From Financial Services to Full-Stack Dev: My First 3 Months

I spent 13 years in financial services — 7 at Discover Financial, 6 at Bread Financial — consistently finishing in the top 5% of my team. I was good at my job. Really good.

But in March 2026, I enrolled in Coding Temple's Full-Stack Web Development bootcamp and started building.

Here's what 3 months actually looks like from zero.

Month 1: HTML, CSS, and Figuring Out Why Nothing Looks Right

I started where everyone starts — HTML and CSS. Built a food landing page (FoodSpot) and a multi-page event site (EventHive). Learned Flexbox, Grid, responsive design, and why box-sizing: border-box should just be the default everywhere.

What I shipped:

• FoodSpot — food landing page
• EventHive — responsive multi-page event site

What I earned:

• ✅ Web Development with HTML & CSS (Coding Temple verified badge)

Month 2: JavaScript, Then Python

JavaScript clicked faster than I expected. DOM manipulation, ES6+, event listeners. Then Python — and honestly, Python felt natural. The OOP concepts made sense immediately.

What I shipped:

• Python CLI Task Manager — persistent task app with file storage, OOP, exception handling
• Defeat the Evil Wizard — text-based RPG with multiple classes, inheritance, combat logic, and game state management

What I earned:

• ✅ JavaScript Mastery
• ✅ Python Foundations for Software Engineering
• ✅ Advanced Python

Month 3: React

React was the biggest jump. Component architecture, hooks, state management, routing. But I got through it by building something real.

What I shipped:

• FakeStore API — a full e-commerce SPA consuming a live REST API with dynamic product rendering, client-side routing, CRUD operations, and loading/error state management

What I earned:

• ✅ Single Page Apps with React

What I Brought From Finance That Helped

People underestimate what non-tech backgrounds bring to code. Here's what transferred directly:

• Data analysis → Debugging mindset. I spent years finding patterns in account data. Finding why code breaks is the same muscle.
• Process optimization → Clean, readable code. I care about how things are structured.
• Working under pressure → Deadlines don't scare me. High-volume, high-stakes environments were my normal.
• Documentation → I wrote compliance documentation for years. Writing clean comments and READMEs comes naturally.

What's Next

I'm relocating to Richmond/Chesterfield, VA in August 2026 and actively looking for roles in IT Support, Technical Support, Application Support, and Software Development.

If you're on a similar journey — career pivot, bootcamp, non-traditional background — let's connect.

🔗 Portfolio: https://keysstarks.github.io/PersonalPortfolio

🐙 GitHub: https://github.com/KeysStarks

3 months ago I couldn't build a webpage. I'm not just transitioning into tech — I'm competing to be the best in the room.