From jobless to cloud engineer at Microsoft - Mark A.

Learning to code and launching a career in tech can feel overwhelming—but you’re not alone. That’s why we’re sharing inspiring stories from our community to show how people just like you can take the leap, gain new skills, and land their dream job. Let these stories remind you that there’s no one-size-fits-all path to a fulfilling career.

Today, we’re featuring Mark Anderson, a 23-year-old Cloud Engineer at Microsoft. Mark’s journey shows how dedication and persistence can open doors to some of the world’s top tech companies.

Be inspired by more success stories from our learners — and don’t forget to share your own journey with us!

The process I went through to get a job through Shtudy was simple. I went to the website and typed in my information. After I signed up with my email, I sent them my resume and answered a few simple questions about what I wanted to get into career-wise, what areas of expertise I have within the technology field. All of these questions are essential for them to match you up with your career.

Shtudy reached out to me. They reached out to me and I was able to get matched up with a career advisor within just a couple of hours. They edited my resume to improve it and make it anonymous, and then they sent it to their list of employers. They gave me access to their online community where I was able to search within their platform for courses, job openings, and skill paths, as well as connect with other developers. It was comforting to be able to ask people questions who were going through challenges similar to what I was going through at the time.

Throughout the process, my career advisor taught me interview skills, how to present myself to companies, and they also tutored me on different coding courses and interview prep courses that I was taking on Shtudy's online platform. It was by far the smoothest and most seamless experience I've ever had with a career coach.

I received interview requests from a few of the companies listed in Shtudy's network, and one was at a Fortune 100 copmany. I was very excited and my career advisor reached out to me because they also received the first notification that an employer was interested in me. They were able to prep me for this interview particularly for this position which was very helpful. They gave me all the key points and made sure that I was ready for the interview. When I went on the interview and it went great... it was excellent! They loved my skill sets and they hired me right on board.

After I received the job offer, Shtudy kept in contact with me. They made sure everything was going smoothly. They checked in with me daily to make sure I was doing what I needed to be doing on the job and that everything was going as expected within the work environment. They really helped me out. I doubled my salary from making less than six figures to over six figures with this change in jobs.

I highly recommend Shtudy to anyone looking to break into the Information Technology field or advance their career, especially minorities who might face unique challenges in the industry. Whether you're just starting out or have senior-level experience and are seeking your next big opportunity, Shtudy is an incredible resource.

Personally, Shtudy played a crucial role in helping me transition into my current role as a Cloud Engineer at Microsoft. With their support, I gained valuable networking skills and earned certifications like Security+ and Network+, which were essential stepping stones in my career.

Through a previous job I landed with Shtudy’s help, I was able to build the skills and experience I needed to achieve my goals. Now, as a Cloud Engineer at Microsoft, I’m proud to say I’m earning well over six figures a year.

If you’re looking to transition into IT or level up in your career, I can’t recommend Shtudy enough!