We often hear prospective students worry that they’re too old to learn to code, or that it’s simply too late for them to switch careers. Others worry that they don't have enough experience. Imposter syndrome is real, but we’ve proven again and again that it’s never too late to do what you’re passionate about. We’ve seen students of all ages graduate from our classes and succeed in the tech industry, whether they were 18 or well into their 60s.
You Are Not Too Old to Learn to Code
People learn to code for different reasons. Some people simply want to change their careers. Others want to explore entrepreneurship, or maybe they’re considering a role that’s similar to their current position but requires more technical skills, like a marketer who wants to become a technical writer.
Yet others want to build upon their existing technical skills or learn how to better work with software engineers. People in this last group include project managers and managers who are new to leading a team of developers.
Regardless of your reasoning, we’re here to help you master these in-demand skills and provide support each step of the way. In fact, one of our instructors made a video to address the misconception that there is an age limit on learning to code.
The Future Is Open to Developers of All Ages
If you are a career changer, there are benefits to having years of work experience. In addition to the confidence and poise that often come with time, you'll bring an array of skills and talents to the table—ones that a more junior candidate may not have.
Ask yourself these questions and then use the answers in your cover letter and interviews during your job search.
How does your past experience help a company and team product embrace diversity, become more successful or increase profits?
How might the network you’ve built over time be helpful in your new role?
What people management experience would you bring to the team?
What other skills do you have? Don’t forget about skills related to strategy, leadership, communication and conflict resolution, or the ability to prioritize tasks.
Programming is a skill that is in high demand and can be useful in a wide range of roles, industries and levels within a company’s organizational structure. Learning to code illustrates that you’re flexible, open to learning new skills and an asset with reach outside of your current role or department. By adding coding to your toolkit, you will ensure your resume or LinkedIn stands out to recruiters and hiring managers.
Career Paths to Consider
There are multiple career paths open to those who know how to code, and not all of them require you to start over in an entry-level position. Here are just a few career paths you could explore:
Software Engineer
Web Developer
Technical Help Desk Support
Technical Writer
Product Manager
Project Manager
Software Application Developer
Scrum Master
CRM Technical Developer
Digital Marketing Analyst
How to Decide Whether a Coding Bootcamp Is Right for You
We mentioned that we’ve had students of all ages and backgrounds do well in our programs. They have one thing in common: They’re committed to working hard towards real change in their lives.
With that in mind, you will need to be realistic about a few things:
Do you have the time to commit to a bootcamp? You’ll need to be present during class, of course, but you will also need additional time to study and work on projects.
Do you learn well in a classroom setting? You’ll need to actively participate and follow along, while also allowing others to participate in class. If you have a question, you’ll need to advocate for yourself and raise your hand, or reach out to a TA during office hours.
Are you prepared to focus and work hard? Remaining focused on the lecture or assignment is critical to your success.
Start Learning Now
There are a few things you can do now to begin preparing for class:
Self-study is important. The more you know before coming into class, the deeper you’ll be able to go into each topic and the better off you’ll be at graduation. Our programs are approachable for beginners, but we strongly encourage some self-study for everyone, especially those with little to no technical background.
There are countless free or low-cost online study aids to help you prepare for our programs. For web development, we like Codecademy and freeCodeCamp, with Learn JS and MDN Web Docs as solid supplementary resources.
Complete the Pre-Class Assignments
Once you’ve enrolled, we'll assign you a number of assignments that you'll need to complete before class starts. This work is essential for helping you get familiar with basic concepts and will give you a solid foundation that we’ll build upon in class.
Ready to take the next step and launch your career in tech?
Download our course catalog for more information about our programs.
