How did you end up in your current role?

Hey DEV community!

If you work in an engineering or engineering-adjacent role: how did you end up in your role? What has the hardest thing been for you? What do you like about your role?

Ive been in tech for almost eight years (after switching careers) and Im now on an engineering team! Previous to this, I was a content strategist on a developer relations team. I graduated with my Masters in User Experience Design over the summer.

Ive been in my current role for five months, and Im a Senior Technical Program Manager on a web eng team. I ended up on my team serendipitously, the result of a re-org. My new manager selected me to lead a specific program, and I learned most of the role on the job (including Agile).

Im now five months in and so grateful for the switch! Im learning so much about myself and how to leverage my strengths in a completely new role. Its not easy going from doing something you had years of experience in and was confident in to being a newb, but Im energized by the work. Im taking a related course, Ive read quite a number of books, and spent some time looking at online tutorials for aspects related to my new job. And Im excited to share that opportunities to do work that aligns with my UX degree is on the roadmap.

I look forward to hearing about your experiences!