After graduating from university with a BSc. in Land Resource Planning and Management in 2019, I, like many other fresh graduates, embarked on the journey of job hunting. I sent out countless applications for both internships and junior roles, hoping to find a place to kickstart my career.
The first major hurdle came when I attempted to register as a planner at Ardhi House, Nairobi in the Planning Department. To my shock, I was informed that graduates from my course could not be registered because my university (JKUAT) had not aligned its curriculum with the official requirements for planners. Imagine my frustration and disappointment after spending four years pursuing this degree, which at the time required a cluster point of 40 to enroll! 😮💨 To date, I believe this is more of a bureaucratic issue than an academic one because UoN graduates, who study the same content as we did, face no such barriers.
Determined not to let this setback define my career, I volunteered as a junior planning surveyor at a construction company (Rokoh) for four months—unpaid, by the way. I gained hands-on experience in setting out structures using total stations, dumpy levels, and other surveying equipment. While we had used these instruments back on campus, our exposure had been quite basic.
After mastering their use in the field, I attempted to register as a surveyor at the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) to enhance my employability so that I could be eligible for hire in a company as is required in our country. Unfortunately, history repeated itself. I was deemed ineligible once again for the same reason as before—my course did not meet the board’s requirements. This time, I was advised to pursue a Master’s degree and specialize in GIS before I could be registered. It was yet another major disappointment, especially considering that I had already spent four months at the Directorate of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing (DRSRS) as an attaché during my undergraduate studies.
With limited options, I turned to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), a path still open to me as it was part of what we had covered in the course. I enrolled at JKUAT for a certification course, spending Kshs. 28,000 for a one-month program that allowed me to register and get certified by NEMA. It also granted me the opportunity to join the Kenya Institute of Planners (KIP) under Environmental Planning.
Finally, with the certifications in place, I started applying for roles again. Yet, opportunities remained elusive. I ended up volunteering at Supreme Plan Consultants for four more months, then interned at Real Plan Consultants. For over a year, despite persistent job applications, no offers came through, let alone regrets or interviews. National Government, County Governments, and private companies rarely advertised any jobs in this category. Even those in permanent roles struggled with salary delays and job insecurity.
At this point, I had spent close to three years trying to establish my career, yet I felt stuck—disappointed, frustrated, and seeing no promising future in this field. That’s when I made the bold decision to quit and pivot to Tech. I drew inspiration from some of my friends, who had also left their previous careers in search of something more fulfilling, impactful, and globally relevant.
After a broader consultation with people in the Tech field, I started applying for scholarships in software engineering. Back then, they were quite a number. The first opportunity came through the ALX Software Engineering program, a one-year, fully funded program that required nothing but time, patience, grit, a computer, and the internet. Around the same time, I secured another scholarship from Moringa School for a six-month intensive training.
By January 2023, I had already begun the ALX program when I received the Moringa School offer in mid-February—the program was set to begin in early March. Eager to maximize both opportunities, I attempted to juggle the two programs. However, by March, it became evident that this approach was counterproductive. At ALX, I was learning C programming, while at Moringa, I was being introduced to JavaScript. Both programs were intensive, each requiring at least eight hours daily, and the contrasting learning tracks made it challenging to keep up. During the C programming phase at ALX, I struggled with major projects, Data Structures, and Algorithms. As a newcomer to tech, I felt I needed more time to build a solid foundation before tackling advanced concepts.
Realizing I needed a more structured approach, I made the tough decision to pause the ALX program in April 2023. Again, lady luck was with me. In the ALX program, one could defer, which was good for me since I didn’t want to lose any of the scholarships. I deferred from Cohort 12 to Cohort 15, giving myself three months to focus on JavaScript and web development at Moringa.
By June, I was wrapping up my time at Moringa, working on my Capstone Project with a team—this collaboration made learning smoother and more practical. With a better grasp of JavaScript, I resumed the ALX program in July. By mid-August, I had completed Moringa and was already joining iTalanta as an Apprentice for three months.
To cut the long story short, fast forward to June 2024, as I graduated from the ALX program, I was already working as a Backend Engineer Intern at KIEP_SKIES. The rest, as they say, is history.
Why Tech is the Future - The Harsh Reality for Many Graduates
I know many university graduates have gone through similar struggles—long job searches, endless applications, and career roadblocks. However, I firmly believe that anyone can and should take control of their careers, especially now that tech offers a myriad of opportunities compared to many traditional fields that have left thousands jobless for years in our country. I apply and interview for jobs that rarely look at my degree but my skill, though some still do require a degree or something related to Computer Science. I know of friends of mine in FAANG/MAANG companies with just their skill set and not the Degrees by the way.
Throughout my transformation into a skilled software developer, I went through three different boot camps , and there’s something about the ALX program that sets it apart:
Project-Based Learning – ALX emphasizes self-learning and meeting deadlines, unlike the traditional teacher-led model in most African institutions.
Real-World Preparation – The curriculum mirrors the American education system, fostering innovation, startups, and problem-solving, rather than just job-seeking and employment.
Key Lessons from My Two-Year Journey
Measure your learning growth against yourself.
Avoid comparing yourself to others. Everyone has a unique journey.
Don't hesitate to step back to strengthen your foundation in key concepts.
Focus on learning, not just the certification. Skills matter more than papers.
Looking back, switching to tech was the best decision I ever made. It’s a career with limitless possibilities, global opportunities, and the ability to constantly evolve and innovate.
For any graduate feeling stuck, it’s never too late to pivot—your next big opportunity could be just one bold decision away!