From Salon Owner to Software Engineer

Before joining Phorest, I was a salon owner who knew the product from the other side - as a customer. I saw firsthand how it helped salons manage their businesses and serve their clients better. Having run my own salon, I also understood the reality of running a small business and the difference the right tools can make.

When COVID-19 forced my salon to close, it gave me some time to think about what I wanted to do next. I had always been curious about tech, but had assumed that a career in software meant having a computer science degree. When I discovered that wasn’t necessarily the case, I decided to give it a go, starting with a free Udemy course and learning HTML and CSS.

What started as curiosity quickly turned into excitement. For the first time, I could see a completely new career path opening up. I decided to go for it and fully commit to changing careers.

I enrolled in the Code Institute and started an intensive, fully remote full-stack development programme. It was a big financial and personal investment, especially after closing my salon permanently, but I was determined to make it work.

The course wasn’t easy. Learning to work with programming languages like JavaScript and Python felt overwhelming at times, and I admit there were moments of doubt and impostor syndrome. But I kept going, completing all the required projects with strong results.

Along the way, I discovered a particular passion for front-end development, the space where design, user experience and functionality come together. That quickly became the focus of my job search.

For me, Phorest was always the goal. I really admired that Phorest isn’t “software for the sake of software”. It has a real impact, and I had experienced that myself as a salon owner. That connection made Phorest my number one choice.

I applied to Phorest more than once, initially for mid-level engineering roles, but wasn’t successful. I didn’t give up. Instead, I kept working on my technical interview skills and refining my approach.

When a graduate engineering role opened up, I saw my opportunity. I wrote a passionate cover letter explaining not just my skills, but my personal connection to the mission. Even while interviewing elsewhere, I stayed focused on joining Phorest. Eventually, after progressing through the interviews and completing a task assignment, I was offered the role!

During onboarding, I saw Phorest’s mission clearly: to help salon owners succeed and build a stronger industry. That really cemented my connection to the company. I describe the work I do now as helping my “old self”.

Having lived the reality of being a salon owner, I understand the challenges our customers face. That perspective gives my work a deeper sense of meaning and purpose.

Since joining nearly four years ago, I have progressed from graduate engineer to mid-level engineer, achieving my promotion after two and a half years. I credit a lot of that growth to the support I’ve received along the way.

My former engineering manager encouraged me to write a blog post about my career change, helping me recognise just how far I had come. My current manager, who was also my buddy when I joined, continues to provide encouragement and guidance. That feeling of someone “having your back” is something you see across leadership at Phorest.

When asked what keeps me at Phorest, my answer is, unsurprisingly, the people.

I remember going to my first Christmas party and immediately feeling like I belonged. Everyone, from principal engineers to senior leaders, felt approachable and down-to-earth. There’s very little sense of hierarchy and no “corporate ego”.