seniority roles and politics I've finally convinced myself to go back to school to at least get a degree. Fast forward three years (2020) I came back to college and joined a new major at my college which offers some level of programming (web dev/ 3D blender)... I want to become a ux engineer some day, and watching your video gives me hope. Could you make a video on what you've done to make your portfolio ? or how you've presented yourself to these companies? Thank you!!!

[@privatestatus991]

I’m taking the leap and taking a 6 month cyber security course, I don’t have a background in cs but have already learned so much on my own. Already running into fatigue but I’m still pushing through with adequate breaks. Thanks, I ran into this video and it’s giving me some more confidence on this big decision. From baker to SE at Microsoft is inspiring.

[@shreyasjejurkar1233]

Great story. Congrats & Welcome to Microsoft. 🎉🎊

[@georgeilie4700]

I love your story! I decided to work in tech after 15 years of pro tennis. From tennis to test automation at Cognizant Softvision in Romania in around one year. We had similar steps, no degree, a bootcamp, a lot of work :))) You woke up some memories inside me😂

[@synsation]

That's also an amazing story! You should make a video about it! So inspiring!

[@pinyichang4680]

ＷＯＷ

[@chetanpatel-dx1tf]

great story brother, truly an inspiration ❤

[@mpaterson]

That’s crazy! My dad is an architect at Cognizant Softvision. I’m trying to self-teach full-stack development and it’s so cool to see a story that hits close to home.

[@dnangel4277]

What was it like being a pro tennis player?

[@Augyyy]

Your mom saved your life with that decision to not go to college and rack up a huge debt. Very smart woman!

[@tracy_ragland]

Omg this couldn’t have been recommended to me at a better time. I’ve been worried about not having a CS degree and only my associates. I’m currently enrolled in a programming certificate at my local college. I was also planning on moving to Denver with my sister but I’ve always wanted to live in Seattle. Ur story has really inspired me that I can do it too with enough effort. Thank you so much! New subscriber 💖

[@simisolaomonayajo4765]

Love your story. I’m a home-based baker and now transitioning to a Fullstack developer. It’s been an interesting journey so far.

[@Nox_Astra]

This is what I need right now in a time were I was let go off from my career industry due the pandemic and spent 2 years just bouncing around trying to figure out where I wanna go in life. So thank you

[@rfuesting]

Great instructive videos! I have a nephew working at MS (Redmond). I look forward to your future content. Liked and subscribed.

[@TurquoiseLemonade]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience!!

[@sajjadanwer8371]

Truly inspiring. Keep it up.

[@petellouisvanpolanen7516]

OMG. this is such a good story thank you!

[@ahmedraafatalsawi725]

Really inspiring, it touched me as I am shifting from urban planning, I started with MEARN Stack Development as well, and started another journey in AWS 😄

[@atlantafresh7]

What a great video about your journey! Can’t wait to see where life takes you next!

[@synsation]

Thank you!

[@beingcheercool]

Many many congratulations to you ☺️

[@samjay1256]

Thank you for the video I needed it.

[@yt-sh]

Thank you for this video and congrats

[@vikaspandey8354]

Your journey is awesome

[@elieoni-6213]

I really aim high since want to start in cybersecurity and my background is not that fascinating at all, this video made me get back on track, thank you for that, after all, is amazing how much we can actually learn in 6 months people really underestimate themself sometimes.

[@allisonosborne5881]

Oh my goodness! This video just popped up on my feed - I’m a baker who is almost done with a year long bootcamp for full stack software engineering! So awesome!

[@NaRoil-hq4rb]

You really got me when you said that every time you were scared to do things you did it anyway. A year ago when I applied to the academy, I wanted to study computer science but didn't have the required grades to get in where I wanted. I ended up signing to another college teaching computer science but felt like it's not what I want. Eventually, I discovered that the same university has a "probation program" for people who can't get in the classic way, and if you finish first semester with certain average you can keep there and finish your degree as everyone else. It was really risky because I had only one chance, and I knew how hard it's going to be after struggling with math in high school and having zero experience with programing. Almost everyone told me how crazy I am, but I didn't listen to anyone but myself and proved that I can and got in. Also, discovered how much I love it.

