Career Change to Developer at 30 as a Non-Major: Seeking Realistic Advice
Hello. I'm 30 years old and a non-major. I'm currently working in accounting at my job, but I'm considering switching to a developer role. I'm thinking about attending a government-funded bootcamp. However, I'm worried about whether I can get a job since I'm a bit older and not a CS major. Are there any non-majors who have successfully become developers? I'd appreciate advice on what to study and how to prepare a portfolio.
4 answers
I also started as a non-major at age 32, attending a government-funded training program, and now I'm working as a 3rd-year web developer. It turns out that consistency and problem-solving skills matter more than age. Government-funded academies are great for building a foundation, but don't rely solely on them—make sure to work on personal projects. I recommend uploading your code to GitHub and building even a simple CRUD bulletin board on your own.
At 30, it's definitely possible. I started at 29 and joined an SI company at 31. You need to overcome the disadvantage of being a non-major with a strong portfolio. If you have accounting experience, why not try building ERP or financial programs? Connecting real-world experience with development can actually become your strength. Instead of government-funded academies, I recommend building your foundation through bootcamps or online courses, and gaining team project experience.
If you're a non-major at age 30, you'll realistically end up applying mainly to SI or small-to-medium companies, where salaries may be low and overtime frequent. Still, after building 2-3 years of experience, switching jobs becomes easier. Government-sponsored academies offer diverse curricula, so compare them carefully. I learned mainly Java Spring, but nowadays Python and JavaScript are widely used, so check the trends too. For your portfolio, quality over quantity—a single working website is worth more than a hundred theory books.
You can do it! I also started as a non-major at age 31. At first, I lacked confidence, but now I work as a freelancer. A government-sponsored academy is a good choice, but classes alone may not be enough. Supplement your learning with resources like YouTube or Inflearn, and prepare for coding tests alongside. You might feel like you're too old, but don't worry too much—being a developer is a career where your value increases as you gain experience. Cheers!