Started my software engineer job at 37 after 12+ years beeing a process engineer in the automitive industry. It took me 1 year and 4 months to teach myself programming with 0 money invested, only free resources. Consistency is key.
@@Josemartinez-es6vj courses: for python: cs50p, cs50x, freecodecamp scientific computing woth python, python bookcamp book. I would sugest learning also C from the C primer plus book. After learning at least one language try to solve problems on a platform: I found codewars more friendly for beginners. You probably know that you also must try to make projects... All sort of projects, if you can make something of use even better. So you don t need any money, you need only your will and a computer.
I made my first git commit in November 2019, at 38 years old! I immersed myself in everything computer science. I started with the Chef automation tool, Python basics, and the AWS Cloud Practitioner certification. I was clueless and didn’t know how everything fit together-I was shooting in the dark. In 2020, I learned a few web frameworks, explored data science a bit, and also earned my AWS Solutions Architect certification. I decided to pursue my master’s in CS from 2021 to 2022 (learned a lot, distributed systems, android dev., machine learning, etc.). I began grinding LeetCode in January 2023 for about six months and then started applying for jobs. After about 200 applications, numerous coding assessments, and a handful of interviews, I received my offer in February 2024. Just thought I’d share and offer a realistic timeline.
@experiment0003 where do you think I should start.. im just learning how to code but I'm trying teach myself how without having to go back to school becuz I need my extra ti me to work.. so is there any Fast options out there or tricks I could use to learn coding faster?
@@jgibson8092 I didn't do any, but yes I think so. Getting to know people in the field is important for when any jobs come available and they may then think of you.
Quit my account management job in 2022 and I am glad to say that I’m finally employed as a software engineer at 32 years old. It’s tough, there’s a lot of lows, especially in this market, but it is worth it!
I’m currently in the position you were in 2022. I’m trying to quit my full time job and find a part time job so I can focus on school full time . I only have 2 years left and I’ll have bachelors in CS
Started learning aged 29 (just before my birthday), spent a year doing bits like FreeCodeCamp and now starting a masters in SWE this year aged 31. Feel like I’m going to be the oldest on the course and completely burn out because old brain. Your story is inspirational and I enjoy seeing your IG posts. Hope Egypt is treating you well!
I became a Software Engineer being 42. I have to confess that I worked as a mathematician at university before, but in a completely different field (Differential Geometrie). When it became clear that I couldn't stay in academia, I discovered coding and software development for me.
Hi Andrew this was a really great video. I am currently 24, graduated at 22 (with a CS degree) but also ended up in a sales role then travelled for a year and now going to Australia for a year as i enjoyed my first leg of travelling so much. It was really cool how our experiences are kind of mirrored. My dream is to still end up in Tech as that's what I went to uni for but was starting to get worried that I was falling behind, shouldn't keep travelling etc. etc. This was a really comforting video for me! :)
@@Thearkillian personally I wouldn’t worry about falling behind. I’d prioritise life experiences, as you’ll be in your 20’s and travelling once. When I wanted to focus on my career I really locked in for a few years. But that time travelling, learning what I wanted, and doing cool things in the world was transformational. That will give you a sense of fulfilment and accomplishment and general sense of a life lived well, that is priceless. But obviously career is important too so it’s a balance, and try to save a little if you can.
Soon to be 30 in Oct, Currently in IT Sales, moving to new job next week also started learning python from today because I know I can’t be into Sales lifelong. Came here after Instagram suggested your reel, hopefully will become something
thanks for sharing! i'm 28 and am trying to learn to code. have so much regret not doing a 2nd major in college. btw bro is too good looking to be software engineer
@andrewcodesmith I hate this the age always impacts people to decide whether to do something or not. I don't like my job but don't know if I have the motivation and dedication to learn something
Awesome! I am 34, leaving architecture design to become a full stack dev! It's the perfect time to get into the industry! If you need some design help, don't hesitate to reach out!
the throwback pictures are killing me. 😂 great video, i would love to learn coding but i think i wasted too much time so i'm dedicating myself to my one passion.
22 is very young age and most people at your age are feeling the same as you. Your greatest asset right now is time. Just like what Andrew did, you need to focus deeply on coding and building stuff as you learn. Depending on how you learn, you will be significantly better at coding in 6 months to a year than you are today. You got this
Yo! Love from Egypt! I hope you enjoyed it. Sorry if it was a bit too chaotic 😂 Im in Surrey doing a PhD in Air Transport Management and AI. A slight departure from aerospace engineering (not as drastic as law). Had to learn how to code and became obsessed with it too. 3 years in now and loving it!!! Can’t wait to finish and get a sweet job in London.
Glad to see a perspective from someone starting out a bit older! I’m late 20s and I’ve got an intro to coding course to start as I’ve always been interested in IT but it’s defs overwhelming to enter this world. I’m trying to remember there’s lots of areas to be interested in and there’s no rush to be an expert. That’s if I even like the course - should probs start there 😅
Great story mate! I also work a fully remote Software Engineer role (junior level). Wondering, how you move around other countries whilst maintaining the job? You make it look easy 😂 Is it easy to adjust to different timezones, and set up your workspace every time?
