Is it too late to learn coding at 30 (or 40, or 50)?
The stereotypical Silicon Valley startup: a group of 22-year-old men with no social skills, coding late into the night to launch some ostensibly revolutionary app.
Many misconceptions about the technology industry stem from this image. If you look hard enough, you can find some truth in it, as with many stereotypes. There are startups that look like this even today, and many of the biggest success stories in technology followed this pattern in their early days.
However, there are companies that are much more diverse, either by design or by chance. Gender and ethnicity are the most commonly discussed types of diversity. However, age deserves equal consideration.
Is 30 too late to begin a new career in software?
It is never too late to begin learning to code. People have learned to code in their 60s and beyond, and many career changers have found new opportunities as software developers. However, if you are learning to code after the age of 30, there are a few things you should keep in mind to ensure your success.
Why are people in tech so young?
This is what distinguishes coding from other skills: it is relatable and approachable enough for people to learn as children (if they have the resources to do so). This is why you can find people in the tech industry with advanced programming skills before they reach the age of 20.
The benefits and drawbacks of learning to code after the age of 30
You might think that the presence of such young software developers is bad news for career changers, but this isn't always the case.
It is still entirely possible to learn to code and make a successful career change to software development after the age of 30, and there are some benefits to learning to code later in life that may give you an advantage over your younger peers.
The advantages
A career change in technology is quick.
Learning to code is quick compared to other high-paying professions you could reskill in. When other options necessitate lengthy official training, complicated certifications, or even years of your life to return to school, the fact that you can make a tech career change in just a few months—and with skills you can learn entirely at home—is a significant advantage.
That's not to say it'll be easy (learning to code and finding your first job will most likely be one of the most difficult periods of your life), but if it's something you enjoy, your efforts will be rewarded.
You have previous experience
Whatever you've done for work up until this point, you've been gaining skills from it. Whether that's interacting with customers, managing teams, or working on something that requires a different type of technical skill, don't think that has to go to waste.
Those 22 year olds with 15 years of coding experience? They don't have this.
Sure, they may be advanced programmers, but they lack the kind of skills you can only gain through maturity and experience.
Maybe you have specific knowledge of another field like law, education, science or real estate. That's good news! For almost every industry you can imagine, there's a startup building a tech product for or around that industry. And you can bet they would be very keen to have someone on board who not only has coding skills, but also already understands their field.
You've had time to hone your interpersonal skills.
Despite the tech industry's reputation as a haven for socially awkward geniuses, the people who truly succeed do so for reasons other than technical ability.
These skills will put you ahead of many engineers in the tech industry if you have experience navigating complex business situations, building consensus in teams, public speaking, or knowing how to prioritize work so a project is completed on time.
More life experience means more unique projects
One thing any coder needs to get hired is a way to show that they can code. This is often done through projects; companies love to see that you can take a real-world problem and build a piece of software to solve that problem.
Your advantage here is that you've encountered more life situations than a 20 year old. Maybe you could build a web page to promote an event in your industry for work. Perhaps you're a new parent and could build an app to record your baby's sleeping patterns and visualize the data.
The point is, you can use your unique experiences to create unusual projects that employers won't see from their average entry-level applicant.
If you have design or project management skills, even better. You'll get bonus points for talking about how you planned and executed the project, and efficiently solved the problem without just building features for the sake of it.
Tips for learning to code after 30
If you enjoy coding, age doesn't have to be a barrier to learning to code, or finding a job in tech. Here's what you can do to maximize your chances of success:
Carve out time to learn: Whether it's your lunch break or a couple of hours each evening after the kids have gone to bed, designate some uninterrupted coding time, where everyone knows you're off limits and need peace and quiet.
Connect with other coders your age: Learn with a friend, or find people online to share your journey with. People of all ages learn to code, and having peers who understand your unique challenges will make the process more enjoyable.
Don't compare yourself to others: Learning to code is not a competition, and if you think of it like one you'll just get discouraged. Focus on your unique journey, strengths and goals, and not on how far 'behind' anyone else you may feel.
Aim for more established companies: When it's time to look for a job, consider focusing your efforts on larger companies. That's not to say you should never work for a startup, but just be aware that they offer less stability, and you may have more trouble feeling like you belong in that environment.
Consider a Coding Bootcamp:
No, you aren’t too old to code, but support from a coding bootcamp can help you overcome challenges.Learn to code with a zero $$$ fee and land yourself into an Enterprise IT company with a job guaranteed program. An actual $45000 worth coding boot camp for just a $2500 registration cost. You don't have to struggle alone, you've got our assistance and help completely.
