Francesco Ciulla

Finding Your Way in Tech

Can being told 'you will never be a developer' actually launch your career? Learn how to turn rejection into your greatest motivator.

Finding Your Way in Tech
#1about 4 minutes

Finding your career path with varied interests

A personal journey from wanting to be an astronaut to coaching volleyball before starting a computer science degree without a clear direction.

#2about 3 minutes

How negative feedback can become powerful motivation

A professor's discouraging comment becomes the catalyst for learning to code through game development, which teaches crucial software fundamentals.

#3about 2 minutes

Why job rejection can be a lucky break

Failing an interview due to memorizing specific syntax highlights the lesson that rejection is an opportunity to persevere and adjust your direction.

#4about 3 minutes

Landing a dream job by focusing on fundamentals

An unexpected interview with the European Space Agency succeeds because it tested core concepts like Docker and Git, not rote memorization.

#5about 3 minutes

Combining development skills with communication and teaching

To counteract the isolation of a developer job, creating online content and attending conferences opened new doors in developer relations and public speaking.

#6about 1 minute

The first key to success is building the right habits

Adopting consistent, positive habits like waking up early and coding daily is a foundational step for changing your life and career.

#7about 1 minute

The second key is connecting with the right people

Building a professional network at events and online is crucial for discovering career opportunities and finding peers with similar goals.

#8about 2 minutes

The final key is being brutally honest with yourself

True change begins with self-awareness and admitting when you are unhappy with your situation, which empowers you to take action.

Related jobs
Jobs that call for the skills explored in this talk.

Matching moments

Shifting from talent acquisition to talent architecture
03:28 MIN

Shifting from talent acquisition to talent architecture

The Future of HR Lies in AND – Not in OR

Balancing business, technology, and people for holistic success
06:51 MIN

Balancing business, technology, and people for holistic success

The Future of HR Lies in AND – Not in OR

Navigating ambiguity as a core HR competency
04:22 MIN

Navigating ambiguity as a core HR competency

The Future of HR Lies in AND – Not in OR

The importance of a fighting spirit to avoid complacency
06:04 MIN

The importance of a fighting spirit to avoid complacency

The Future of HR Lies in AND – Not in OR

How the HR function has evolved over three decades
05:10 MIN

How the HR function has evolved over three decades

The Future of HR Lies in AND – Not in OR

Understanding global differences in work culture and motivation
06:10 MIN

Understanding global differences in work culture and motivation

The Future of HR Lies in AND – Not in OR

Moving from 'or' to 'and' thinking in HR strategy
06:59 MIN

Moving from 'or' to 'and' thinking in HR strategy

The Future of HR Lies in AND – Not in OR

How AI can create more human moments in HR
03:13 MIN

How AI can create more human moments in HR

The Future of HR Lies in AND – Not in OR

Featured Partners

Related Videos

See all videos
Introverted Developers on Social Media44:44

Introverted Developers on Social Media

Francesco Ciulla

Brenda Romero - Stay! Surviving and Thriving in Tech28:06

Brenda Romero - Stay! Surviving and Thriving in Tech

Brenda Romero

From Punch Cards to AI-assisted Development36:53

From Punch Cards to AI-assisted Development

Francesco Ciulla

Five things in tech that matter and we have to make work17:01

Five things in tech that matter and we have to make work

Christian Heilmann

Fingerboard to Keyboard: Transposing One Profession to Another58:30

Fingerboard to Keyboard: Transposing One Profession to Another

Jennifer Reif

How I use public learning to kickstart my career - From marketing to full-stack in a 100 days22:46

How I use public learning to kickstart my career - From marketing to full-stack in a 100 days

Fanni Friedrich

The Future Past of Technology - A Game Developers POV29:27

The Future Past of Technology - A Game Developers POV

Johanna Pirker

Coffee with Developers - Francesco Ciulla13:14

Coffee with Developers - Francesco Ciulla

Francesco Ciulla

Related Articles

View all articles
CH
Chris Heilmann
WWC24 Talk - Brenda Romero - Stay: Surviving and Thriving in Tech
Brenda Romero discusses her tech career journey, overcoming burnout, and inspiring future game developers at WWC24.Here is what she had to say in the video:Hey everyone! Thanks for joining us!Reflections on a Rough YearLast year, I gave a talk about ...
WWC24 Talk - Brenda Romero - Stay: Surviving and Thriving in Tech

From learning to earning

Jobs that call for the skills explored in this talk.