Am I TOO OLD To Become A Software Engineer?

[@Mrwinecontreras]

I’m 37 years was a truck driver all over the us for 15 years , no education what so ever,now I’m starting my journey to become a software developer I love computers and creating things, changing careers as I got sick (I’m on dialisys waiting on a kidney donor)so I couldn’t drive trucks anymore , don’t know if I’m to old to star this journey but I’m not stopping chasing my dreams

[@jamescross]

best wishes on your journey!

[@nomotion2005]

Let’s us kno hoW it goes💪🏾

[@everythingyousayiscorrect]

How did it go sir? Hope you’re doing alright! Looks like we are in almost the same boat. I am 36 and been a Truck driver for 6 years and I’m gonna have to look for a new career for mental and physical health. Would love to know an update and hope you already in a promising career. Cheers 🥂

[@sarahjanelara8046]

I’m 46 and officially became a software engineer at the age of 42. I studied comp sci in college and was in IT careers my whole life but never really coding until my late 30’s early 40’s. I see the age difference and feel it but I’m in a company that embraces the diversity. I can imagine it may be different depending on company culture.

[@jasonbourne7843]

Thank you for making this video, I’m 38 and decided to go back to college to get a degree in Comp Sci. I feel extremely out of place 😢

[@Dodori-AH]

Well done Jason! Sometimes its a bit daunting when you are working on improving yourself but honestly it sounds like you are smashing it! How has your experience been like at college so far? I wish you the best of luck and I am sure with that amount of grit and determination you will not only crush it but thrive!!!!

[@edydossantos]

The thing is not about having discrimination. The thing is people is always looking someone to blame on or overcome, feel superior somehow, so the use any kind of cheap and dirty weapons they have at short..

[@alphar85]

I just came across your channel today. I clicked on it straight away as soon as i hear your age as i relate to that age bracket. I am 37yo and i work as data, digital and technology Lead, i have built a database system for my organisation. I use a bit of python and SQL at work but not a lot. I am interested in software engineering, i have collated so many courses to go through but am kind of scared because of age. Although i think am still in tech and i have been for past 6 years ( started with sales management in cloud computing ) to data analytics and systems lead. What would you recommend mate ? Do you have any advice for me ?

[@jamescross]

Don't let fear of age keep you from doing what you enjoy. Sounds like you already have some related experience to leverage. That should help with getting jobs for sure.

[@michelsmith-f9i]

im 25 years old , i have some basic programming knowledge but its not enough.

[@gurumack]

LOL. the intro

[@omarguerrero2814]

This is one of the best youtube channels I have found, so underrated. I am 29 from Mexico, I am a biotech engineer but never got into that industry since in my country there is zero R&D. I worked for a big company in a business/marketing area for 2 years but the stress was killing me. Then last year started a NFT project with a friend, I was the project manager and he is a Software Engineer. Felt in love with technology and crypto right away turns out you can program money now. I am good managing people, love to solve problems and think logically. Our NFT project just died (Bear market) and I have been thinking of learning to code. I know at least 5 guys from Uni who are working as Software Engineers remotely from Mexico for companies in the US. Still I hesitate to start, not sure where to start guess I am scared of not being good enough to land a job. Would love to hear your comments on how do you choose your programming path, I think I am inclined to backend. Again thanks for the great content you are creating!

[@jamescross]

Not sure you ever feel good enough when starting. It's a leap of faith. I would just start with stuff that interests you to see if you connect with it. You mention crypto, maybe start with something related to that.

[@irfodbr]

This hit home... I'm the same age and I have a masters degree in civil engineering, but the industry in my country is terrible. To whomever I mention that I wanna shift my career to software engineering they look down on me like "that's a shame, you have a CE degree, why would you do that?". It's so relieveing to find other people in the same situation, not wanting to stay in a toxic environment or industry just because most people think it's good or well paid...or even for the sake of years and time invested in one

[@vectorax_]

So were you 36 when you became one? I just turned 38 and am considering moving from graphic design and into front end development, what is your opinion on that? My goal is to have the skills and land a job by the time I'm 40, 39 if I can.

[@jamescross]

design skills will be beneficial and compliment front-end development so sounds like a good plan if that's what interests you. Can you start making some frontend contributions at your current company? That would be an advantage over most self taught devs starting out.

[@vectorax_]

@@jamescross I can't, I was recently let go and so I am on the job hunt right now. time isn't on my side, so I am hoping to land a graphic design job right now so I can support my family while I learn and try to get on a new path. I am finding that graphic design is over saturated and I have been doing print design for the last 15 years so my skills aren't getting me anywhere because people are looking for UI/UX mostly and although I know the design tools really well I just don't have the right stuff on my resume

[@jamescross]

@@vectorax_ that's tough. yeah, i would try to leverage your current experience into a design job preferably someplace that also does web development and then start working your way over. best of luck. getting let go is frustrating.

[@DevChannel-b4i]

Hello, thanks for this video, so you're saying you became a software developer at 36 and it went well?

[@ShivamKr]

Hi!

[@davidhoward5687]

Love coding but I'm coming up on 40 and have no more intentions of staying in the industry, the age discrimination is real. Trust me people, go get your CDL and lease a truck, you will gross over 300k a year and have a say on your schedule.

[@I_Lemaire]

Don't give up, sir. Transition to another niche with lucrative equity/stock options.

[@Bercilakdehautdesert-yt1gd]

I'm 62 and still working as a test analyst in the UK. I've worked with tons of household name .coms where my team were the same age as my kids. Doesn't bother me, never experienced anything like discrimination based on age. The problem I see these days is young testers and project managers who have been brain washed into believing test automation is the most important thing. Shift left, yeh sure, for some UI regression and lots of API tests but automation doesn't replace manual testing, it just makes life a bit easier. Why do we see the likes of Tesco, Sainsbury's, the air traffic and baggage systems failing so much these days? Nobody tests.

[@ShivamKr]

You diserve more than lakhs subscribe

[@jamescross]

thanks.

[@ShivamKr]

BTW where are you from?

[@jamescross]

@@ShivamKr utah. you?

[@ShivamKr]

@@jamescross Delhi,India🇮🇳

[@jakepyrett1715]

Great video. Wait till your my age mid to late 40s and will he old enough to be teammates dad. It's weird. Right on about clique and really lack of folks your age. Everyone coding is younger than 30