I am currently considering a major career pivot but I have concerns about my age. Many people say this is a young person's game, and I am worried about competing with Gen Z graduates. In your honest opinion, is it too late to switch to IT in your 30s, or can professional experience from other industries actually be an advantage? I am specifically looking into Software Development as my entry point and would love to hear from those who made the jump later in life.
3 answers
made the switch at 34, and I can tell you it was the best decision I ever made. The most important thing to realize is that while younger grads might have the latest syntax down, they often lack the "soft skills" like project management, stakeholder communication, and time management that you’ve developed over a decade. When you are looking into Software Development, focus on building a strong portfolio of real-world projects. Employers in the US are increasingly looking for maturity and problem-solving skills rather than just someone who can grind code for 14 hours straight. You aren't behind; you're just starting with a different toolkit.
Are you planning on attending a dedicated coding bootcamp or are you looking at a more traditional four-year degree to make this transition?
Absolutely not too late. I know several people who started in their late 30s and are now Senior Engineers. Your perspective is a massive asset.
Michelle is spot on. I was one of those people! I found that my previous background in retail management helped me understand the user's needs much faster than my younger peers
Kevin, that's a great question because the path chosen really impacts the timeline. For someone in their 30s, a bootcamp is often the fastest route into Software Development, but you have to be extremely disciplined. Most hiring managers I know don't care about the degree as much as they care about your ability to solve a specific business problem using code. If you can show a functional app you built from scratch, that usually trumps a diploma for entry-level roles anyway.