From Shitty Consulting Job to Six Figures: My Journey Into Software Engineering

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.

Explore opportunities for every career stage →

When Plans Fall Apart

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.

The Struggle Period

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.

My Daily Reality (2016-2017)

Time	Activity	Income	Mental State
8am-12pm	Study for master's classes	€0	Stressed
12pm-8pm	Travel + tutor students across Milan	€15-25/hour	Exhausted
8pm-11pm	Study algorithms, do assignments	€0	Anxious
Budget	€800/month living costs	~€900-1,100/month income	Barely surviving

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.

For others facing similar struggles, see our early career tips.

The Turning Point

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).

The Progression

Year	Situation	Salary	Notes
2016	Student intern, Milan	€800/month	Hoping for master's
2017	Failed consulting, tutoring	€900-1,100/month	Moved back to mom's
2018	Samsung Milan	~€35k/year	First real job
2018	Switzerland	80k CHF (~€75k)	Life-changing move
2019	Switzerland (better company)	100k CHF (~€95k)	Improving
2021	Amazon Spain	~€120k TC	Big tech
2021	Switzerland (big tech)	~€150k+ TC	Six figures+

A year after landing the Switzerland job, 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.

Learn about real estate investing as an engineer →

Key Lessons From My Journey

1. Your Lowest Point Might Be Your Launchpad

When I was taking buses across Milan, studying algorithms between tutoring sessions, I felt like I had failed.

In reality, that struggle taught me:

• How to learn under pressure
• How to manage time ruthlessly
• How to stay focused despite chaos
• Resilience

These skills served me better than any master's program.

2. Geographic Arbitrage Changes Everything

Location	Year	Salary	Cost of Living
Milan (tutoring)	2017	€12k/year	€11k/year
Milan (Samsung)	2018	€35k/year	€29k/year
Switzerland	2018-2020	€80-95k/year	€50-60k/year
Switzerland (big tech)	2021+	€150k+/year	€60k/year

Moving to Switzerland was the single best financial decision I made.

For location strategy, see our comprehensive guide.

3. You Don't Need a Perfect CV

My background:

• Robotics degree (not CS)
• No master's (dropped out)
• Shitty consulting job (not on CV)
• No internships at famous companies

Yet I landed Samsung, then Switzerland, then big tech.

What mattered:

• Actually shipping code (side projects, GitHub)
• Being able to explain technical decisions
• Persistence (applied to 100+ jobs)
• Willingness to relocate

See our guide on how I landed big tech for the actual strategy.

4. The First Break is the Hardest

Milestone	Applications Sent	Time Spent	Difficulty
First job (Samsung)	~150	6 months	Extremely hard
Switzerland job	~80	4 months	Hard
Better Swiss job	~40	2 months	Medium
Amazon	~20	2 months	Medium
Big tech Switzerland	~15	1 month	Easy (had leverage)

Notice the pattern: as you build experience and savings, everything gets easier.

The first break required 150 applications and 6 months of grinding.

The fifth break required 15 applications and 1 month.

5. Savings = Freedom = Leverage

Compare my negotiating position:

2017 (tutoring):

• Financial buffer: Minimal
• Runway: Very short
• Desperation: Extreme
• Leverage: None
• Outcome: Had to take shitty consulting job

2021 (big tech hunt):

• Financial buffer: Strong
• Runway: Long
• Desperation: None
• Leverage: Extreme
• Outcome: Could negotiate aggressively, walk away from bad offers

This is why I'm so passionate about the LCLT remote strategy—it builds leverage fast.

Compare your optimal path →

Common Objections: "But Your Path Won't Work For Me"

Let me address what you're thinking:

"I don't have connections/network"

Neither did I. I applied cold to 150+ companies. Most ignored me.

But some didn't.

Reality: You only need ONE yes.

"I'm not from a top university"

I went to a decent but not prestigious Italian university.

For robotics. Not CS.

Reality: Once you have 2-3 years experience, nobody cares about your university.

"I can't relocate"

This was my biggest advantage, but I get it—not everyone can move.

Alternative: Remote work from LCLT. You can stay in Poland/Romania/Portugal and land remote jobs. Same financial outcome.

See our guide on remote work.

"The market was better when you started"

The job market was better 2016-2021, true.

But 2024 is still infinitely better than most careers.

Compare:

• Law: 5+ years education, €40k-€60k starting, 60hr weeks
• Medicine: 8+ years education, €50k-€70k starting, brutal hours
• Finance: Prestigious MBA needed, 80hr weeks, layoff risk
• Software: 0-4 years education, €40k-€80k starting, 40-50hr weeks, global opportunities

Software is still the best risk-adjusted career path.

"I'm too old to start"

I started at 24 (not super young). Know people who started at 30, 35, even 40.

Reality: If you're under 40, you have 20-25 years to retirement. More than enough time.

If you're over 40, you still have 15-20 years. Still enough time to build wealth.

For more perspective, see why software engineering is still the best career.

