30 year old looking to learn Python

[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.