Wow, I feel compelled to respond to this as I can sure relate to it. I'm 42 years old. I've been a registered nurse for over 12 years, spending 8 in emergency departments in 2 different countries. Before I was a nurse, I did my first degree in media studies and my electives over my 2nd and 3rd years were in web production and that's how I first learnt about coding. I fell in love with it but at the end of my degree, I had attempted to get a job in web development but I did not have enough knowledge and there was no way my family could afford to put me through another 3-year degree course. So, after years of trying to find a job anywhere and as I approached 30, I gave up and changed careers to nursing.
Over the past 18 months or so, I've became burnt out in nursing... so I thought I would give web development another try. But I thought that I should go through some sort of formal training in web development, so I undertook (at great expense) a 12-week, full-time course in web development. Unfortunately, since I finished the course late last year, I've had no luck in my job hunt. As I am single, with no other source of income and no more savings left, I've had to go back to taking casual nursing shifts and finding time to continue working and learning more about coding when I'm not working and/or sending out job applications.
I've tried applying for everything, from graduate roles to internships to junior roles, from small, less than 10 members of staff, companies to large, international digital agencies, I've also tried applying to Health/MedTech companies since I figured that my combined knowledge might give me an edge... but no luck anywhere. Almost all had stated in their ads that they are looking for candidates with CS/IT degrees, but I still tried to send in my resume, but nothing. It's been demoralising and quite soul crushing.
I find myself back on the crossroads, I'm not sure which way I will go.
Hey Karguo, I also feel compelled to respond to your comment since it is related to me as well, I'm 36 years old, I have graduated from the Faculty of law 19 years ago and where I live we usually work in a field not related to our degrees, however, I've tried to work as a freelance lawyer, but That wasn't me, I'm such a tech geek I can't live without a computer, so I've managed to get a job in a local internet company 10 years ago, I'm still working there, things never been down like those last two years.
In the meantime, I was so much interested in a bunch of cool stuff around, from playing with so many of Linux distro with different package managers and desktop, to dive into one of python books and courses, then moved to CS field catching up with two or three courses at a time "CS50 was the coolest one" then I've managed to get a scholarship from Google 2017/2018 I was one of those who won a full nano-degree at that time, I was doing so good until some family matters take over all my time and effort at that time and I couldn't carry on with the course, I didn't graduate.
Nowadays, I've burnt out in my current work as a senior online sales along with being a quality keeper over a telesales team, my current job right now offer me nothing but a salary, I seek to get the knowledge to be able to shift my career as an Android developer, after a few weeks I've been able to build some apps on my own nothing that I'm so proud of however I've got the basic skills and I'm looking to learn more about it, working as a dev person open some many doors for you to meet new people like those devs out here on this awesome community, it is also required a PC or laptop with a good performance and an internet connection, and also a signup in one of those freelance websites you can learn, work, meet and earn from it.
My last word, I thought I was alone struggled to learn to code and to catch up with the most insane growing field, but it turns that there are many many people like me and you, I promise I won't stop until I reach to my goal.
I wish you could land on a job you've dreamed of so soon.
My last word, I though I was alone struggled learning too code, and to catchup with the insans
I know that feeling well. I was also on the verge of giving up when I finally got my foot in the door. Then again, it was the third time I was on the verge of giving up at that point.
I hope that you've found some strength in knowing that you are not alone in being where you are and that it's possible to get that first job, even after 40. I tried so many approaches and there were so many times it could have just as well gone my way but didn't, that is until it finally did. Now I am with a small company of fantastic individuals that truly put their values first.
There are companies that find value in age and experience as well, even though it doesn't always feel like it.
Stick in there, you never know what the next wave will bring.
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Wow, I feel compelled to respond to this as I can sure relate to it. I'm 42 years old. I've been a registered nurse for over 12 years, spending 8 in emergency departments in 2 different countries. Before I was a nurse, I did my first degree in media studies and my electives over my 2nd and 3rd years were in web production and that's how I first learnt about coding. I fell in love with it but at the end of my degree, I had attempted to get a job in web development but I did not have enough knowledge and there was no way my family could afford to put me through another 3-year degree course. So, after years of trying to find a job anywhere and as I approached 30, I gave up and changed careers to nursing.
Over the past 18 months or so, I've became burnt out in nursing... so I thought I would give web development another try. But I thought that I should go through some sort of formal training in web development, so I undertook (at great expense) a 12-week, full-time course in web development. Unfortunately, since I finished the course late last year, I've had no luck in my job hunt. As I am single, with no other source of income and no more savings left, I've had to go back to taking casual nursing shifts and finding time to continue working and learning more about coding when I'm not working and/or sending out job applications.
I've tried applying for everything, from graduate roles to internships to junior roles, from small, less than 10 members of staff, companies to large, international digital agencies, I've also tried applying to Health/MedTech companies since I figured that my combined knowledge might give me an edge... but no luck anywhere. Almost all had stated in their ads that they are looking for candidates with CS/IT degrees, but I still tried to send in my resume, but nothing. It's been demoralising and quite soul crushing.
I find myself back on the crossroads, I'm not sure which way I will go.
Hey Karguo, I also feel compelled to respond to your comment since it is related to me as well, I'm 36 years old, I have graduated from the Faculty of law 19 years ago and where I live we usually work in a field not related to our degrees, however, I've tried to work as a freelance lawyer, but That wasn't me, I'm such a tech geek I can't live without a computer, so I've managed to get a job in a local internet company 10 years ago, I'm still working there, things never been down like those last two years.
In the meantime, I was so much interested in a bunch of cool stuff around, from playing with so many of Linux distro with different package managers and desktop, to dive into one of python books and courses, then moved to CS field catching up with two or three courses at a time "CS50 was the coolest one" then I've managed to get a scholarship from Google 2017/2018 I was one of those who won a full nano-degree at that time, I was doing so good until some family matters take over all my time and effort at that time and I couldn't carry on with the course, I didn't graduate.
Nowadays, I've burnt out in my current work as a senior online sales along with being a quality keeper over a telesales team, my current job right now offer me nothing but a salary, I seek to get the knowledge to be able to shift my career as an Android developer, after a few weeks I've been able to build some apps on my own nothing that I'm so proud of however I've got the basic skills and I'm looking to learn more about it, working as a dev person open some many doors for you to meet new people like those devs out here on this awesome community, it is also required a PC or laptop with a good performance and an internet connection, and also a signup in one of those freelance websites you can learn, work, meet and earn from it.
My last word, I thought I was alone struggled to learn to code and to catch up with the most insane growing field, but it turns that there are many many people like me and you, I promise I won't stop until I reach to my goal.
I wish you could land on a job you've dreamed of so soon.
My last word, I though I was alone struggled learning too code, and to catchup with the insans
I know that feeling well. I was also on the verge of giving up when I finally got my foot in the door. Then again, it was the third time I was on the verge of giving up at that point.
I hope that you've found some strength in knowing that you are not alone in being where you are and that it's possible to get that first job, even after 40. I tried so many approaches and there were so many times it could have just as well gone my way but didn't, that is until it finally did. Now I am with a small company of fantastic individuals that truly put their values first.
There are companies that find value in age and experience as well, even though it doesn't always feel like it.
Stick in there, you never know what the next wave will bring.