From Artist to Developer: How to Make a Smooth Career Transition in India

If you’re a creative artist looking to make a career switch to a developer in India, it can be a daunting task. It can be challenging to know where to start or how to go about transitioning into the new career. What qualifications do you need? How do you choose the right course to pursue? And not to mention, where can you find the best resources to equip you with the skills to thrive? All these questions present a overwhelming challenges to the average person.

At this juncture, it’s important to understand that if you’re passionate about furthering your career, making a switch from artist to developer is absolutely possible and may be just what you need to turning your life around positively.

Photo by LOGAN WEAVER | @LGNWVR on Unsplash

Why You Should Transition From Artist to Developer

For starters, the most compelling reason to make the switch from artist to developer is that you’ll find yourself in a highly lucrative career with a lot of job opportunities and earning potential. According to the 2019 India Salary Guide, the average salary of a developer in India is roughly Rs. 4,80,000 a year. Additionally, those specialized in particular technologies like Data Science, AI, and Machine Learning can expect even higher salaries.

Apart from that, you’ll have more opportunities to bring your creative capabilities to the table along with the technical skills of a developer. Being a developer coupled with the imaginative and creative prowess of an artist can be a great asset for a business. With your skillset, you can help develop innovative projects that incorporate the best of both worlds.

Real-Life Artists-Turned-Developers Who Can Motivate You

Lisa Singh is a prime example of how a creative artist can transition into a successful developer. By day, she was a graphic designer but by night she taught herself web development, eventually becoming a full-stack web developer. She eventually landed job opportunities in the startup world, working for companies like Eventbrite, where she currently serves as the Senior Frontend Engineer.

Winston Wiraji is another real-life example of how someone from the art world can successfully make the transition into the software world. Winston studied fashion design in college and even worked at a couture design studio for a while. But he always had an interest in programming and decided to take up a challenge to teach himself to code. After years of self-studying and perfecting his programming skills, Winston eventually landed a job as an iOS developer at a major tech company.

How to Make a Smooth Transition From Artist to Developer

Making the shift from the creative world to the tech world requires taking a couple of steps that can make the transition a smoother one. Here are a few tips on how to make the switch seamless:

• Start with the basics: Depending on how much experience you already have with coding or technology, it’s essential to first brush up on the basic technical concepts. Most online courses offer the basics whether it’s programming, design or anything in between.
• Research your options: To determine the best career shift, do in-depth research before making any decisions. It’s important to educate yourself on which software engineering path will give you the highest impact and most potential for job opportunities.
• Get an education: Getting educated on the fundamentals of a computer science program is critical for success. Fortunately, in India, there are plenty of programs for furthering your development skills. For example, you could study for a Master’s degree in Computer Science or a shorter program such as a coding bootcamp.
• Look for internship opportunities: Depending on your experience, you might want to look for a paid or unpaid internship to get a better understanding of the work involved in the real world. An internship is also a great way to network and make critical connections.
• Create a portfolio: It’s essential to build a portfolio of your work to trigger the ideal job opportunity. Start by creating a profile with websites like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and Angel List. For ex-artists, having a portfolio of well-crafted websites, apps or programs will give you a competitive edge.

Challenges to Look Out For

Making a career switch or trying to become employed in any field can be a challenging endeavor. Especially when changing careers, there can be a lot of obstacles such as:

• Lack of credibility: It can be difficult to be taken seriously when transitioning from an artist to a developer, since the two may not be seen as going hand in hand.
• Getting hired: In the tech world, even having a highly visible portfolio is not enough to guarantee an invitation for an interview or a job offer. You need to know the right people and make valuable connections.
• Staying up to date: While technology is continuously changing, you must make sure you stay up to date with trends and updates. Since programming languages are constantly evolving, you must train throughout your career.

Tips for Overcoming Challenges

Even though there are many challenges to overcome when transitioning from artist to developer, there are several tips for an easier journey:

• Focus on studies: Make sure to stay focused throughout the transition journey and don’t give up too soon. Studying the basics is an essential step to becoming a successful developer.
• Build confidence: Confidence is the key to success. Believe in your own abilities and don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone in order to take risks.
• Broaden your network: They say it’s not always what you know but who you know. Make sure you know the right people and make beneficial connections through networking.
• Hone your skills: Keep developing your skills and make sure you stay up to date with the latest technology. Stay curious and read widely.
• Look for help: Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. There are plenty of options for help from online forums to local groups and meetups that offer assistance.

How to Make The Transition Easier

There are a few simple steps you can take to make your transition from artist to developer easier:

• Set Goals: Have a clear plan of action and set a timeline that’s achievable. Also, define a goal daily, monthly or yearly to give yourself milestones.
• Find a Mentor: Having a mentor can greatly help your transition as they can provide guidance and offer sound advice.
• Connect with the Right People: Making the right contacts can help you land job opportunities, get advice, or even get advice on courses that could be beneficial.
• Stay Motivated: Believing in yourself and having a strong motivation are the driving forces for a successful transition.
• Train Continuously: Make sure to stay in touch with the latest technologies and continuously develop your skills.

Conclusion

If you're an artist looking to transition into a developer in India, there are plenty of steps you can take to smoother your transition. With careful research, training, and networking, you'll be able to land job opportunities and develop your career to fruition. Just remember to take it one step at a time and don't get discouraged if the process is slow. With determination and passion, anything is possible.