Good to see that I am not alone in being 32 and currently studying to become a fullstack developer. I got the idea in January 2023 and started a Higher Vocational Education in September 2023 :) Will graduate in may 2025 so I will be 33 years old then but am so happy that I decided to do this career change.
hi, I never comment, ever, but I just wanted to say your content, humor and vibe hella INSPIRED me so much from your socials, bye (p.s the face at 6.13 was relatable)
Thank you for sharing this . Seeing a person easly moving from career to career gives a relief to me . I am in stage were i am earning good compare to my peers but my heart is not in my job i am a software engineer core python am etreamly passionate about coding but lately in a situation were i am not happy with my work environment or opertunity that i get at work since i get paid so much i feel like i shouldn't quit but each day at work feels like i can do so much more or feels like tied up. I know it doesn't make any sense but hey this is how its for me nowadays hope i will get enough courage
One of my mantras is to ‘take the scenic route’ in life and in your career, try different things, and maybe you’ll find something that fits, If not you tried and the journey will make for a interesting story. I’m a SWE now (and I love it), but maybe one day I’ll want to do something different, who knows, that’s fun to me
I just started my python course cuz your content randomly came up on my explore page on ig! Love that you come straight from I presume agency recruitment to this….i kinda have a similar background…..but I’m kinda worried about the how to find my first job etc etc…would you be able to do a video on tips/ kinda where you looked? 😊
next.js is the future. However after working in tech a few years Iv worked on js, jQuery, typescript, react. The tools keep changing but under the hood it’s programming, so get good at the basics and the changes will be easy for you
Truly inspiring Andrew! I would Love to hear How did you go about learning different things?do you follow tutorials or read online?also during your projects where do you find help when you are stuck?I saw a reel where you show you are learning diff things(web dev,ML,Cyber). Basically my question is how can We Learn to Learn new things quickly i.e adopting to change?Also what kept you motivated?
@@Abbas_01 thanks! I’m just follow my curiosity in terms of what I learn and like the idea of knowing a bit of everything is good. Always go to the official docs (not chatgpt). If there is one thing to learn from my comment it’s that. Also do Pomodoro and read the book deep work 👌
You mention you got a job as web developer and then got a job as a software engineer. What do you consider the difference? The tools you were learning (HTML, CSS, React, JavaScript) all really encompass tech we use when building web applications. Just curious how you differentiate the two? I always get confused
@@irule10338 that’s a great question. I think SWE’s usually earn more is the truth, might have to know DSA/LeetCode interviews. Work on apps/platforms as opposed to more website stuff. But it’s not a set distinction, and some roles can be enclose to both of those. But yeah same tech stack.
this is very inspiring! Don't you find it hard to code just on Laptop though? As a programmer my productivity takes a hit when i move to a smaller screen
It’s a sacrifice, but once you get used to it, it doesn’t actually impact performance. I avoid second screens, but the laptop in the video actually has two screens . There’s a link to it in my bio
started at 28 and spend 2 years learning and have been working as Full Stack engineer at the fortunate 500 in seattle waghinston. currently learning algorithm and Datastructure to crack my upcoming interviews at tiktok, facebook , google and peraton.
Im 32 and on javascript now. This is hard, but i don't see any other way to survive in life comfortably beside being a doctor or software engineer. Have a useless dental assisting degree and have to switch
If salary is a big driver for you, you could do tech sales (cybersecurity is a big one). If you like the technical side, look at sharing you experience doing content creation whilst learning (if you're comfortable with it). I've been blown away buy how much you can make (if you get over 50k followers on IG for example)
wow dude. great job no offense but you are extreme lucky... maybe just in my country (Hungary) but I cant find a job from almost a year now. Even if I have a Computer Science degree (3 years) and a 1 year long bootcamp.... As soon as a job is pop up, there is 300 applicant in the first 2 hours.
LOVE ALGORITHM. At 32 now, from customer service line, and starting classes to make a career change. Love this kind of approach. Simple and straight forward.
something that interacts with an API, gets data from an api, front end junior SWE jobs are all about working with a lot of data, constantly doing api calls, so get good at taking that data (sometimes complex) and presenting it on the UI
dad died, divorce, left 100k oilfield, moved cross country and learned to code at 34. im 36 now and graduated IT programming, blockchain internship done, 347 applications, 7 interviews done, 3 blockchain software engineering companies on the table, been grinding for 2 years. Im almost there with the offer. I jumped off a cliff and built a plane on the way down. I looked at what i was good at with an Ikigi diagram. Computers, finance and building stuff. I told everyone I was gonna do this and said fuck you to anyone who doubted me.
Yeah it was a different job market then, and I totally get that it's harder now. A friend of mine recently got hired in his 30's, took 3 months longer than I did, but he did it
You say it’s harder to become a software engineer without boot camp or a degree. Do you feel like today a boot camp or a degree would be useful and give you more a chance of getting hired? I want to change my career. I’m a registered nurse and I am burnt out and need a complete change in my career. I have no experience in coding and do not know where to start. 😅
@@nhavyd6783 bootcamps are still a great option, lots of people are gettin hired from bootcamps as we speak despite the climate. So go for it. I did it t self taught, so it’s whatever works
Hey dude, I'm sorry but you're an outlier, and I feel like it's important for people to realize this, as this industry is in complete shambles. To find work as a software engineer without a computer science degree in 2024 is next to impossible. I have an undergrad in CS (4.0), experience, and I'm working on a master's degree in CS, and I still can rarely get an interview in software engineering/data science/ML. This is a nice video, but please understand that the industry is changing and despite Andrew's confidence in being able to do this all over again, I would bet lots of money that he would be stuck in this job market like everyone else. If you're serious about software engineering, get a CS degree, and finding a job may be the hardest thing you ever do.
@@BusinessDuck69 yeah I got in during the peak in 21’. I mention the other areas of tech in this video. I’m not selling a course, it’s just me sharing my experience. I think learning programming and then getting your foot in the door is key and looking for where the opportunities are rn. Maybe it’s cyber? Or another area, but being creative with how you get in.
