Story of how I first step foot in the software industry
Motivational content alert 🚨⚠️
In 2016, I was a student intern at a local software house in Milan.
The pay wasn’t great, but it almost covered my expenses, and I was gaining valuable experience in software dev.
I had a plan: finish my degree (in robotics, not CS), take some electives, and get into a master’s program in software or math.
My mom even offered to help out financially for my master. So I ended my internship—didn’t take the full-time offer.
But... plans change.
A few months later, it turned out my mom couldn't reliably help. I needed money, fast.
I got a classic shitty job in a local IT consulting firm.
Writing automated tests in Python for navy industry software.
Not fancy, not much learning either.
After a couple of months of trying to make the best of it, I quit. It’s not even on my CV anymore.
New plan: do the master in CS, pay for it myself by doing math and physics tutoring.
So I did, 3-5 hours a day, all across Milan and its suburbs.
Studying algorithms and data structures on the bus between appointments.
Living on a shoestring budget, anxiety through the roof.
Eventually, I had to give up and move back to my mom’s house in a small town in central Italy.
Master's wasn't happening.
I focused on a Java course I liked, bought myself some time, and kept job hunting.
A few months later, I landed a job at a new Samsung office in Milan.
Then, a few months after that, my first job in Switzerland for 80k CHF/year (in 2018).
A year later, I finally had enough money to pay for the master.
So I did.
By 2021:
- Joined Amazon Spain.
- Made six figures+ in Switzerland.
- Even landed a big tech job there.
Last year, I bought my first rental property in Portugal.
If you’re struggling right now—I get it. I've been there.
Life has ebbs and flows. If you’re in a low point now, you’re likely on your way up.
Take a breath, focus on what you can control, and keep pushing. 💪
Good luck everyone! ❤️
FYI, here are 2 things I’m currently working on:
EuroTopTechJobs.com: Job board with 4000+ top-paying dev jobs in Europe and a growing list (40+) of high-paying fully-remote tech companies. Includes total compensation and saving rates data, in addition to private guides like this one. It’s also a way to support the work I do for free on this newsletter.
My Coaching Program: New edition started, with a cool and diverse group of folks. Some are targeting big tech Europe, others Switzerland, others high-paying remote. I’m not taking in anyone new right now, but if you want to join in the future I recommend getting into the waiting list (90% of the people in the current program came from the waiting list).
