Hey,
I am unhappy with my current job and I seek the strategy to improve my life situation. It took me a long time to sort out my personal problems, so I am rather late to the party, but I finally feel ready and capable to try and learn something new.
I have basic knowledge of how GNU/Linux works and very limited knowledge in C++ programming. I enjoy spending my time on learning new things in that subject and I would like to use it as an advantage to earn money doing it. Yes, hobbies turned into work sometimes ruin it, but I have no better ideas at the moment.
I already figured out that costly professional courses may be a waste of time and money or at least that's what I've read online. The only truly good thing is that they sometimes offer help with finding job at the end of the training, which might make things easier. I am not sure what to think about it.
Is the perspective of choosing a job in the IT field and changing a job realistic at my age and without any formal education? If so, do you have any advice for me on how to even begin the journey?
I know that I did not specify anything, but I'm trying to get an advice before I make any decisions and I will be happy to receive any suggestions.
Cheers!
It is absolutely possible. I know people that changed into programming from television production, teaching grade school, and many other things at various stages of their life.
The important thing is not getting credentialed, but actually learning how to program at a level that will get you hired. It's probably easier to get an entry level job as a linux admin than an entry level job as a programmer. If you're in the US, you might want to consider taking the civil service exam as that will open up a ton of low stress high stability entry level jobs that involve IT administration.
Programming you'll need to effectively be capable of doing the equivalent of a bootcamp without going to a bootcamp. Bootcamps are expensive. If you're part of a socially marginalized group you might be able to find free training through various organizations. Or, you can find a bootcamp equivalent training set of videos maybe. Either way, it's an intensive path to follow. You could do it in a matter of months but you need to be programming every day for many hours, which means it at least feel like having a night job and at worst it means quitting your job and finding another way to survive while you program full-time to get your skills developed.
I don't think bootcamps are particularly good at helping people get hired, but I'm biased because I have a great network of people that support me in the field. If you don't have that network, a bootcamp might actually help you get connected. Your network is the second most important thing for finding jobs you love, the first most important thing is being honest with yourself and getting out of bad situations before they burn you out entirely.
Join Slack and Discord communities, attend meetups in your area, find some sort of curriculum you can follow online, and take the civil service exam (if you're in the US) and I think you'll be able to get where you want to go. No, you're age and your past career do not limit you.
I very much appreciate your response. Motivating and with few interesting remarks that I will keep in mind.
I'm relieved to know that administration is accessible to me since that is my primary interest at the moment.
Unfortunately I have no privilege of quitting a job at the moment and I'm not from the US, but I have a relatively reliable strategy of saving some extra money which might give me a few months of comfort of not working full-time, so it seems doable.
Thanks.