I'm currently a lab technician with a background in microbiology and would love to get into software development; however, I lack experience and I feel I'm too old to ever get a job in the field. I'd appreciate any tip!
Ask HN: Where should I start as a 34-year-old switching to software as a career?
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Re: Ask HN: Where should I start as a 34-year-old switching to software as a career?
#2Depending on your background and how much time you have, bootcamps might be a good idea. I recommend looking into Lambda School.
Re: Ask HN: Where should I start as a 34-year-old switching to software as a career?
#3What was your previous career. You could get in as a tester or business analyst. In smaller companies these jobs can end up requiring some coding.
Re: Ask HN: Where should I start as a 34-year-old switching to software as a career?
#4Look around your lab. What problems do you have that software could solve? (It could be as simple as a spreadsheet.) Can you build that? If you can't, can you realistically learn until you can?
Then go build it. Congratulations, now you have experience.
Look around some more. What else do they need? Do you have to learn in order to be able to build that? Given that you've done one thing already, can it become your job to do the next thing?
You don't have to make a clean break, go to school or bootcamp, and get a whole new job. You can start just by becoming the "software tools" person where you are. Then, when you are ready for a new job, you've got a track record, not just a certificate from a bootcamp. Even better, you got paid to get there, rather than paying to get there. Downside: It took longer.
Re: Ask HN: Where should I start as a 34-year-old switching to software as a career?
#5I don't think you are too old. Many of my coworkers had erratic, non-technical careers (construction, military, fireman, etc) until their 30s.
Just prove you can solve business problems using code.
If I were to get into software again, I would completely ignore the hype and choose a robust set of technologies and exclusively master them. Namely, Java (Spring Boot), MySql, Jquery. These are some of the most mature and popular technologies available - you can build anything with these. After you have built this foundation and found a job, then you can move onto other technologies.
Create a github if you don't already. Pick a project (bonus points if it solves a real problem in your life). If you can't think of anything, build a TODO-list.
Re: Ask HN: Where should I start as a 34-year-old switching to software as a career?
#6Go for it!!
I decided to change careers to software development at 37yo. Best professional decision in my life. I got a job after 8 months of full-time study.
Here you can learn more about my path, might be helpful: https://rodrigohgpontes.github.io/
I just focused on freeCodeCamp.org, which is a great resource. But I have the impression that taking a shot with https://lambdaschool.com/ might be more promising.
Re: Ask HN: Where should I start as a 34-year-old switching to software as a career?
#7Write code for microbiology? Play with computational chemistry on GPUs?
A friend at work moved from lab rat to data analysis and experiment design, switching departments from Adjuvant Research to IT. A couple of years later, I left the company to go from sysadmin to software and tech writing, and it was tough for about nine months. He went from scientific software to security research at a new company.
We were able to jump because we had few family or financial commitments. So I have no idea if what I experienced is relevant at all. But if you feel pulled in the software direction, start writing something, probably Jupyter notebook stuff. Explain Like I'm Five years old what you have experienced already.
Going through the process of sitting down (or walking, then sitting) and writing something takes a bit of focus, perhaps. I wrote a book, then wrote software. I can't recommend writing a book without a real job (my book netted me about $0.25 per hour). But write something you show other people.
Re: Ask HN: Where should I start as a 34-year-old switching to software as a career?
#8Before you leave your lab try to establish a relationship with the PI such that after you've proven out your technical skills they can write you a letter of recommendation as to your general work ethic etc. A recomendation from an established technical professional can go a long way! As others have mentioned if you have the opportunity to write software for the lab as well that's a great first step.
Re: Ask HN: Where should I start as a 34-year-old switching to software as a career?
#9I'll be honest-- there is a lot of stuff you have to learn. It's a high hill to climb.
But if you really love it, then the work is fun. It's certainly possible for a newbie at 34 to learn enough. That's the trick-- find something in IT that you really like, and dig into it.
I'd suggest going to a bookstore so you can peruse some programming books. Maybe you like web apps, or mobile games, or even hard-core C code. Find what you like.
The next step would be to find open source projects in this area. Study those, compile them, and eventually try to make contributions.
I think that's a good path. Good luck!
Re: Ask HN: Where should I start as a 34-year-old switching to software as a career?
#10Software development is not a career. The older you get the less desirable you are to software companies. Advise against a change to software development.