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Making a career change can seem intimidating and finding a company that is open to candidates with different professional backgrounds can be a challenge.
At Wiremind, we recognize that every career journey is unique and professional growth does not always follow a linear, predefined path. The goal is to support career development by creating an environment where skills can be transferred, developed, and refined.
When our Talent Acquisition team meets candidates, they take into account the whole picture of what someone new has to offer - their skills, experiences, and attitude.
In this article, we highlight the stories of five Wiremind team members who took the leap to change professions and share what motivated them, how they navigated the transition, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
After studying Corporate Finance at NEOMA Business School, Claire Carnot began her career in various roles such as being a Financial Auditor and a Financial Controller working for companies such as Capgemini , KPMG, and tech scale-ups in Cybersecurity and Contact Centers as a Service (CCaaS). During this time, she was exposed to software development through friends and colleagues, and was inspired by the creative aspect of development work.
“I enjoyed working in finance, but what intrigued me most about becoming a developer was the ability to ‘create’. In finance, you focus on interpreting and making sense of what others - developers, sales teams, and other departments - have built, whereas in development, you're the one bringing ideas to life.”
Inspired by this desire to create, she enrolled in the 42 program to become a Software Developer. Despite the challenges of leaving a comfortable job to become a student again, Claire had strong support from those in her life, and she approached her studies from a place of gratitude: “What kept me humble and open to learning was realizing how rare it is to get a second chance to dive into something entirely new.”
Today, Claire is honing her expertise as one of our newest Software Interns on the PAXONE Team. Her background in Finance and Administration continues to shape her approach to software development, prioritizing clear communication and asking the right questions before diving into a new project.
Her prior experience also reinforced the idea that presentation is just as important as functionality - how a solution is structured and communicated is critical to ensuring its success. By combining her analytical mindset with her newfound technical skills, Claire brings a unique perspective to development, one that emphasizes efficiency and encourages collaboration across teams.
René De Chivré’s professional journey is defined by determination and a craftsmanship-driven perspective. After completing high school, he began a career in Carpentry. He spent eight years in the industry, working in roles such as an Industrial Designer for Menuiserie Ribreau.
By 2022, he decided to pivot, seeking a career with greater flexibility and broader opportunities. Drawn to the versatility of software engineering, René began teaching himself to code, taking CS50 courses in his free time. While initially self-taught, René later attended La Capsule bootcamp, which provided more structured learning.
One of his biggest challenges along the way was balancing his education with the responsibilities of parenthood. The transition ultimately took two years, requiring patience, perseverance, and a commitment to continuous learning.
Upon finishing his studies, René found an opportunity at Wiremind and was immediately drawn to its tech-driven culture. Now a Software Engineer on the Cargo team, he finds that soft skills such as leadership and collaboration remain as applicable in tech as they were in his previous career. His commitment to craftsmanship has helped him develop a strong sense of product vision and the ability to anticipate user needs, which still informs his approach to software development day-to-day.
After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management & Economics from Università degli Studi di Torino, Leonardo Collino followed his passion for gastronomy and pursued a Master's in Food Innovation and Management at UNISG.
Upon graduating, he gained real-world experience in the Food & Beverage industry through working at companies such as Eataly as a sales associate and an E-commerce Operations Specialist, and later taking a Business Development internship at Moderato, a non-alcoholic wine company.
However, he soon wanted to be more challenged, and he became intrigued by the tech sector. In January 2025, Leonardo found the right opportunity to break into the industry, with a Business Development internship on the EVENTORI team at Wiremind.
Regarding the decision to switch professions, Leonardo said, “I have a lot of energy and creativity, and doing sales in the tech sector allows me to bring these two sides of myself together. Food will always be my passion, but I’m excited to be in a field that moves quickly and pushes me to keep learning.”
While the Food & Beverage and Tech industries are vastly different, Leonardo sees this contrast as an advantage, allowing him to approach business development with fresh insights and a creative mindset shaped by his unique background.
A graduate of IEA Lille, Alexandre Lienard holds a Master's degree in International Marketing and Communication. He began his career in the Publishing industry, with roles in Marketing, Communication, and Business.
During his early career experiences, his work increasingly involved understanding new technologies, with the goal of enhancing efficiency at minimal cost. In his work, he was exposed to HTML and CSS, as his responsibilities expanded to include sales-funnel optimization, SEO, web scraping, and VBA scripting. He soon discovered the power of programming languages and began to enjoy the creative problem-solving aspect of technical work.
