careers after hive
Coding is a skill that opens doors to many career paths. At Hive, you build practical skills, confidence, and real experience, even if you are starting from somewhere completely different.
How you change during Hive
At Hive, change does not happen all at once. You learn by doing the work every day. You build, you get feedback, you get stuck, and you figure things out. Over time, this changes how you approach problems and how you see your own ability.
PRACTICE, NOT THEORY
You spend most of your time building software. Things break, you fix them, and learning happens through real problems, not just examples.
WORKING TOGETHER
You learn to ask for help, give feedback, and collaborate, just like in real software development teams.
CONFIDENCE OVER TIME
You get comfortable not knowing everything at first. Over time, you learn how to move forward anyway.
SHOWING YOUR SKILLS
You leave with projects and a portfolio that make your skills visible and explainable to others.
Alumni stories
Everyone here came to Hive with questions and uncertainty. What they share is not a background, but the work they put in, and what became possible after.
meri eskelinen
SOFTWARE DEVELOPER AT VISMA
Before Hive: Hairdresser
I’m a former hairdresser turned developer. Before Hive, I was already working as a coder, but imposter syndrome followed me everywhere. I joined the Hive Sprint during my summer holiday, just out of curiosity, but the depth and challenge of the projects pulled me in.
Hive taught me how to face big, unfamiliar problems without panic by breaking them down step by step. That mindset gave me confidence, expanded my skills into DevOps, and helped me grow into my current role at Visma.
caruy chen
game programmer at supercell
Before Hive: Economic consultant
I worked as an economic consultant in Australia, focusing on competition law and financial litigation, but I felt drawn to coding with no clear way to grow that skill. When I discovered Hive, something clicked. The deep, first-principles approach gave me space to experiment, question, and learn through failure.
I learned that coding is creative and collaborative. Today, I work as a game programmer at Supercell, where the habits I built at Hive support teamwork and shared ownership in shaping gameplay.
anamaria camarasan
software engineer at wolt
Before Hive: Retail logistics
I studied Finnish and English language and literature in Romania before moving to Finland and working in retail for several years. When I decided to change careers, Hive stood out. I wanted to learn by doing, not sit in a classroom, and traditional schools felt out of reach.
Hive helped me build technical skills, confidence, and a healthier relationship with failure. Today, I work as a front-end software engineer at Wolt, where the collaborative way of working feels familiar from Hive.
carlos orrelena
soFTWARE DEVELOPER at nokia
Before Hive: Teacher
I was a chemistry teacher with a PhD who moved to Finland and struggled to find work without native-level Finnish. While learning the language, programming came up as a possibility, and Hive caught my attention with its teacher-free, project-based approach.
At Hive, I learned that complex skills can be built through real projects and collaboration. Beyond technical skills, I gained confidence working with others. Today, I work as a software developer at Nokia Solutions, applying those skills in my everyday work.
bengisu kandemir
data scientist at elisa industriq
Before Hive: Researcher
I was a molecular biology researcher with a PhD, working in academia before taking parental leave and deciding to move into coding. Hive stood out as a real school with a strong community and no barriers to entry.
Starting from zero was scary, but project by project I learned how to research, ask for help, and keep going despite uncertainty. Today, I work as a data scientist at Gridle, part of Elisa Industriq, adapting across languages with confidence built on strong fundamentals from Hive.
gerhard molin
startup founder
Before Hive: Business economics
My background is in business economics and game design, with time spent in research, startups, and product consulting. After my first startup failed, I realised I was missing direction. When Hive appeared, I followed a gut feeling and applied.
Learning to code at 29 changed how I saw my own abilities and taught me how to learn again. Hive reshaped how I face uncertainty and complexity. Today, I’m building a new startup with the mindset, skills, and network I gained at Hive.
Josefina husso
security delivery analyst at accenture
Before Hive: Special education
I worked in special education before discovering coding almost by accident. A small game sparked my curiosity, and Hive’s peer-to-peer, project-based approach convinced me to apply, even with no prior experience.
At Hive, I learned to trust myself in unfamiliar situations and grow into challenges instead of waiting to feel ready. Today, I work in cyber defence at Accenture, supported by the mindset and foundations I built at Hive.
Joonas jämsä
developer at op pohjola
Before Hive: Store clerk
Before Hive, I studied humanities at university while working in retail, but I never felt drawn to the career path ahead of me. After dabbling in programming, the mystery around it faded and I realised it was something I could grow into.
I chose Hive for its hands-on learning and faster route to working life. Hive helped me understand my strengths as a programmer and teammate. Today, I work as a developer at OP Pohjola, using those skills every day.
Heikki huhtanen
software developer at soilscout
Before Hive: Farmer
I come from a farming background and have worked in culture, retail, and union activity before Hive. I wanted to collaborate with curious people to solve real problems in rural life and agriculture.
Hive taught me that I can learn complex things if I give them time and trust the process. Today, I work as an embedded software developer at Soil Scout, building wireless soil-measuring devices and cloud-connected systems.
otto koponen
project lead at basemark
Before Hive: High school student
Before Hive, I was 18 and unsure of what I wanted to do. I joined the Selection Sprint during my summer break and quickly realised that learning by doing suited me better than classrooms.
Hive taught me how to face unclear problems, ask for help, and work closely with others. Today, I’m a project lead at Basemark, working on international AR projects with confidence built at Hive.
constance trouve
solution owner at aalto university
Before Hive: Café entrepreneur
I studied biology and veterinary science and later worked in research, pharmaceuticals, and entrepreneurship. After founding a plant-based café that closed during the pandemic, I joined the Hive Selection Sprint the very next day.
Hive gave me space to rebuild and learn deeply. After Hive, I worked as an automation developer at Capgemini and now work in internal IT services at Aalto University as a solution owner, combining curiosity, values, and technology.
onni salminen
software engineer at solu
Before Hive: High school student
Before Hive, I was still in high school with almost no coding experience. I applied after seeing an ad and being curious about a school so different from the traditional path. The Selection Sprint fit perfectly into my summer, and what started as an experiment changed everything.
Hive showed me that I can learn anything on my own and that failure is part of the process. Today, I work as a full-stack engineer at a genomics startup, jumping into new fields with confidence and curiosity I built at Hive.
Where Hive can take you
People leave Hive with different goals and end up in different places. Many work as software developers, DevOps specialists, or in data and cloud roles. Others move into creative work, product development, or build something of their own. The common thread is not a title, but the ability to keep learning and adapting.
These are examples, not limits.
Develop the technical chops to master any programming language and your own unique take on programming paradigms. You could become a software designer or full-stack developer.
As you dive into the management and security of operating systems, networks, clouds and other services, you will gain the technical skills required of systems and network administrators.
By taking part in creative problem solving and group projects, particularly those that require an artistic touch, you might become, for example, a game or web developer.
Hive students collaborate in real-world projects and develop the leadership and management skills needed by project managers, team leaders, CTOs and founder/CEOs, to bring digital ideas to life. Some of our students have built their own startups, often combining their interests with coding to innovate and create products in fields they are passionate about.
Hive supports your next step
We support your path into employment through practical activities such as CV workshops, networking events, and a mentoring programme. You are matched with Hive alumni and experienced professionals from leading tech companies who offer guidance, feedback, and perspective as you plan what comes next.
Join the Hive alumni network
Hive works with companies across industries to provide opportunities for our students. Hive also has an extraordinary network of alumni, working in over 100 top-tier technology companies.
Thinking about applying?
If you are considering a career change, applying can be a way to explore whether Hive is right for you. You do not need to be certain yet. The application is a starting point, not a commitment.
No prior experience required!