I'm near 40 doing a CS degree and hope for a change of career at some point. Whilst I'm not looking for a mentor I hope I'm not too old.
Ask HN: Is it too late to find a mentor after 30 for a software developer?
21–30 of 68 posts
Re: Ask HN: Is it too late to find a mentor after 30 for a software developer?
#22I'd be happy to chat! koonce@gmail.com :)
Re: Ask HN: Is it too late to find a mentor after 30 for a software developer?
#23The question: How much risk can you take? how much money do you NEED to live on? Can you move or are you stuck?
I got my 2 year degree in programming at 30 and started at a $21k/year job (bottom of the barrel). I'm now making, 7 years later, many times that as a back-end developer.
I'm "stunted" in my career because I'm unable to move (fiance takes care of mom) and in the sticks - my job is a 90 mile commute from "civilization" and that's how far I have to go to get "good" money.
If you can "work for peanuts" at a job that does what you want... you can leverage your previous experience. It's not like I had more with a 2 year degree and no "experience". You can also prioritize "experience" over "pay".
If you can take a lower paycheck, move to the job you want and are willing to do it... I did it at 30. There are more jobs available now and companies that need experienced developer - and even if you are moving specialties you are still experienced.
Re: Ask HN: Is it too late to find a mentor after 30 for a software developer?
#24You have already done it with and already made a good start. Now you can repeat it for the backend development work.
The online community is also quite good in providing help and assistance, if you find the right community.
Good luck!
Re: Ask HN: Is it too late to find a mentor after 30 for a software developer?
#25Broadening a subject, I was a mentor to a few junior devs and loved the experience. This was in my last full time employment. Now I became a contractor for all the perks involved but I miss my mentoring role slightly. Do you know of any good places online where I could help someone with building their skills?
Re: Ask HN: Is it too late to find a mentor after 30 for a software developer?
#26I started my programming career at 35. I’ve had many great mentors. Many of them much younger than myself.
I’ve also paid professionals for mentorship for both programming and business.
For the most part people want to help those that do. Be a doer. Ask good questions. Respect people’s time. Get involved.
Re: Ask HN: Is it too late to find a mentor after 30 for a software developer?
#27no. i’ve mentored order, and been mentored by younger.
Re: Ask HN: Is it too late to find a mentor after 30 for a software developer?
#28I'm more on the bio side, but didn't really have a mentor until I was 35. In retrospect, here's what I'd do:
A) have low expectations, so it's easier to define early success and build motiviation, B) be willing to do work for free, as long as it is mutually beneficial, so likely research with no clear financial incentive C) go to where the mentors are: local universities and corporations and research institutes with open campuses. D) at said campus, find some old person sitting alone at lunch. Ask permission to join them. Strike up a conversation. Rinse and repeat daily until you make some connections, find some mutual interests, and pursue them. This has, in my case, led to actual projects, where they formally sponsor me, I get campus badges (I'd like to think I have a fairly enviable collection of ID badges), and and go as I please. This was especially helpful in residency when I needed a place to study on the weekends, but the thought of returning to the hospital campus on the weekends made me nauseous.
Especially as an iOS freelancer, you need nothing more than a laptop, right? So just work there until lunch. Or after lunch, whatever. I'll bet you can find an accessible power outlet and wi-fi in the same spot if you walk around for awhile.
Re: Ask HN: Is it too late to find a mentor after 30 for a software developer?
#29pfft. First time i hear someone around balkans to want to be mentored... everyone here thinks hirself a know-it-all. See, i have 30y of experience and have mentored people @20 , @30 and @45, and it all works (and happened in several countries). Now i have one @23, one @28.. Basically physical age/skin/gender does not matter, mental age is what matters - i have met 30y people who have become pensioneer-like with "unchangeable" mentality, and know 65y+ old ppl that still think quicker than me...
one thing u have to know though... real mentorship isn't just about how to use screwdriver X or technology Y.. it is also about how to live being someone knowing all about screwdrivers and technology. Esp. in programming where multidimensional schizophrenia is your everyday state of mind :). Without that, it's teaching/lectoring/RTFM, not mentoring.. btw Best way is to find a job where you would be mentored into close-to-desired direction, even if somewhat underpaid for beginning. But there are other ways too.
Re: Ask HN: Is it too late to find a mentor after 30 for a software developer?
#30I started my programming career at 35. I’ve had many great mentors. Many of them much younger than myself. I’ve also paid professionals for mentorship for both programming and business. For the most part people want to help those that do . Be a doer. Ask good questions. Respect people’s time. Get involved.
When is it expected for the mentee to pay and how much?