For Míša Trčková, now a Software Engineer at Mews, the journey into IT wasn’t paved by a technical degree. In this interview, Míša shares how she broke into the field, landed her first job, and found a company where she finally feels she can grow. The ReactGirls community featured her story on their Medium blog — now we’re bringing the interview to you here too.
Rethinking the Future
What inspired you to switch careers and pursue a path in IT?
I wanted to find a field that would let me combine my creativity with my logical and analytical thinking. A field that offers room for dynamic growth and continuous learning, while also being lucrative and offering the possibility of remote work.
What was your previous profession or field of study, and how did those experiences help you in IT?
My background is quite diverse. I studied general medicine while working at the same time. It was interesting and I enjoyed some aspects, but it became clear I didn’t want to work in the field long-term. The work-life balance was challenging, the conditions often poor, and I missed the element of creativity.
Medicine taught me perseverance, how to handle failure, stay calm under pressure, and prioritize information. It helped me develop a problem-solving mindset and the ability to approach challenges from different angles.
I also worked as a room master in escape games and occasionally took on photography and translation projects. The escape game role involved interacting with dozens of clients daily, which built my confidence in communication, presentation, and adaptability. Working with foreign clients also gave me the chance to use English professionally.
What kind of experience did you have with technology before switching careers?
Before making the switch, I was more of a user. I was curious about the technical specs of phones, laptops, and cameras, but not deeply. My exposure to programming was surface-level. In high school, I did well in computer science and enjoyed it, but I wasn’t motivated enough to pursue it further.
Later on, I helped manage our website (WordPress) at work. One day, I encountered a problem that required coding to solve. Using logic and analysis, I somehow figured it out, and that’s when I realized that diving into code could actually be really fun. That’s when I started exploring programming more seriously.
The Path to IT
How did you learn new skills—through formal study, courses, or self-learning?
I started by researching different roles in IT to find what I might enjoy. Talking to people in the field, mainly developers and a scrum master, was incredibly helpful. I also browsed job listings on Czech and international portals, including LinkedIn.
I began following company pages and IT professionals on LinkedIn. After some time, I concluded that front-end development resonated with me the most, at least initially. While abroad, I met a few digital nomads and asked about their journeys, which led to plenty of course and article recommendations.
I decided to enroll in Czechitas‘ long-term intensive course, Digital Academy: Web, a program supporting women entering tech. During the course, I also studied independently using materials from sites like Stack Overflow, W3Schools, and others. I watched YouTube tutorials on CSS, JavaScript, and React, and actively discussed issues with people from the industry.
Attending meetups, especially ReactGirls events, was another valuable experience. These events were beginner-friendly and often involved collaborations with great companies. Some topics felt abstract at first, but they pushed me forward. I also met many interesting people and began building a network, which I believe is essential for growth and job searching.
How long did it take to land your first job in IT?
It took about 10 months from deciding to switch to IT to landing my first job.
What was the most challenging part of your journey?
The toughest part was hearing that companies weren’t hiring juniors at the time. I was devoting almost all my time to studying and limiting other activities. The entire process required a lot of focus, dedication, and time.
Breaking into IT
How did you get your first job in IT?
Ironically, getting my first job was easier than landing my second. During the Digital Academy: Web course, one of the mentors (not mine) noticed my work on the final project. At the final gala evening, he asked if I’d be interested in interviewing at his company. And that was that.
I was lucky, but it was also thanks to all the hard work I’d put in during the course, which helped me stand out. It wasn’t my dream job. I wasn’t happy there and didn’t stay long, but it gave me a real step forward. I got to work with new technologies, be part of a real team, and gain practical experience.
What was your first role, and what did you learn from it?
I worked as a front-end developer. The tech stack included Next.js and TypeScript, both of which were new to me. I learned a lot about these technologies, along with various libraries and tools. I also got a taste of design, planning, and occasionally took on some management and team coordination tasks.
How did you adjust to the working culture?
I adapted quickly to team rituals like stand-ups, retrospectives, and collaborating through tools like Jira, Slack, and Outlook. The hardest part was communication. Some team members worked limited hours or weren’t always in the office, so I often had to manage and learn things on my own. Overall, it wasn’t the best environment for a junior, but it pushed me forward.
I’m much happier in my current role, where the team dynamic and culture suit me better. When there’s a mutual fit between a person and a company, everything clicks. The key is staying curious, asking questions, and having someone to learn from.
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Growing at Mews
What do you enjoy most about your current role?
I love that I can build part of a feature and immediately test and see the results. It’s satisfying to know our systems are used, work well, and keep clients happy. There’s a kind of playfulness in programming: finding efficient solutions, building components, and experimenting. I also love discovering new technologies and perspectives in such a dynamic environment.
I’m equally grateful for my team. I feel great working with them, and landing a job at Mews was truly a dream come true. I’m thankful for the opportunity.
What are the biggest myths about transitioning to IT?
The biggest myth is that anyone can do it. I don’t think that’s true. There are key prerequisites: time, energy, and a commitment to truly learning and practicing. Attending a course and getting a certificate isn’t enough. You need curiosity and a desire to understand how things work.
As a coach and mentor in IT courses, I’ve seen people try to copy code or rely on AI for quick results. But programming is about problem-solving and understanding. It’s about developing the mindset to grasp why code behaves a certain way.
If your only motivation is “less work for more money, ideally from a beach somewhere,” that’s unrealistic. As a junior, you might start with a salary cut. Not every company supports remote work, and job hunting can take time—there’s a lot of competition. But with real effort, patience, and time, switching to IT is absolutely achievable.
Looking Ahead
What are your goals for the future?
I want to deepen my knowledge of TypeScript and React. I’m also focusing on improving my task planning skills (breaking work into logical parts), which will help me transition toward management and better understand the business side of our product.
My goal is to grow into a senior role and help onboard new juniors. Eventually, I’d expand my skill set to include backend development.
AI is a hot topic right now. How do you think it affects junior developers?
It depends on how it’s used. Relying too heavily on AI for quick results without deeper understanding can be risky. However, when used as a support tool to explore, get explanations, and cross-check, it can be a powerful learning accelerator. Like any tool, it’s about how you use it.
Key Takeaways from Míša’s Journey into IT
Míša’s story shows that breaking into IT isn’t just about completing a course and collecting certificates. It’s about developing the right mindset. Her persistence, curiosity, and self-driven learning made all the difference. If you’re considering a career change, her path proves it’s possible—but only if you’re willing to put in the work.
