I know people your age or older who have successfully transitioned careers to software development, from a standing start. I wouldn't let it put you off at all!
Ask HN: When is it too old to be an intern?
11–20 of 31 posts
Re: Ask HN: When is it too old to be an intern?
#12You have a powerful background - use it to your advantage. Don't try to compete in web dev startups - go where the work is harder. Leverage your Linux / Bioinformatics background to your high advantage. Look at sensor based IoT companies, or healthcare companies, big data companies specializing in healthcare, Or DevOps.
Re: Ask HN: When is it too old to be an intern?
#13They'll certainly look; SV-type tech companies are going to screen your application based on technical merit. I'd simply advise not to include your age on your application, because it's irrelevant to how beneficial an internship would be for you and the company. Once you get in for interviews they may be surprised, but any reasonable person would enjoy hearing that you're enthusiastic about improving your skills and doing an internship during the degree.
Re: Ask HN: When is it too old to be an intern?
#14They'll certainly look; SV-type tech companies are going to screen your application based on technical merit. I'd simply advise not to include your age on your application, because it's irrelevant to how beneficial an internship would be for you and the company. Once you get in for interviews they may be surprised, but any reasonable person would enjoy hearing that you're enthusiastic about improving your skills and…
Right but the dates of his high school and undergrad programs on his resume will presumably give away that he's not 22.
Re: Ask HN: When is it too old to be an intern?
#15At 31 you should be alright getting an internship. Obtaining an internship is more about your interest in then field, willingness to go full time after graduation, and your ability to bring something to the table for the time you are there. If all those criteria are met, at 31 you still have another 20-25 years (easy) of possible work in you. Most programmers stick around for only a few years in any one company anyways.
Re: Ask HN: When is it too old to be an intern?
#16I think you give yourself a hard time - part of the reason you're older is because you're doing a post-graduate program and not everyone does that immediately after their under-grad.
So I actually have an open req for such an intern at WP Engine (http://jobvite.com/m?3aIqcgwf) and I think a post-grad intern with your experience would be ideal. So there's no way age would be a factor, (and legally, it can't/shouldn't anyway)
On your side, I agree with other commenters that you want a clear definition of work to ensure you get the experience you actually want. You probably want to lean towards more established startups who can create a program of work that really needs your skills. We're almost 4 years old and I don't think we'd have been placed to capitalize on your skills and in return offer a meaningful experience 12-18 months ago just because the type of work your doing is probably not relevant during the 'scrappy years' of a startup.
Good luck!
Re: Ask HN: When is it too old to be an intern?
#17We had an intern last summer that used to have his own interns before he moved to software - people will definitely look.
Re: Ask HN: When is it too old to be an intern?
#18Probably my understanding of "intern" is limited. But I believe it is okay for anyone who is still in the collage/grad-school/high-school to do an internship, no matter how old she/he is. I know people who started his PhD study at UC Berkeley at his 50s. Nothing can stop him becoming an intern.
Re: Ask HN: When is it too old to be an intern?
#19You can never be too old.
Re: Ask HN: When is it too old to be an intern?
#20As a 33 years old who's planning to return to education as soon as his wallet is comfortable enough to do so, I had similar doubts when I was thinking that I might be 38 or 40 the moment when I'll have to intern.
I guess there's no quantity of answers that you can receive to assure you that you won't meet hiring managers down the line who will be willing to deny your application just because you're old but assholes will always exist. Just do what you can do best and you will score.