Is It Possible to Switch to a Developer Career at 30 as a Non-Major?
Hi, I'm currently 30 years old and my major is business administration. I'm considering a 6-month coding bootcamp, but people around me are discouraging me, saying it'll be tough due to my age and non-technical background. I know there will be many practical challenges, but are there any success stories from similar cases? I'd appreciate advice on preparation time, recommended languages, etc.
7 answers
I've had similar concerns myself, but don't let others' discouraging words shake you. Age is just a number, and being a non-major can actually give you a different perspective. However, a 6-month bootcamp alone might not be enough, so it's a good idea to plan for additional learning afterward.
A non-major at age 30? It's definitely possible. Just be careful when choosing a bootcamp. Make sure to check the curriculum and job placement rate, and look up plenty of reviews. I started at 31 and now have 5 years of experience—no regrets.
What field are you interested in? The recommended language varies depending on the direction, such as web, app, or data. I started as a non-major at age 30 and became a backend developer, so starting with Java or Python is a good idea. Plan for about a year of preparation.
Starting at 30 is definitely possible. I started as a non-CS major at 32, and now I'm working as a third-year developer. Bootcamps are a good choice, but it's important to steadily build your portfolio afterward. I recommend starting with Python or JavaScript.
You can do it! I also started at 30 with a business administration major. Honestly, the first 6 months were really tough, but now I'm working happily. The key is consistency. Even after the bootcamp, make it a habit to study 2-3 hours every day.
I attended a bootcamp at age 29 and now I'm a frontend developer with 2 years of experience. I initially focused on studying JavaScript and React, and it took me 8 months to land a job. Don't worry about what others say—first, think about whether this is really what you want to do.
To be honest, it won't be easy. I started as a non-major myself, and the first 1-2 years were really tough. But if you keep at it, you'll get there. Since you majored in business administration, I'd recommend going into data analysis. Start by learning SQL or Python first.