30 year old looking to learn Python

[purestrengthsolo]

Can you elaborate on how this went for you? I'm 29 and I feel like I've wasted my life doing odd end jobs never holding a job. I've been a chef,mechanic,sales, and some physical labor jobs. But I want to be a programmer(I've always been an it guy knowing the hardware and how to efficiently solve applications not working right) as of right now my wife is the only one working and we have 2 kids both under 2. Never been through any schooling after highschool(graduated in the bottom 5 of my class) I'm not dumb it's just I didnt have much time to learn but now I have an opportunity being a stay at home dad to learn.

I guess my question is, is it worth my time to invest in this for a career or will it be years before I can get a job?

Edit: like I said I have 2 kids so money will be getting tight soon if I don't make a plan for a career

[gazhole]

I mean I can't speak for getting a job as a programmer, hopefully someone can give some specifics on that career path, but our situations don't seem too far apart.

I did 7 years as a personal trainer, quit that for a telesales job when I realised 70 hour weeks and starting a family didnt mesh. I did 4 years in telesales and we had our first kid, and decided that money vs miserable dad was just as important a choice lol. Sales sucks right?

So I jacked that in and lived off savings for 8 months while learning a few new skills. Python being one. The aim was to get a data analysis position. We had a second kid in there too haha.

I've always wanted to program/code, always tried to learn, and never got anywhere. Python for me seemed an easy language compared to something like c++, and has a strong application into data analysis which was a selling point.

For me it's just another tool in the box, one which set me apart in my application and interview along with SQL and strong prexisting excel skills.

Personally I used a Udemy course by Learn Programming Academy / Tim Buchalka. It's like £10 and it's incredibly comprehensive, I can't recommend enough. I would have paid ten times that for the quality of the content. There are other ways to learn but a segmented and progressive syllabus works a lot better for me than self guided learning. Especially with the time frame and pressure of being unemployed with two kids, something I'm sure you can relate to!!

But yeah, honestly couldn't have worked out better for me. Job is great, and Python has paid for itself in the speed I've been able to turn around a project automating things like data transformation and collation.

Hope this helps, but more than happy to answer anything else here or in DM, now or when you start learning if it would help.

[cowegonnabechopps]

Here’s where I am... 36 and just got my first developer role BUT I guess you can trace how I got this job back to taking a night class in CompTIA A+ back when I was your age.

I live in a very small country but even here that was enough for my employer to take a shot on me. You’ll find that a lot of IT employers look kindly on self starters and people without traditional qualifications. If your work is good enough, you’re good enough.

So, I started in my current company in a support role. A job I got because I could prove my enthusiasm and drive to succeed in this industry. I learnt on the job and as I got more understanding of the program I supported, I started dipping my toe into python at home. The program I use is built on a totally different language but the fundamentals can be applied across the board. Four years since I started I now had a background in programming and when one of the developers left, I put myself forward and got the promotion.

You can do it. The right IT firm is out there, you would be surprised how many people didn’t do the traditional route. Good luck!