After nearly four years, Alexandre found himself at a professional crossroads - either he could continue in his industry, return to school to study a related field, or try something totally new. A conversation with a close friend convinced him to take the 42 entrance exam to explore software engineering. Initially, he joined out of curiosity, but the intellectual stimulation he felt convinced him to pursue his studies and finish the full course.
With the skills gained during his training, Alexandre was offered a Software Engineering internship at Wiremind. Reflecting upon decision to join the company, he recalled, “What I was looking for was exactly what Wiremind offered: structure and flexibility. The interviews I had convinced me that the people at Wiremind were serious about coding a very good product and providing a platform for people to grow.”
Upon finishing his internship in February 2023, Alexandre continued with Wiremind in a full-time position as a Software Engineer, and today, he has grown into a managerial role, as a Senior Software Engineer role on the CAYZN team.
Alexandre is not the only one who joined Wiremind after a career in the publishing industry - Étienne Klépal had spent about 10 years working in publishing before considering a career change!
He graduated from Université Paris Nanterre with a Master’s degree in Publishing. During his time in the industry, he specialized in editing comic books, working closely with the Chinese market to bring their comics to France.
After a decade of experience, Etienne was open to the idea of making a career change. Already a master of the soft skills needed in a creative field, he wanted to challenge himself to develop more technical skills.
Initially, he considered transitioning into the function of Product Owner, noting that his existing skillset could be transferable. But, after completing a 6-month training course to become a Product Owner, he found that this function was not enough of a change for him. However, it was during this time that he first learned to code, and he instantly loved it.
This newfound passion sparked his imagination - he had a lot to learn, but if he could develop his technical skills, an entirely new range of opportunities could be unlocked. He quickly pivoted, and enrolled in Le Wagon’s program to become a Full-Stack Developer.
To further develop his skills, he spent a year and a half as a freelancer to gain real-world experience before looking for a full-time position. He heard about Wiremind through a friend and in November 2024, he joined the Cargo team as a Software Engineer.
“I really liked this sense of a tech-focused atmosphere where what I did could really make an impact. I also felt that there would be great mentorship opportunities, which was very important to me.”
Despite making a dramatic career shift, Étienne's background in publishing continues to shape his approach as a Software Engineer. “You need vision to understand where your product is headed, and you should always consider what the user needs and how they will interact with it.”
This holistic mindset now informs his development work, and when paired with the humility and perseverance he cultivated along the way, it’s clear that Étienne is already carving out a promising future in tech.
It’s important to have exposure to a new subject or field before committing to making a change. A good first step could be trying a bootcamp, some independent courses, or developing a personal project. The experience of learning a new skill or gaining exposure to a different field is an essential part of identifying where your true interests and passions lie.
Use platforms like LinkedIn to find people who are currently working in the role you are interested in to ask for feedback and insights about their day-to-day responsibilities.
When considering a career change, the key is to be decisive and act quickly once you decide upon your direction. As Leonardo emphasizes: “If you decide to switch, plan and act fast. Every moment spent in the wrong field is time not invested in the right one.”
Freelancing is a great way to put your new skills to the test and gain real-world experience. Whether you decide to freelance for a period of time or develop your skillset in other ways, having a portfolio or something tangible you can share with potential employers can be key when trying to find your next position.
Take the time to assess the skills you do have, with special attention paid to your soft skills. Even if you come from a wildly different background, there are certainly skills you already possess that can help you be successful in a new career - whether it is leadership, collaboration, or attention to detail.
Focus on the big picture and remind yourself of what qualities and lessons you can bring with you as you make the transition.
Making a career change is a big step, and requires the right mindset to ultimately be successful.
Identify what is most motivating for you - is it gratitude for the opportunity to learn something new? Are you excited by expanding your career prospects? A chance to grow professionally and personally?
Whatever the case may be, a growth-oriented mindset can help you stay the course. Remember that you won’t be perfect right away, and that it is important to stay patient throughout the process.
Despite coming from various backgrounds, these stories from our team demonstrate that adaptability, resilience, and the right mindset are the keys to success when considering a career change. If you are considering making the switch, let this piece inspire you as you write the next chapter of your career journey.
At Wiremind, we are proud to support career growth by providing an environment where people can develop their skills and explore new pathways to professional success. If you're ready to explore new possibilities, check out our open positions!
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