Ask HN: Learning to Code at 33

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34728413

by hydrok9 • 3 years ago

4 6 3 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Hey everyone, so I know this has been asked before, but I'm going through my mid-life crisis and have been thinking about learning to code. I took classes in the past and have some aptitude, and the freedom and decent-to-fantastic salaries appeal to me. Could anyone who went to coding later in life let me know how it worked and what they did to achieve it? I live in Canada but would like to move to Europe in the future, not that interested in living in the US (where I know the big money is).

remote_phone2• 3 years ago

It’s possible but right now is the worst time in the last 20 years to try to find an entry level position.

Coding is a job and possible aptitude and desire for good salary isn’t enough. Just like any other job, you should be motivated to do it 8 hrs a day 5 days a week for years on end.

The good thing is that this is something you can learn on your own on the side. So I would continue taking classes and seeing if coding is something you really do enjoy and wait for the markets to thaw, hopefully later on this year.

marssaxman2• 3 years ago

It’s possible but right now is the worst time in the last 20 years to try to find an entry level position.

That makes it a great time to start learning to code, as a contrarian strategy. News of layoffs will create a stall in the pipeline; a year or two from now, when OP has learned enough to be ready for a job, demand should be returning.

remote_phone2• 3 years ago

Yes that’s what I said.

gardenhedge• 3 years ago

I'd say do it. If you have the aptitude then it will be something you'll be able to stick at.

Check out linkedin and see what companies are looking for in the area of Europe you want to move to. I would probably recommend you to look at banks and smaller companies rather than FAANG.

My guess is you'll see jobs for Java, C#, SQL

bloqs• 3 years ago

Work through the Odin Project or do python on Exercism. Aim initially to improve what you normally would do with excel in terms of handling data.

Once familiar enough attempt to build something.

I cannot stress enough how important it is for efficient learning, to learn to write comments and explain to yourself what you did. Your previous codes readability and your ability to understand ground you have covered already is the most important component.

There are plenty of jobs that you can get, not all of them pure play programming. Good luck

Ask HN: Learning to Code at 33

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