From Sales and Marketing to Software Developer

Please introduce yourself.

My name is Masoud Zare, based in Charlottetown, PEI, and attended Memorial University of Newfoundland. I work as a Software Developer with a focus on Agentic AI, Machine Learning, and cloud infrastructure. Outside of work, I enjoy playing soccer and video games like FIFA!

What were you doing before working in tech?

Before transitioning into tech, I earned a Master's degree in Business in Iran and worked in sales and marketing for several years.

Did you always see yourself working in tech, or did that surprise you?

I've loved working with computers since high school, but I never had the opportunity to fully pursue it back then. Later on, while working in sales, I regularly collaborated with the IT department on process automation and data analysis, which renewed my interest in the field.

How did you end up at Get Building? How did it help?

A friend introduced me to Get Building (which was called Get Coding at the time). I was in the first year of my Computer Science program and experiencing some kind of imposter syndrome. I joined Get Building to get practical, real-world project experience, and it made a huge difference. With mentorship from Sahand and Jack, I built a fully functional end-to-end waste management system.

That experience gave me strong full-stack web development skills. By my second year, the portfolio I built with Get Building helped me land four co-op interviews in a single week, leading to three job offers, and I could join my top-choice company, Celtx.

What are you working on now? What makes it interesting?

I work full-time as a Software Developer at HeyOrca and serve as an AI Consultant for the Genesis AI Garage. At HeyOrca, my primary focus is developing, harnessing, and monitoring AI agents. The pace of change in AI is fast, and staying on top of modern developments to build smarter systems makes the work very interesting.

Looking back at your journey, what are you most proud of?

My resilience. There was a time when the job market was incredibly tough and I applied to over 300 jobs without landing an offer, but I kept pushing forward. I co-founded my own company and actively built out my network, which eventually opened doors into my favorite field of AI and Machine Learning.

What was the hardest part of your journey, and what got you through it?

The hardest moment came during my co-op. The company had a strong track record of keeping student interns, but after I joined, it was acquired by a US-based firm that decided to cancel student contract extensions. Losing that opportunity and having to start job hunting again from scratch was very difficult.

Looking back, though, it forced me to grow. It pushed me to improve my technical skills, build stronger networking habits, and launch my own startup, an experience that connected me with incredible mentors and peers.

Were there skills from before tech that transferred well into tech?

My background in entrepreneurship in Iran transferred directly. It gave me the business context and confidence to navigate the local startup ecosystem and build meaningful relationships across the industry.

What is your advice for people who are just getting started in tech?

Don't limit yourself strictly to traditional job applications. Leverage modern AI tools to build real projects or launch a small startup if you're passionate about an idea. Your network will play a massive role in opening doors, so invest time in building meaningful connections. Above all, don't compare your timeline to anyone else's. Everyone brings a unique combination of skills, and persistence is what brings results.