The Actual Steps I Took (Replicable)

Here's the concrete playbook:

Step 1: Get Any Dev Job (6-12 months)

Goal: Get experience, get paid something

Actions:

• Build 2-3 portfolio projects (put on GitHub)
• Apply to 100-200 companies (local + international)
• Target: Any job €30k-€50k

Result: First paycheck, first line on CV

Step 2: Move to Higher-Paying Market (12-18 months after Step 1)

Goal: Increase salary 2x-3x

Actions:

• Target Switzerland, London, or remote jobs
• Apply to 50-100 companies
• Leverage your 1-2 years experience
• Target: €70k-€100k

Result: Real savings start (€25k-€40k/year)

Step 3: Optimize Location or Go Remote (24-36 months after Step 2)

Goal: Maximize savings rate

Actions:

• Either stay in HCOL and push for big tech (€120k-€200k)
• Or pivot to remote from LCLT (€100k-€150k but save more)
• Target: €60k-€90k saved per year

Result: €200k-€300k saved after 3-5 years

Step 4: Build Wealth (Ongoing)

Goal: Financial independence

Actions:

• Invest savings (index funds, real estate)
• Keep high savings rate
• Compound growth

Result: €500k-€1M net worth in 10-15 years

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.

What To Do When You're at Your Lowest

1. Focus on what you can control

You can't control:

• The job market
• Layoffs
• Your past mistakes

You can control:

• What you learn today
• Where you apply
• Your skills development
• Your spending

2. Take the smallest next step

Don't think "I need to get to six figures."

Think "I need to apply to 5 companies this week."

Progress compounds.

3. Build in public

Tweet your learning. Write blog posts. Share projects.

Visibility creates opportunities.

4. Remember: this is temporary

In 2017, I thought I'd failed at life.

In 2021, I had six figures and owned property.

The gap? 4 years.

4 years feels like forever when you're struggling. But it passes.

And 4 years of focused effort in software can transform your financial situation completely.

Take the first step: explore opportunities →

My Regrets (Learn From These)

1. I should have moved to Switzerland earlier

I wasted time in Milan at lower salary when I could've been in Zurich earning more.

2. I should have negotiated harder

My first Swiss job: accepted the offer immediately.

Could've negotiated for more.

3. I should have invested earlier

I kept too much cash. Should've been investing in index funds from day one.

4. I didn't take remote work seriously enough

Could've gone remote in 2019-2020, moved to Portugal or Poland for better lifestyle and savings rate.

But here's the thing: I still won despite mistakes.

You don't need to be perfect. You just need to be directionally correct.

Where I Am Now (2024)

Age: Early 30s

Current situation:

• Working remotely
• Financially secure
• Extreme leverage (can be picky with opportunities)
• Low stress

Time from "broke tutor" to here: 7 years

Was it worth it? Absolutely.

Start building your own path →

The Message: Take a Breath, Keep Pushing

If you're struggling right now—I get it. I've been there.

• Failed plans? ✓ (Master's program)
• Shitty jobs? ✓ (Navy testing consulting)
• No money? ✓ (€900/month at age 24)
• Anxiety? ✓ (Constant, for 2 years)
• Living with parents? ✓ (Age 24-25)

But I kept going.

And 5 years later, I had:

• Six figures
• Property
• Options
• Freedom

You can too.

Life Has Ebbs and Flows

If you're in a low point now, you're likely on your way up.

Focus on what you can control. Keep pushing.

Good luck everyone! ❤️

---

Frequently Asked Questions

How did you actually land the Switzerland job with no CS degree and limited experience?

The brutal truth: volume + timing + being okay with rejection. I applied to ~80 Swiss companies over 4 months. Got rejected by 70+, ignored by many. But I had a few things working for me: (1) Portfolio over credentials: I had 2-3 solid projects on GitHub showing I could actually code, not just talk about coding, (2) Applied to new offices: Samsung Milan was a new office (2017) = less competition, more willing to take chances, (3) Robotics degree was close enough: Some overlap with software (embedded systems, Python, math), (4) Timing: Applied during a hiring boom (pre-2020), (5) Willingness to relocate: Most Italian devs didn't want to move, I did. The Switzerland job specifically: Small company needed React developer, I had built React projects. Interview was 1 phone screen + 1 technical + 1 on-site. I crushed the technical (over-prepared because I was desperate). They offered 80k CHF. Key lesson: Your first break won't come from the perfect CV. It comes from volume (apply everywhere) + proof (show real projects) + timing (right place, right time). See our guide on landing big tech jobs for detailed tactics.

What would you do differently if starting from zero today in 2024?

I'd go remote from LCLT immediately, not waste time in expensive Milan. Here's my optimized 2024 playbook: Year 0-2: Get first job in Poland/Romania/Portugal locally (€40k-€60k), live cheap, build savings buffer while building skills. Year 2-4: Land remote job (€100k-€120k), stay in LCLT, maximize savings rate. Year 4-6: Either continue remote or pivot to big tech if desired (for CV/learning). Year 6-8: Strong financial position achieved, multiple options available. Why this is better: (1) No expensive Milan phase, (2) Remote opportunities abundant now (weren't in 2017), (3) LCLT more developed (better QoL than 2017), (4) Reach financial independence faster. What hasn't changed: Still need to apply to 100+ companies for first break, still need portfolio projects, still need persistence. But the path to wealth is clearer and faster now. See our LCLT strategy guide.

