Last week, my colleague Damien shared his story about finding his way into cybersecurity. It made me think about my own path, which has been anything but straightforward. Like him, I didn’t follow the traditional route into IT. It took a mix of curiosity, timing, and a few unexpected turns to end up where I am today.
So, inspired by his post, I decided to share my own journey. I think it’s important to tell our stories, because it shows that there’s more than one way to build a career in tech. Read his blog here: lindensec.com
From Curiosity to Career
In the late 90s, primary schools had computer classes twice a week. It was one of my favourite hours, even back then. According to my parents, I was always quick to learn and happy to help classmates when they got stuck. This was also the era of burning CDs, downloading from newsgroups, and figuring out how things worked.
My dad transitioned into IT around that time, so we always had some new gadget in the house. I loved exploring how it all worked. Before I turned ten, I already knew how to use newsgroups to find games or music and get them onto a CD.
In secondary school, my curiosity shifted toward web design. I started learning how html, php, and Photoshop could come together to create beautiful websites. Beautiful for the early 2000s, that is. Gaming was (and still is) another big passion, on consoles or PC, and I’ve built more gaming rigs than I can count. After reading this, you might wonder what took me so long to start working in IT.
It would still take another ten years after finishing secondary school before I made the transition.
Not the Traditional Route
During secondary school, I wanted to become either a veterinary technician or “something in IT.” I’ve always loved animals, and that hasn’t changed. To get into either path, I needed specific school subjects. I was great at English and biology, fascinated by science, but maths was a different story. It just never clicked.
That also meant IT was heavily discouraged. So began the cycle of trying out different studies and never quite finishing them because they didn’t feel right. I eventually got a degree in retail while working in retail, then moved to England with my previous partner and worked in hospitality for a while.
The Moment It Clicked
When I returned to the Netherlands in 2015, I started the dreaded job hunt. At that point, my CV was mostly retail and unskilled jobs, and I really didn’t want to go back to that. So, I took the leap and enrolled in a three-year IT administration course.
Maybe it was because I was 25 at the time, but I genuinely enjoyed it so much more than any study I attempted previously. The internships, the hands-on work, it all just made sense. Most of my classmates were fresh out of secondary school, which sometimes made me feel like I had lost time by taking such a long detour. But looking back, that detour shaped how I approach my work now.
Learning by Doing
I’ve tried a few different roles over the years. I started as a traditional Windows Server administrator straight from my internship. Then I moved into a role as a technical application specialist for point-of-sale systems, and later into information management before landing in the Microsoft 365 world.
Trying different roles taught me what gives me energy and what doesn’t. I’ve learned that I love understanding how processes work in a company, how people and technology interact, and where things can be improved to make work smoother and smarter.
Imposter Syndrome and Growth
Imposter syndrome is real. Even though it’s not my biggest enemy anymore, it’s still there in the background. I’ve learned to see it as part of caring deeply about what I do. It shows up because I want to understand how things work and keep up with the latest tech. It means I care.
So next time your imposter monster shows up, tell it that.
Finding My Niche
At the start of the Covid pandemic, the organisation I worked for had to move quickly to Microsoft 365 and Teams to support remote work. I found the whole thing fascinating. Teams reminded me of Discord, but for business, and I jumped in to help with the rollout project.
I spent countless hours learning about Microsoft 365, especially Teams, and figuring out how to apply everything I discovered to my job. After two years in that role, I decided it was time to explore this world further and moved into consultancy. That’s where I finally got to do what I loved most, all the time, and keep improving with every project.
When generative AI tools like Copilot became available, I felt like I had a personal assistant, brainstorming partner, and proofreader all in one. I knew immediately that I wanted to dive deeper into how AI could help people work smarter.
Building Community and Confidence
You might not expect it, but I used to be quite shy. Talking to new people felt intimidating. Consultancy threw me into the deep end, but what really changed things for me was getting involved in the Microsoft community.
Being surrounded by people who share the same interests, who love geeking out over the same topics, gave me a sense of belonging I hadn’t felt before. It boosted my confidence to start speaking, writing, and sharing my ideas. That’s when my extroverted side truly came out.
Lessons From an Unconventional Path
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that there’s no single right way into IT. The field changes so fast that curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to learn are far more valuable than a perfectly planned career path. My journey wasn’t straightforward; it was full of experiments, timing, and figuring things out as I went. And that’s completely fine.
If you’re thinking about switching to IT, start small. Explore what excites you, take a course, ask questions, and stay curious. Every expert started somewhere and probably got confused more often than they’d admit. The key is to keep moving forward, even when you don’t have all the answers.
And find your people. Join a community, go to events, share what you learn. The tech world runs on knowledge sharing, and you’ll be surprised how quickly doors open once you connect with others. Your background, no matter how unconventional, can be your greatest strength.
The Story Continues
The best part about working in IT is that you never stop learning. There’s always something new, from tools and updates to new ways to make technology work better for people. For me, that means diving deeper into AI, exploring how Microsoft 365 Copilot can make work easier, and helping organisations adopt these innovations safely and effectively.
It also means sharing what I learn through blogs, talks, and community events, and encouraging others to find their own path into tech. My career hasn’t followed a straight line, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Growth doesn’t always follow a plan. Sometimes it starts with curiosity, a bit of courage, and the decision to just start.
In my next blog, I’ll share how I became a Microsoft MVP and what the program has brought me over the last six months.
Looking back, I’m glad my path wasn’t straightforward. Every twist, every detour, and every late-night learning moment brought me exactly where I’m meant to be. If sharing this story helps someone else take that first step into tech, then it’s been worth writing. After all, every journey starts somewhere. Mine just took the scenic route.
