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It's super common to switch from support to development! Maybe half of the developer/ops/pro services folks at Linode came from the support team (promoted over

It's super common to switch from support to development! Maybe half of the developer/ops/pro services folks at Linode came from the support team (promoted over time). I think it can be easiest to switch positions within the same company from support to dev or ops if you start building relationships with developers/ops and their managers and ask to start taking on small tasks with them. However even if you don't have a supportive company you can still switch to development. Just start interviewing! Interviewing is always a numbers game anyway so don't get discouraged if they don't turn out all well. You'll probably have an easier time too if you don't target FAANG/whatever up front. Email me if you'd like to chat more! You're in a pretty common situation!

spoiler 5y ago
I have a very similar origin story! I worked for tech support for a large we host company... And all I can say is that I think tech support at web hosting companies is a bit... different from normal tech support. I've had a few friends work at telecom and in-store tech support, but the variety of issues you deal with (human and technical) at a web hosting company is unmatched IMO. You become a jack of all trades (but better), and this also makes you be a better developer IMO. I also mean bad kind of "different" when it comes to people/communication related issues, but it probably has a good effect on your soft skills as a person. You probably need a "baseline empathy" to get hired and continue working the job, though. Also, what's generally helped me in interviews is to treat the interviewer (yes) as a customer. You can apply most "people skills wisdom" you learn in support to an interview (and life in general!). > You'll probably have an easier time too if you don't target FAANG/whatever up front. I second this. The initial screening is done by third parties in most cases, not devs. And those third parties have such volumes to deal with, that they probably just discard you based on some computer-generated summary of your CV, if you don't have a few years of experience already (or you've got a way in through an internship or similar programmes).

spoiler 5y ago

I have a very similar origin story! I worked for tech support for a large we host company... And all I can say is that I think tech support at web hosting companies is a bit... different from normal tech support. I've had a few friends work at telecom and in-store tech support, but the variety of issues you deal with (human and technical) at a web hosting company is unmatched IMO. You become a jack of all trades (but better), and this also makes you be a better developer IMO. I also mean bad kind of "different" when it comes to people/communication related issues, but it probably has a good effect on your soft skills as a person. You probably need a "baseline empathy" to get hired and continue working the job, though. Also, what's generally helped me in interviews is to treat the interviewer (yes) as a customer. You can apply most "people skills wisdom" you learn in support to an interview (and life in general!). > You'll probably have an easier time too if you don't target FAANG/whatever up front. I second this. The initial screening is done by third parties in most cases, not devs. And those third parties have such volumes to deal with, that they probably just discard you based on some computer-generated summary of your CV, if you don't have a few years of experience already (or you've got a way in through an internship or similar programmes).