How do you deal with imposter syndrome after coming from a "non-traditional" background?

Still happens but I reframe it as "healthy awareness" not "crippling doubt". Early career (2016-2019): Constant imposter syndrome. Everyone else had CS degrees, internships at Microsoft, clean CVs. I had robotics degree, navy testing job I was ashamed of, gaps. What helped: (1) Focus on output not credentials: Can you ship features? Fix bugs? Design systems? If yes, you belong. Credentials help with interviews but mean nothing after 2 years, (2) Everyone is faking it: Talked to "prestigious background" engineers—they feel imposter syndrome too. It's universal, (3) Reframe: "I don't know this" → "I don't know this YET", (4) Document wins: Keep a "brag document" of things you shipped/solved. When imposter syndrome hits, read it, (5) Remember your unique strengths: My non-CS background meant I approached problems differently (often better). Diverse backgrounds = diverse thinking. Current state (2024): Still feel it sometimes when joining new teams. But now I know: 2-3 months in, I'll be valuable. Everyone starts behind, then catches up. Reality: Imposter syndrome never fully goes away. You just get better at not letting it stop you. And you realize the people without imposter syndrome are often the actually incompetent ones (Dunning-Kruger). Healthy self-doubt = you're pushing your limits. That's good.

Is it too late to start at 30? 35? 40?

No, but your strategy needs age-appropriate optimization. Starting at 30: Same playbook as me (I started at 24). You have 15-20 years to compound wealth before typical retirement, more than enough. Path: 2 years first job → 3 years better job → 10 years optimized (remote LCLT or big tech) = strong financial position by 45. Early retirement or cushy late career. Starting at 35: Tighter timeline but totally viable. You have 10-15 years of peak earning. Strategy: Skip junior jobs if possible (career changers: leverage previous experience—finance background? → fintech; science PhD? → ML engineer), go straight for mid-level roles. 10 years of focused saving = comfortable retirement or work optionally by 45-50. Starting at 40+: Focus on intensity + location arbitrage. 10 years to 50, maybe 15 to early retirement. Strategy: Get to €80k-€100k ASAP, immediately move to LCLT, maximize savings rate. Strong financial foundation achievable. Reality: Age is disadvantage for learning speed/energy but advantage for maturity/perspective. Older career changers often progress faster (better work ethic, communication, professionalism). Not too late until you're <5 years from retirement.

How did you maintain mental health during the struggling period?

Honestly? I didn't maintain it well. It was brutal. But some things helped: (1) Small wins tracking: Every week I'd write down 3 things that went well (landed interview, shipped side project feature, learned new algorithm). Kept me from spiraling into "everything is terrible" when 90% was terrible but 10% was progress, (2) Physical activity: Ran 3x/week even when broke/stressed. Only thing keeping me sane. Free, effective, forced break from screens, (3) Avoided comparing to "successful" peers: Deleting Instagram helped massively. Watching friends post luxury vacations while I was on buses between tutoring sessions was soul-crushing. Out of sight = out of mind, (4) Concrete goals: Not "be successful" but "apply to 10 companies this week" or "finish this module of Java course". Achievable steps, (5) Talked to someone: Found a friend going through similar struggles. Weekly coffee to vent. Helped immensely, (6) Remember it's temporary: Kept telling myself "in 3 years this will be a memory". Was right. What I should have done: Therapy (couldn't afford it then, but would prioritize if I could). 2024 advice: If you're struggling financially, your mental health suffers. This is normal. Don't add "failing at mental health" to your list of failures. Survive. Do the basics (sleep, exercise, eat okay, talk to someone). You'll heal when the financial pressure eases. Poverty/financial stress is traumatic. Be kind to yourself. The goal is to get through it, not to be zen master while suffering.

What's the minimum salary needed to start building wealth in Europe?

€40k+ in LCOL, €70k+ in MCOL, €100k+ in HCOL—but location matters more than salary. It's not about the salary number, it's about savings rate. LCOL examples (Poland, Romania, Portugal outside Lisbon): €40k salary enables solid savings rate with low costs. €60k salary enables excellent wealth building trajectory. MCOL examples (Berlin, Madrid, Prague): €60k salary enables modest savings. €80k salary enables good wealth building. HCOL examples (Zurich, London, Munich): €80k salary enables minimal savings. €120k salary needed for meaningful wealth building. Key insight: €60k in Poland >>> €120k in London for wealth building due to cost differences and savings rate potential. Poland has better QoL at lower costs. Minimum for serious wealth building: €50k+ in LCOL enables strong financial foundation over 10-15 years. See our financial calculator to optimize your situation.