The question of whether you can learn code after a certain age itself is ageist. Because it implies that once you reach XYZ age, you should cease to learn something. This is a valid reason why after reaching a certain age, you may feel like you are too old to learn how to code. You may feel like it’s only for the young. It’s not so. Whether you are sixteen, forty-four, or fifty-seven years old, it’s never too old to learn to code. You can learn coding from a very young age till the day you terminate your relationship with technology.
What do you need to learn coding?
- Interest in the subject– you need to be interested in coding to learn it. If you don’t know anything about coding, you need to look up the basics, the ABCs. Otherwise, young or not, coding won’t interest you. If you don’t have any interest, you will end up bored.
- Patience to learn- you need to be very patient to understand coding. Coding takes a considerable amount of time to be learned. You need tolerance and perseverance to be able to master coding.
- Having a basic knowledge of computers- if you don’t know how a computer works, you need to know the basics of the keyboard. It will be needed to advance further.
Why should you learn to code?
Well, you are wondering, I am already in my early 30s or late 20s and have a stable job. Why should I learn to code, then?
1. Coding is great for people who want to change or elevate their careers
If you are not satisfied with your current working situation and you are looking forward to a career jump, coding is a great skill to learn.
2. Coding is currently the fastest-growing profession.
If you feel like coding won’t help you in any way, you are wrong. Coding is currently the fastest-growing profession, and analysis has shown that the number of computer programmers working for private companies has increased by seventy-four thousand in the past three years, from five hundred thirty thousand to six hundred and ten thousand in the past few years. Still, you think you are too old to learn?
3. Companies look for skill.
If you think that since you have reached a certain age, upgrading skills will not help you, you are wrong. Employers are always looking for skills and what more you can bring to their table. Your experience will add to your value, critical thinking, communication, and emergency skills.
4. There are always success stories to follow and take inspiration from
There have always been instances of software developers who have changed their careers, learned to code, and soared high. And all through their 30s to 60s. One such example that can be cited is Reid Hoffman, the one who started Linkedin. That was too in his 30s, to be precise, when he was 35. His interests were in academia, but later, he switched to entrepreneurship. Hopper, a US navy rear admiral, proposed a coding language using English instead of mathematics. This eventually led to the birth of COBOL, the data processors’ language. Grace Hopper, thus, became a pioneer while in her 40s.
Tips to learn to code later in life-
- Have perseverance – when you start coding, it will be a testing journey. You need to preserve to be successful and meet your coding goals.
- Have additional help- it is always advisable to have additional help when you are learning something, especially if it’s outside of your comfort zone. There are many online experts or academies which offer such courses. Especially at your convenience, and they offer one on one classes too. Some of the academies that you can look for can be K- 12 experts.
- Practicing a lot- Have you ever thought about what the best way to achieve your goal of learning to code is? It’s actually by coding only. The more you practice, the better your skills get. You can start by writing small programs on the concept to learn. Once you feel you are comfortable enough, you can take on larger projects.
- It’s better to start with the basics- if you think that once you learn all about the complexities of coding, you’ll be done, you are not right. It’s always advisable to start with the basic syntax and the overall structure of that programming language. Again, once you feel that you’ll be able to apply those basics and learn about the complex topics better, move on.
Now that you have learned why it is never late to join coding, have you made up your mind? With being the fastest growing sector, as well as being an in-demand one, you can least be assured that there’s no age limit to coding.
