A-levels are not the only path to a tech career

Being a nerd is also optional

As young adults receive A-level, T-level and BTEC results, Developer Evangelist at Twilio, Nathaniel Okenwa reflects on his own journey into the field and explains how a future tech career doesn’t have to hinge on subject choices or results.

As A-level results day delivers its annual round of joy, affirmation and in some cases disappointment, many young adults will be making decisions or having decisions thrust upon them about career paths.

Tech-based careers such as software development and data science are generally well-paid and durable. Developer Evangelist at customer engagement platform Twilio, Nathaniel Okenwa, explains the best part of being a developer.

"The joy you feel when something works. Developers often put a lot of time and effort into finding a solution to a task or challenge, so it's incredibly rewarding when it pays off.

"I also love spreading the word about what is possible with technology and making it accessible to others – especially those from non-technical backgrounds. It is satisfying when I can show other developers what they can build, and inspire them to try something new, too."

Okenwa is part of the collective effort that tech employers have put in to counter the perception that a tech career is for nerds only.

"There's a common misconception that developers spend all day in dark rooms tackling complex mathematical challenges. We're a diverse pool of different personalities, people, and roles. The best teams have a combination of different strengths.

"There are so many distinct ways that you can contribute to building the future. With new technologies emerging all the time there's never been a more exciting time to be a developer, or more opportunities available to suit different skillsets."

Tech career paths are non-linear

Data suggests that the efforts of people including Okenwa to evangelise about the benefits and of development careers might be starting to pay off. A-level entries in computing increased by 11.8% this year.

However, the overall provisional data illustrate that computing, taken by 20,370 this year, is still vastly less popular than mathematics, for which there were 107,427 entries, or the traditional and social sciences. For comparison, 78,556 sat A-level psychology. Due to the shortage of computing teachers, plenty of schools still do not even offer the subject beyond GCSE.

Nathaniel emphasises that there is no one, linear route into a software development or wider tech career. He should know, having studied a mix of sciences, maths and humanities post GCSE.

"I completed an International Baccalaureate in History, Chemistry, and Biology, with an A-Level in Maths. I had initially wanted to become a doctor when choosing my subjects, and Computer Science wasn't a subject that was accessible to me."

"This just goes to show that your future career does not hinge on these choices or results. Remember: there's no such thing as a linear route into the industry, and you can always pivot down the line. I have lots of amazing engineering colleagues who didn't learn to code in university or sixth form."

Indeed, some might not have gone to university at all. Whilst those with computer science degrees still dominate entry into software development, the increasing availability of skills bootcamps and free online courses mean that the academic route is only one of the ways into this profession.

"Computer Science wasn't an option for me, so don't worry if you didn't study it either - there are lots of courses out there that can teach you the basics later down the line."

What skills does a developer need?

"You need analytical thinking and problem-solving skills – this helps you break a complex challenge into smaller parts and find separate solutions. The technical side of things can all be taught – but you need perseverance and out-of-the box thinking above all to tackle whatever challenge lands on your plate.

"Developer teams work a lot like a hospital. Once a technical challenge comes through the door, it is triaged by an architect, before being allocated to the most relevant teams to ‘treat' the different ‘conditions' - or elements - of the challenge.

"Some developers help with construction, while others keep an eye on the task's progress or keep the technology up and running. Tasks like these require a holistic approach, so cross-department teamwork is essential, too.

Your non-technical core skills such as communication, creativity, adaptability and active listening can at times be more important than your technical skills."

What advice does Okenwa have for those starting out?

"You are not alone on your journey – you just need to find your community," he says. "The developer and tech community is incredibly welcoming, and you can find your peers no matter where you are. It's useful for knowledge sharing, but for those getting started, there are also plenty of experienced developers out there willing to mentor you and share skills and advice. Building those connections is really valuable, and you never know when your network may give you an edge in your career. It certainly has given me a leg-up multiple times!"

"With so many emerging technologies on our radar, I would also recommend continuously upskilling. Just look at the impact that AI has had in such a short space of time, and the prominence of ‘new' roles like Prompt Engineering.

"Spend just 10% of your day dedicated to upskilling – this could be through online courses, YouTube videos, or playing around with new technologies to familiarise yourself. This personal development will only make you more employable, and will future proof your career."