Why I built SupportRoadmap

"Learn to code."

That's still the first answer when someone asks how to get into tech. It's too broad, and for a lot of people it's the wrong door. They hear tech roles have great perks, but hear that one line, and stop listening.

Plenty of people (myself included) came in through coding bootcamps or a CS degree as a junior developer. I also know just as many (if not more) who came from admin, banking, retail or customer service.

What they often had in common wasn't a portfolio of apps. It was communication, empathy and problem-solving. The role? Technical support at software companies. Remote-friendly. No CS degree required.

Hitting my 30s, I've also noticed how hard a full-time return to work can be for parents. Many parents find it stressful or hard to return to fulltime jobs post parental leave, in no small part because they are expected to commute and clock in, same as always, as if nothing has changed. If you are lucky, you have relatives close by to help out, but not everyone has that luxury.

So if you're coming from working retail, in hospitality or banking, or you're in a regional area with fewer options, then what does a change to remote work look like?

Less stress, and less scrambling around daycare drop-offs and pickups, a better baseline.

The problem is there's been no clear learning path into support. Developers have brilliant free roadmaps, bootcamps and degrees. Support has scattered forum threads.

A few months back, on a babymoon in Queensland before our second child arrived, I started sketching SupportRoadmap. I built it and put it live soon after.

So what is it?

Free roadmaps for breaking into remote software technical support.

The Tier 1 roadmap is live now

And people have been reaching out, asking for the next update, so the tier 2 roadmap is in beta

Accounts/ sign in is being rolled out as we speak so that progress can persist across devices.

My plan is to build out Interactive ticket simulations and more, so people can practice on realistic support scenarios before their first interview.

If you work in support or know someone looking to move into tech curious what you think and what is missing.