Hey everyone! I'm 29 years old and currently a journeyman electrician with 10 years in the trade. Unfortunately, my body is starting to give out on me, so I'm looking to switch careers. My girlfriend, who might become my fiancée soon, has been encouraging me to pursue something I've always been interested in but never fully committed to. I've dabbled with things like TrueNAS, Linux, and Docker, so I have a little familiarity, but I know coding is a whole different ballgame.
I'm hoping to get some advice on the best path forward. Should I consider going back to university for a computer science degree or perhaps take night classes? I'm also curious if online certifications would help me land a good job. I've been eyeing Boot.Dev, which seems like it could fit my learning style since I have ADHD and struggle with traditional reading methods. Has anyone out there successfully landed a job through Boot.Dev? If I were to enroll, would it be worth the investment in an online program? I'd really appreciate any insights or tips! Thanks!
5 Answers
I was in my early 30s when I did a bootcamp and landed my first dev role. The market's changed a lot lately, though, and I’m more cautious about job prospects now, but it's definitely still a viable path. If you have any queries, feel free to ask!
29 is a great age for a career shift! Your background in electrical work gives you an edge in logical thinking and problem-solving, which is super useful in coding. You've already got experience with tech tools like Docker, so you're not starting from scratch. In Canada, companies care more about what you can do rather than just your degree. Plus, your ADHD can actually help with hyper-focus during development tasks! If you want to chat more about learning options or the job market, feel free to reach out! You've got this! :))
I made a shift myself at 27 from an admin job to coding. It’s not too late for you! Just be prepared that the job market for entry-level devs is quite tough right now. One solid piece of advice for self-learning (coming from another ADHD person) is to pick one programming language and stick with it initially. JavaScript is a great choice since you can start building websites right away and see results quickly. You’ll definitely need it no matter the language you pick eventually! Check out The Odin Project for a good starting point.
Start with a computer science degree. Bootcamps are often seen as less effective because there are so many people with the same expectations trying to break into software development. But hey, don't let that stop you!
You’re definitely not too old to switch gears! I'm 38 and on my third career in programming. I actually found a great Python course on Udemy for about 20 bucks. I think it’s better than the ongoing costs of a subscription model. Not sure about Boot.Dev, but that's a solid price for a course!
Thanks for your input! Do you think employers would consider an online degree as valid?