[@Po0pypoopy]

You know, it truly saddens me that I made a terrible mistake getting a BS degree in Biology and struggling to get respect and good pay. How I wish I would have just done coding straight out of high school and avoided such miserable episodes of life. I’m 30 now and doing an associates in programming. I really hope I get a better future out of this because apparently making $17 an hour to solve humanity’s problems with research didn’t.

[@Jeremiahking101]

I try to tell people all the time. Do the research before you get a degree and get a degree in something the world needs.

[@tbayhell2304]

@@Jeremiahking101 I think what the original poster meant was a job as important as solving humanity problems makes next to nothing but making a simple application is much more rewarding, in terms of monetary value. When I started off with structural engineering, I thought I was making a huge impact on everyone's lives; keeping the public safe. But then I realized how much construction, ripping the public off pays and gets rewarded lol

[@colinb8332]

Not to be corny but I REALLY think the mistake is society not putting more value on research and science in general. Sad how many of my friends went scientific routes which should be rewarding and fulfilling and ended up doing finance or programming and don’t really love it aside from the pay.

[@just_a_harmless_bubbletea494]

The same thing happened to me. I live in a developing country and it is very hard to find a job with a reasonable pay in molecular biology(my degree field).I feel absolutely devastated after studying hard for so many years and not being able to achieve anything I expected. I worked in a Covid testing lab and after covid I lost my job since they couldn’t pay me with the reducing number of samples. Now I am unemployed and feel like an absolute failure.😕 Its been 1 and half months since I’ve started following a udemy course and learning programming. Lets hope for the best.🥺

[@jathebest2835]

@@just_a_harmless_bubbletea494Hey, don't think you are failure. Maybe it's a good opportunity for you to discover a better path. Believe yourself!

[@graysplays]

I used to watch your streams and I wondered where you went. I’m so proud of you though!! Stay positive like you always have. The sky is your floor, and I can’t wait to see where you go from here.

[@synsation]

Thanks! Looking forward to keep you guys updated on my journey! I have many more videos to come! I stopped prioritizing streaming due to the amount of time it took and all the other things currently in the pipeline!

[@adityabohra1482]

Damn I just found out your channel and you are truly awesome at speaking and explaining 💖

[@noorrijja]

loved your story!!

[@rajkumarreddy8795]

you just upgraded yourself to next level, that's inspiring

[@luly6465]

I just found your video and omg I really felt it!! So inspiring ! .. I decided to change careers for a better future. I’ve been a hairstylist and currently own my own salon, but lately I don’t feel the same pasión as before.. I decided to break into tech (data analyst) and started the certificate through Google and I’m almost done.. analytics is so interesting and soon I’ll start to Lear about SQL and other programs.. and like you , i hope to get a job in a big company.. 👌 or start An internships and go from there .. wish me luck!

[@shawwalmuhammad]

It is a really inspiring stories that you shared! Keep it up making more contents Katya!

[@synsation]

Thanks! I am definitely making videos every week now :)

[@shawwalmuhammad]

@@synsation awesome! Can’t wait to see more content from you!

[@abdulbasithsiddiqui5017]

Thank you for sharing, so Informative 🌸

[@TheMISBlog]

Very Inspiring ,Thanks for making this video,please make more videos,Wish you all the best Katya

[@amor6708]

You really inspired me a lot❤️

[@ephraimjosiahotto4066]

thanks this is truly inspiring

[@salchiz]

Wow your first video was recommended to me 20 mins ago and you just posted this new video a couple of minutes ago! Perfect timing!! Currently in a fullstack developer bootcamp myself and I’m def apply to Leap. Thank you so much for communicating your experience!

[@synsation]

Amazing, glad this video came to you at a good time! Good luck in your bootcamp journey!

[@bri4498]

which bootcamp? how is it? do you like it? worth it?

[@IlIlIlIIIlIll]

amazing journey, keep it up🙌

[@synsation]

Thanks!

[@Robay146]

Thank you for this!

[@sabrinasullmanolivo8763]

You are a huge inspiration to me!!

