I'm a 28-year-old guy from Korea with a degree in computer science from a lower-tier university, but I lack practical programming skills, qualifications, and internship experience. I'm aiming to become a back-end developer and have heard that Java and Spring are popular in Korea. However, I'm feeling lost on where to begin and am concerned about the impact of AI on entry-level jobs. My questions are: 1. Is it worth pursuing this career change at 28? 2. What back-end concepts should I focus on to be less vulnerable to AI? 3. Should I prioritize studying computer science fundamentals or dive straight into coding projects?
1 Answer
Absolutely, starting at 28 is totally fine! Age is less important than your ability to build real back-end applications. To become more AI-resistant, focus on skills that require human judgment, like API design, SQL management, security practices, and testing. You should definitely start coding projects right away while learning computer science concepts as you go. Since you’re in Korea, Java with Spring Boot is a good choice; try building a simple CRUD API that includes authentication, a database, and tests. Use AI tools for assistance but always validate your outputs through testing and performance checks.
Thanks a lot for the insightful tips! This gives me the direction I need to kickstart my development journey. I'll definitely keep you updated on my progress!