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Too old to start web programming career?

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21–30 of 35 posts

Re: Too old to start web programming career?

#21
Quite frankly 33 is young. I never touched a computer until I was over 30 and yet I was there at the beginning of the PC revolution.

Did my first startup at 46 and in my fifties I am still going strong. Long as you are committed to life long learning then age is as they say but a number.

Re: Too old to start web programming career?

#23
post #2

Why don't you combine the two? IMO the people who do the best are those that have more than one area of expertise. In other words: no business wants to buy software. They don't care about it at all. What they want is something that will help their business, and someone who knows both the software and the business is better able to connect the two. BTW, ditch the PHP and Mysql and look at some other stuff like Ruby on…

While ruby and python are definitely more sexy (and by extension rails and django), I think its a mistake to dismiss PHP and MySQL has not being worthy of study. Take a look at the job boards and see what people are looking for. I think you'll see far more employers looking for MySQL and PHP skills then Postgres and Ruby/Python. For example, It seems like Drupal developers can write their own tickets right now (drupa…

Quantity isn't an indicator of quality.

Re: Too old to start web programming career?

#24
post #9

Hi guys, thanks for all the replies. the fact that they are so positive has really given me a much needed boost of confidence. Thanks for the practical suggestions as well. Once again, thank you!

Sorry, don't mean to spam this conversation, but talking to a great community like YC News is a step in the right direction. I have posed my end of questions, and have had others answered as part of conversations that others answered, and have always come away with supportive and informative suggestions from like minded folks.

To be honest, I have had the same question in my head for some time now, and your question helped me too. Thank you.

Re: Too old to start web programming career?

#27
You need passion to succeed. As long as you are thrilled by web programming, I don't think your age should be a problem. The only problem you might face, is that you'll have to struggle a bit in the beginning. That's true for everybody, but it's easier for a teenager to live on an underpaid wage, than for someone who has a mortgage and kids to feed (Assuming you do).

Re: Too old to start web programming career?

#28
Of course no! You are not too old.

Just today I was reading an article in a spanish magazine about people on their thirties that completely changed their career following their dreams.

Examples: - a psychologist that left to work for a NGO (29 y.o) - a lawyer how left to be an actor (33 y.o.) - a shop manager that left to study physiotherapy (30 y.o.) - and telecom engineer that left to study audiovisual communication (32 y.o.)

All of them are quite happy. And you may be on a similar list someday.

Leonardc, put your armor plate, take your sword and go to kill the dragon! Er, I mean, go to program webs!

Re: Too old to start web programming career?

#29
One of my favorite anecdotes about people who think they're too old too learn is about a 100 year old woman who was asked if she had any regrets.

She said she wished she'd starting taking violin lessons when she was sixty, since then she would have been playing the violin for forty years.

Re: Too old to start web programming career?

#30
It might hinder you in terms of funding in the startup world. A lot of people say "dont fund anyone over 30" and mean it. I'm not sure if there's any merit to that philosophy at all (probably a little) but it definitely exists.

Other than that, neither compilers nor users know or care how old you are. Make something people want and you'll be fine.

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