[@ashoksubbu94]

Love this content❤

[@stevensong8784]

While I have seen several self-taught journeys like yours, seeing a bold coder like you yields good feeling. Ms. Katia. I’m pursuing swe without degree

[@therealp7667]

Great video. I feel its almost more impressive that you got a job straight out of bootcamp. There’s much dissent in the community about whether or not bootcamps are worth it. Looks like it clearly can be. Very cool and congrats.

[@bri4498]

im a phlebotomist interested in coding, so i meet a lot of people daily. ive met a couple of women who took bootcamps and now work as software developers

[@melwithluv5941]

My goal isn’t software engineering but UX design so I hope it’s okay that I write this up. I found your TikTok’s a month ago and it truly inspired me a lot. I’m a female with no degree nor knowledge in technology so it feels good to see others like me out there! I was in and out of college for an education degree, but deep down felt that I could do more that motivated me in a different perspective so eventually dropped out. Sometimes I wish I had a degree but seeing your story gave me so much hope that it’s definitely okay to not have one either and can still be successful. I use to think degrees meant everything but along this journey I realize it’s not everything. I signed up for Google’s certificate (finished last month) and just started an official bootcamp for ux. I’m so excited and like you I want to work a bit but then hopefully go to a bigger company through an apprenticeship. Thank you so much!

[@synsation]

That is so exciting that you are working on that career change! And yes it is definitely possible to work in UX/UI design without a degree. I will be making a video in the near future about the apprenticeship opportunities that big companies offer but look up Pinterest and Adobe, they have great UX/UI apprenticeship programs. Also the Microsoft Leap Apprenticeship program has also done cohorts in the past for UI and UX! Thanks for sharing your journey and best of luck getting that job!

[@melwithluv5941]

@@synsation tysm I truly appreciate it! All the help is amazing 😊and I’ll watch those future videos.

[@mufeza]

@@melwithluv5941 Hi can you tell which google course you took and how to enroll?

[@MrSkizeeGaming]

you can always progress to web-developer/front-end developer, I'm a full-stack developer, so front-end is included, and I also want to learn UX/UI, it's a a few blocks aways from the main goal, but it's nice to be better overall

[@melwithluv5941]

@@MrSkizeeGaming oh interesting I didn’t know that. That’s really great info and thank you!

[@karamnaveen8262]

Ya..the story of ur's really inspiring to me.. Bcz I from from a mechanical engineering background, due to financial trouble, I got to change my career into tech industry. I hope i do up end get a good job.. 😊

[@erickbgonzalez7867]

thank you, your video is Really inspiring

[@mateocanales2132]

✨So good this video, It helps me to have more motivation to be a software engineer, I'm 17 years old and so scared about to study that, but I hope to achieve my goals, It is evident that everyone creates their own story and their own way of getting to do what they want to be 😌, Thanks You so Much! ✨🙏🏻

[@sirisri767]

Truly inspiring.. I will show this video to my 12yr old daughter

[@tmoneyy5697]

Very inspiring video indeed.🙌

[@TheDisneylover71]

I worked in the hospitality industry for 5 years and a month ago I decided to try out coding did a few language learning through Codecademy and got into it right away. Tomorrow I start my BootCamp at General Assembly and I can’t wait for my change in career!

[@aqibrehmanpirzada4552]

You have done a marvellous Job. Really Help full

[@ivankyserosila5138]

Love your story! I'd say, "I can do it too!"

[@has.r]

This really gives me hope.

[@nazarr.3073]

Beautiful history!!!

[@BrandonCodes92]

I'm a professional dancer who had an injury and can't dance anymore unfortunately. Have been so lost and confused with what I want too do now with my life, but Discovered coding a few months ago and teaching myself HTML and CSS before my coding camp starts in October.... I'm so excited for this new journey for myself and love your story. Much love :)

[@robaudi20v]

We needed you as a Baker. They are by far and away more important

[@lakshmi9692]

Your story is very inspiring! .... and makes me believe the sky is my limit. It is one of those great examples of how to avoid the burden of college loans. Thank you for sharing! Hopefully, it will go viral.

[@synsation]

Thanks! I appreciate the support!

[@kaustubhdhage5322]

Yeah! I relate with burden of college as a student of tier 3 college.

