Sam learned web development on Coursera and transformed his career. Here’s his story:
Sam thought he’d found his dream job when he signed a contract to travel the world as a drummer. After a few years of living out of a suitcase, though, he realized he needed a more stable career.
He knew musicians who were looking for help creating websites. He wondered – could he build technology skills that would be valuable to the entertainment industry? To explore his options, he enrolled in Stanford University’s Startup Engineering course on Coursera.
At first, Sam wasn’t even sure if he’d be able to finish the assignments – he’d struggled in a traditional classroom, and had never felt challenged in a way that motivated him to learn. With the freedom to pursue his own interests, however, he quickly developed a passion for coding. “I’d never connected with learning in school” he says. “But on Coursera, I couldn’t stop.”
After adding his new skills to his resume, Sam applied for a job at the BBC, where his industry-specific knowledge impressed interviewers. He accepted an offer to work with the company as a developer, and he’s since moved on to a startup, where he builds major web applications and earns more than double his drummer’s salary.
