Success Story of Sodaba Hamid

Powercoders alumna Sodaba Hamid

Joining Powercoders provided the perfect opportunity to follow my passion for IT.

From receptionist to IT prodigy: Read Sodaba's empowering transition through Powercoders. With the support of amazing coaches and mentors, she made her way in IT.

Software Engineer at Datahouse AG

August 2024

The Aspiring IT Professional
Meet Sodaba Hamid, a former receptionist turned IT prodigy. Her journey is a compelling tale of resilience and ambition. Despite a difficult start trying to secure an IT apprenticeship due to her residency status, her pursuit of a career in technology was relentless. «I submitted over 60 to 70 applications,» Sodaba says, «but mostly received rejections and began to lose hope.» However, a colleague’s recommendation to explore Powercoders was the catalyst that reignited her dream.

A Newfound Security in Switzerland
Sodaba’s early life was marked by displacement, growing up in Pakistan after her family fled their native Afghanistan. After years of waiting, facilitated by her father’s Swiss citizenship, she was finally able to join him and move to Switzerland through the family reunification process: a turning point. «When I arrived in Switzerland, it wasn’t exactly a shock, but everything felt very different and new to me,» she recalls. «The sense of security was remarkable, knowing that I could walk around even after midnight without worrying, which was a significant change from my previous environment.»

The Powercoders Experience: A Gateway to IT
At Powercoders, Sodaba found a supportive environment that matched her passion for IT. Powercoders not only provided Sodaba with technical programming skills, but also fostered her confidence and professional acumen. Reflecting on her experience, Sodaba says, «The structured approach, starting with CSS, HTML, and moving on to JavaScript, allowed me to build my skills step by step.» The program offered more than just technical training; it was an ecosystem of support where mental preparedness was as important as coding skills.

Overcoming Early Obstacles
Sodaba’s first internship in data science was not in her desired field of programming, but she took the opportunity to gain industry experience, seeing it as a “foot in the door.” She advises others to maintain a positive mindset, as it helped her get through the initial challenges: «What helped me overcome those challenges was maintaining a positive mindset and focusing on doing the best I could with the resources and time I had.”» By embracing the challenges, she learned to manage her time effectively and break her work down into manageable steps.

A Seamless Transition to Apprenticeship
With the guidance of her job coach, Ferda Aydogan, Sodaba was introduced to the accelerated IT Way Up Apprenticeship. Datahouse, where she interned, helped her transition. «They handled all the necessary paperwork and made sure everything was in place for me to move forward,» she says gratefully. The apprenticeship was a natural progression from her internship, and Sodaba approached it with confidence and preparation.

Rising to the Challenge
The apprenticeship came with its own set of challenges, but Sodaba met them head-on. Organizing work and preparing for the Individual Practical Assignment (IPA) were daunting tasks, but with the help of her instructor, Cyrill Gurtner, she prepared by completing an IPA simulation together. «Despite the challenges, I managed to successfully complete the IPA and now proudly hold my EFZ diploma,» recalls Sodaba.

The Role at Datahouse
Sodaba’s role as an intern and apprentice at Datahouse AG exceeded her expectations. She received personalized training in machine learning from her mentor, Severin Trösch. She was given impactful mini-projects by her master teacher, Cyrill Gurtner, and contributed to a major project that improved user experience. She is grateful for the mentorship she received at Datahouse: «The level of mentorship was beyond what I could have expected. The team was always willing to help.»

Proud of Accomplishments
Developing a complete QR code login process and a Christmas card pipeline were among Sodaba’s proudest accomplishments during her apprenticeship. These projects allowed her to improve the user experience and provide personalized recommendations to customers. «These accomplishments not only contributed to the project, but also helped me grow significantly as a developer,» she reflects with pride.

Advice for Powercoders Participants
For those considering an apprenticeship, Sodaba stresses the importance of building a strong portfolio and honing presentation skills. For success in IT, she stresses the importance of curiosity and proactive learning: «Build a strong foundation in both front-end and back-end development, and work on small projects to hone your skills.»