[@1ghjudghjfghfg653]

NO the sky is not the limit we are limitless

[@jathebest2835]

It was such an inspiring story for me who started to learn coding(Python) for my life and career change. I live in Korea and your video is such an encouragement for me.. Thank you and I'll keep doing my best to learn many aspects of Computer Science to become a skilled one.

[@usersdksdfg]

you should watch Pirate King as well. He got a visa to work for Microsoft

[@amirmustafa6123]

inspiring story 😍

[@chuuze3796]

Good stuff. I really admire you. Yes i can I can do it too!!!!

[@luckyspecter]

I am so proud of you. I am a banker passed all my brokerage exams and been doing it about a couple years now. I absolutely hate it. You've definitely helped me make the jump

[@imt3206]

Hey, hello. Hope you’re doing great. Mate, you said you’re a banker. What do you do in your daily life? What are your most recurrent duties? I’m asking this because I might pursue a career as a banker, mainly because I heard bankers get paid like a lot, lots of money. Is that true?

[@arulmurugan265]

@@imt3206 Not bankers, those who work in finance make good returns compare to other fields. Moreover, python program helps for those who want to work in finance also

[@imt3206]

@@arulmurugan265 I think of a banker as someone who deals with the operations of a bank: lending, charging, offering deals, making plans to sell more loans and increase the rate of payback of loans. You know, all those and many more operations. Why do you say finance is better ? Also, what does python has to do with it?

[@ryanhosteen6978]

Hey! Someone else here who had to take and pass all his brokerage exams. I had to pass my SIE, Series 7, and Series 63. I really regret doing it because I had one more semester to go to apply into my state's Dental Hygiene program. It would be 2 years, cost about 22k, but they make about 80k starting out and are in a lot of demand. Although, I found out last year that it's a 3 year waitlist. My cousin referred me to work at a firm where it would be a substantial pay bump, but I would have to put off school for a year because it was in the middle of a semester. I did it for about a year, but literally my whole office just got laid off. I feel like I should've just taken that last semester as it would have only been a 2 year wait by now. I'm still going to take that last semester. Although during that wait I'm thinking about doing a boot camp, because I'm sick of working remedial jobs that can lay me off at any moment.

[@alieninstallation50]

thanks for the video!

[@codingcyberspace1959]

Thank you for making this video, it’s so inspirational. I also live in Colorado, lol. I’m starting my self taught software engineer journey as well and also want to work at Microsoft one day. What would you suggest I do in order to prepare myself for the Microsoft LEAP apprenticeship program and improve my odds into getting hired?

[@stevehan3498]

Congrats! I like your extensive use of stock footage haha

[@ShortTravelVlogs4u]

Thank god that you listen to your brother!

[@_Aurelian_]

Amazing story!

[@mohdjibly6184]

Well done 👏🏻

[@Jonalonathon]

Bartender -> Rock Climbing Coach -> Nursing Assistant -> Apprentice Mechanic -> Carpenter -> 3 years of working toward become a software developer! Finished a FS Bootcamp in March, now over 300 applications deep, 2 rescinded offers… beyond excited for the LEAP application opening up in a week! 🤞

[@moularaoul643]

Amazing!!!

[@ResortGaming]

Awesome video! Congratulations on your amazing journey. I was wondering if you'd be able to make a video on what languages and frameworks you use at microsoft? what do you do exactly on your team? the interview process?

[@codingcyberspace1959]

Yeah I was wondering too!

[@haikalyusuf4058]

yes i agree that'd be helpful & cool as well! but i understand from other software engineers who are content creators that they can't disclose such information as they had signed an NDA & thus can't talk about such things

[@AmCanTech]

Amazing channel!

[@Touseef]

thats so inspiring, I am a self taught developer and I have been a Microsoft Student Partner as well during my graduation (not a cs degree) after that I made a few apps on Microsoft store, one of them even took off but to this day Ive never been accepted into Microsoft even though Ive applied several times, I am working remotely for a USA based software company though for almost 3 years. I hope one day I reach the ultimate milestone of Microsoft :D

[@samsoncolaco3424]

This made me smile

[@perezident14]

This came at a perfect time. I’ve been eyeballing Microsoft and didn’t know what to think as a bootcamp grad who’s been working full time for almost a year at a startup on a small team doing full stack development.

