What advice do you have for someone moving into a technical field from a creative one (music --> software engineering)?

Hi, Stephen!

This is quite a big step. My first reaction was about the similarities of Mathematics, programming and music - take Bach fugues. The creativity and innovation angle is also an interesting one, we are looking for innovative people.

On a serious note: do you now have a degree in software engineering as well? In your CV and application you should emphasize your skills and your aspiration to move into a technical field. Concrete examples would greatly help - if you can provide some reference to what you have already done in the technical field, and reference this in your motivation letter as well. Some of your strengths should also be listed, as I can imagine self-discipline, diligence in daily practice are also handy in music.

Good luck!

Hi Stephen T. – Thank you for submitting your question. As one who has also moved from a non-technical field into a technical one, the general advice I offer is to strive to view things that may have been regarded as obstacles to your goal now as new opportunities instead. Paraphrasing the author Mike Bayer, stay focused on your goal by striving to be motivated by facts instead of fears, by opting for clarity over confusion, and by following evidence over emotion. In addition to formal education and training, another suggestion is to take advantage of internship opportunities if possible – both for the work experience and for the networking opportunities that internships offer. To that end, consider reviewing the Nokia open position(s) that align most with your interests at:
https://www.nokia.com/about-us/careers/student-and-graduate-opportunities/

This is quite an interesting career path. I know some talented engineers that are also quite accomplished musicians. Perhaps the structure or precision to music transfers. Not sure you exact background or goal but you will need some development. Online learning especially in computer science has come a long way and you can even earn degrees from recognized universities. I would suggest that to develop that foundation. I would suggest Coursera. Good luck

Hi Stephen! First of all, congrats for having the courage to pivot and follow your dreams. Regarding how to position your resume and applications, there are certainly strengths and similarities that you can play up and draw from in your music performance and composition degrees, along with your desire to succeed in the area of software engineering. You will be surprised that writing software in many ways uses similar skill sets as writing music! I believe these synergies, along with your authenticity to pivot will carry you a long way.

Hi Stephen, from my experience I can tell that people who are talented musically are really good coders. Somehow the rhythm and flow of music helps out. So would really encourage you to start studies of mathematics and coding if you really have interest. Also creative mind is a good at problem solving and that is what engineering is all about.