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Ask HN: Can you switch to a programming career despite nearing 40?

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Re: Ask HN: Can you switch to a programming career despite nearing 40?

#21

Post by mellosouls »

mping wrote: post #19

You need two things: skill and accreditation. You can gain skill by studying or doing code camps, going to college, etc. The easiest way to gain accreditation is to follow what similar people did. If you go to a reputable college, your CV won't be rejected. If you do a coding camp, chances are your CV is going to get rejected a couple of times before you have a chance to do an interview. This is what I mean by accred…

You don't need accreditation, but it will make things easier. I think that is what you are saying, but it bears clarification.

Re: Ask HN: Can you switch to a programming career despite nearing 40?

#22

Post by BlasDeLezo »

If you are starting from scratch I wouldn't advise it, it's a highly specialised, ever changing field. On the bright side, a very rewarding path is to pick up a scripting language (any) and start automating the tasks around you. For example networks, load balancers, IPAMs, databases, monitoring tools... everything has an API you can "attack", extract info, configure and start making an inmediate impact in your field.

Re: Ask HN: Can you switch to a programming career despite nearing 40?

#23

Post by grenoire »

BlasDeLezo wrote: post #22

If you are starting from scratch I wouldn't advise it, it's a highly specialised, ever changing field. On the bright side, a very rewarding path is to pick up a scripting language (any) and start automating the tasks around you. For example networks, load balancers, IPAMs, databases, monitoring tools... everything has an API you can "attack", extract info, configure and start making an inmediate impact in your field.

I would recommend this route as well; you can enable significant gains in your current industry with your newfound programming skills. Heading to a software house from zero might be more challenging, and less rewarding. Try to find the synergies with your current expertise, if possible.

Re: Ask HN: Can you switch to a programming career despite nearing 40?

#24

Post by wccrawford »

sneak wrote: post #7

I have a lawyer friend who learned to program from scratch, starting older than 40. He works for a large automaker now writing javascript web apps and is way happier than when he was lawyering. It took him less than 2-3 years to switch.

I think examples like this are a lot more helpful than people trying to use logic to make their argument. It's a real-world scenario that actually worked, with results that should temper expectations.

The other one I saw here was someone who is now a junior developer after a few years. That's reasonable, IMO.

My impression of people wanting to switch careers is that they expect to be as proficient in the new career as they were the old one in just a short time, perhaps just after some training/college. It's not reasonable at all.

My standard advice to someone who wants to have a career in programming is to start programming. If you don't actually like it, then you really should consider something else. But if you love it, it'll be hard to stop you from being successful with it.

Re: Ask HN: Can you switch to a programming career despite nearing 40?

#25

Post by TrackerFF »

I'd say yes.

The programming/software development industry is HUGE, and there's room enough for most anyone.

But beware though, in a lot of SV-oriented forums/boards, there will (naturally) be a gigantic bias towards Big N or startup careers. In those cases, it might be more difficult to get a foot inside, as you get older. There's just a ton of applicants, and some recruiters at some firms might assume that with higher age, you won't be able to commit to work as much as fresh grads, due to family and such.

There's quite a difference between joining Google or the hottest unicorn, compared to becoming a coder for some insurance company out in nowhere.

Re: Ask HN: Can you switch to a programming career despite nearing 40?

#27

Post by Brendinooo »

I asked a friend of mine who is high up at a coding bootcamp. He said it's not uncommon for people around 40 to go through the program and they've had success, but 25-35 has more numbers and more success.

But that certainly doesn't rule out the older folks if they put in the work! Places like that tend to advertise >90% job placement and starting salaries in the $60k-$70k range depending on what market you're in, which seems like great odds to make a good living.

Re: Ask HN: Can you switch to a programming career despite nearing 40?

#28

Post by madengr »

My wife went into data science & programming at 40. Started with a boot camp and now she is getting her MS (data science & machine learning) and working for a local startup. The caveat is that she was already an engineer in microelectronics, so she has no issues doing the heavier math in the MS courses where others were dropping like flies. She also took a refresher linear algebra course prior to starting the MS. Her complaint is, she is doing more programming than DS/ML, but is a startup so everyone does what’s needed.

Re: Ask HN: Can you switch to a programming career despite nearing 40?

#29

Post by fsloth »

BlasDeLezo wrote: post #22

If you are starting from scratch I wouldn't advise it, it's a highly specialised, ever changing field. On the bright side, a very rewarding path is to pick up a scripting language (any) and start automating the tasks around you. For example networks, load balancers, IPAMs, databases, monitoring tools... everything has an API you can "attack", extract info, configure and start making an inmediate impact in your field.

I strongly disagree software engineering is not an advisable career for 40 year old.

I fail to see how the situation is any different for a 40 year old than for younger junior devs who either get education or self-educate and start coding.

I think the most important thing is to accept you can never stop learning.

Agree playing around is a good idea :)

Re: Ask HN: Can you switch to a programming career despite nearing 40?

#30

Post by teekert »

Depends on what you switch from. I switched from biology/life sciences and it was quite natural to go into data analysis (from Excel to Pandas in Jupyter-lab as the data grows) and then via BioInformatics (using Bash to glue together FOSS NGS data analysis programs and later moving to Python/Snakemake) into software development (developed own Genomics related software).

It helped that I have (since I was 19 or so) run Linux in some form or another, on laptops and home servers, so in a way I merged my hobby into my work. Never learned programing though until I was 35 or so.

What field are you from?

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