[@synsation]

Glad it came at the perfect time! The Leap Apprenticeship program has windows of application time that open up every couple of months. A good place to watch for this is on their LinkedIn page

[@VincentOnProduction]

Is it easier to get a job as a full stack dev compared to a software dev?

[@m._a.n.i.k]

In tears watching this... M goin thru a same change 😘😘😘😘

[@Camizer]

Im so happy for you

[@kkona3868]

Hey seriously thank you a lot for this video. I'm 21 years old and a high school dropout without even a GED. Anyways, this video gave me an outlook of a potential career path rather than just being a waiter for the rest of my life with no retirement. It's time to take action, thanks for the inspiration

[@iffi5303]

You really need to at least get your GED. That's what I had to do. Only about a month of studying 1-2 hours every day and I got it.

[@kkona3868]

@@iffi5303 I completely agree man. I’m halfway through it with already having completed 2/4 of the tests.

[@jasminbower9855]

Hey, just wanted to say you've got this 💪 I'm a few years older than you but barely graduated high school (long story) and worked as a server for so many years. I accepted my first role as a junior dev today! It was really hard work but so worth it

[@kkona3868]

@@jasminbower9855 That's awesome congrats man!!! I really appreciate the kind words and motivation

[@user-kf3vu8ud7s]

@@iffi5303 depending on the furthest grade you completed you could probably get it without that much studying

[@thegoldenbites3682]

Unbelievable….I have been working in the food sector for just over 2 years, in 2016 I started my own unique manufacturing of frozen delicacies…after Covid things became extremely hard…and I’m now learning SQL, Python along side taking the CS50 course at Harvard….thank you for this video, you have no (I actually know you do) idea how it feels to see someone on the same position and turning things around…

[@janezafe3535]

Thank you for sharing your story. I really need this today. 5 months ago I dropped out. I took hospitality and culinary arts and in the middle of my on the job training I decided to quit because it was so exhausting for me. Also, I had to travel 2-3 hours everyday wayback home from the restaurant. I felt like I was not growing in that career path, all I could get was physical pain. I'm 20 years old and I want to go back to school this coming school year and take Computer Science course. I know it will never be easy but thinking that career is growing each year and job opportunity is increasing I think I have a chance to be part of it. Thank you though!

[@pfuhad3760]

I have seen many of your instagram video .Very Inspiring

[@peyazahassan2303]

I love ur story

[@blankmonet2511]

Its nice to know of someone else whos journey into the tech field was delayed by the covid pandemic. It sucked so much- I ended up not even getting my certification bc everything shut down and the program I was in wasn't gonna fund my cohort to take the test after so many months. But im back on that horse and im getting an A+ cert. I feel like a tortoise, but at least Im on the path I want to be on.

[@thedebasispaul]

True Inspiration

[@rosequartz2290]

America is truly a land of opportunity, in my country this is nearly impossible. You're so lucky 👏👍

[@ETCH441]

Good luck !. 🙏🤞 !.

[@albertoespinozafarfan2873]

[@chef_rg.2]

This is dope.....I've been on free code camp for a couple months. Now I'm signed up with career karma looking for a bootcamp. I hope to have a success story

[@steveyoo9342]

what a great story!

[@dylangosolutions8937]

Yes it’s truly inspirational. I am also a baker currently following a fully stack development 6 months program. I hope a bigger change. Looking for more guidance. Much appreciated your words!

[@joshuawalker7375]

It's always nice to hear these success stories. I quit my job near Seattle 9 months ago to study cyber security but changed paths after getting the Security+ certification. Now I'm taking the self-taught development route and living in Tbilisi, Georgia.

[@arulmurugan265]

Great, I am working in construction and would like to change to cyber security also. What certification in cybersecurity will be good enough to fetch the job in cybersecurity field

[@joshuawalker7375]

@@arulmurugan265 I'm not sure why but my reply keeps getting deleted. My linkedIn is in my about section. You can message me there if you'd like.

[@arulmurugan265]

@@joshuawalker7375 Noted

[@rajeshs8846]

You deserve to be a heroine in hollywood💯

[@dhawalpatil7779]

Soo inspiring :)

[@101stDay]

Very inspiring! So fortune DOES favor the bold lol!