Hi everyone! I'm 35 years old and I'm about to start my journey towards a technical degree in computer science. Previously, I worked as a chef but realized I no longer feel passionate about it. I'm really interested in programming, but I'm not sure where to dive in as a beginner. I appreciate any advice on what areas I should focus on or resources I can use! Thanks a lot!
3 Answers
Congrats on making such a big change! It can be tough, but it's definitely rewarding. For starting off, I'd recommend focusing on developing a mindset for problem-solving more than just learning specific programming languages. Python is often suggested for beginners because it's easy to grasp, and learning some assembly can really help with the foundational concepts. Just beware that the tech job market can be quite competitive, so make sure this is truly the field you want to be in for the right reasons.
Documentation is your best friend! Whenever you run into questions, just read the documentation available for whatever you're learning about. It’ll guide you more than you might expect. Also, consider exploring areas like coding, cybersecurity, or machine learning. While there’s less money in computer science now than before, those fields can still be rewarding if you find the right niche!
If you're leaning towards sysadmin roles, remember that you don’t necessarily need formal programming skills to get started there. However, I've heard that SREs (Site Reliability Engineers) who can code seem to have an easier time securing jobs. Just keep an open mind about your options!
Totally agree! Having some programming knowledge can definitely give you an edge in sysadmin roles.