Is it possible to learn programming after 30 years old or more? Can I get a job as a programmer if I start at that age? Is it worth it if I try? What if you always I worked in a different sector than IT? These are some of the questions that I will try to answer from my experience.

What motivates me to write these lines is that I also had that uncertainty of thinking and going over it in my mind if it was already too late to make a 360° turn in my professional career.When we've a certain age and maybe we're responsible for maintaining a home, it 's a very difficult decision to make and especially when we're going to venture into a new world for us.

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

Before continuing let me tell you about my history with programming.

When I was 10 years old (in 1996) I lived in Santiago, Chile, I'm Argentine son of Chileans fhathers at that time I was in that beautiful place in the world. My Uncle, my father's brother, was a successful businessman at the time. And I say it was because unfortunately I haven't heard from him for many years. He gave me a computer, at that time it was something that only families with a good economic situation could afford to have a computer on this side of the hemisphere.

I used to go to my uncle's company for a few days so that he could teach me how to use the computer. I remember that they were very happy days for me at that time of my childhood. After that gift I was always lucky enough to have a PC until today (2022) when I'm writing this article. In my adolescence at 17 years old I had a PC management that perhaps other people of my same age did not have it for the simple fact they did not have that opportunity that I had. At that moment I knew that my dream was to study Computer Engineering, but here a problem arose. At that time, my father did not have the financial means to send me to study this degree, which at that time was in the province of La Pampa, Argentina.

That is why I had to start studying Electronic Engineering, it was a free without tariffs degree. This career was in the city where I lived at that time, which was Villa Mercedes, San Luis, Argentina. When I started studying this career at 18 years old.something happened that perhaps has happened to many, and that was that I started looking for a job and I got it. This was because the economy in my house wasn't the best, we were literally from the poor class. And it was very difficult for me to study and work, so I decided to drop out my studies and continue with my work.

That year I decided to work for a while to save some money and go to the capital of San Luis to study a degree in computer science, which was a career similar to what I dreamed of studying when I was 17 years old. I finally did, I moved to the capital, but my studies didn't last long and I dropped out again due to economic issues. My father was already old at that time and I had to go to work to be the breadwinner in our home. At that time I lived with my father and my younger brother and it was there at that time that I started my professional career outside of the IT world.

My first jobs were as an operator in industries, then I had my first experience in the warehouse sector and it was there when I knew a job that caught my attention and it was the position of BUYER, a position that is key in any company and I got in my mind that one day I had to occupy that position, that's how the years went by, I was training with courses for this job and I had my first administrative job. This paved the way for my first experience as a BUYER.

I remember that day very well. I worked in the administration area and one of the company's buyers decided renounce. At that moment, I approached the head of the purchasing department and told him that I wanted to apply for that position. I wonder what knowledge he had about it, the days passed and in one of them I remember that he approached my desk and told me "tomorrow you start working half a day in the purchasing department" after that I stayed full time in the position of Buyer. And so I began my career as a Buyer in recognized industries and I also began to study a university career according to the work I did, which was that of "Certified Public Accountant", reaching the year 2022 in which i work for a multinational company .

I achieved economic stability despite living in a country where the economy is very difficult to manage, which is in Argentina, I achieved a promotion in that company and also many recognitions for my good performance. Now, will you ask yourself why I decided to change the course of my career? Let me tell you that during all this time that I spent, in which I very briefly summarized part of my story, I never stopped doing things with programming.

I was always researching in my free time, for example, how to make a web page, in fact, I made several. At that time I was doing it for hobbies, but what I wasn't realizing was that in reality I was unconsciously chasing my dream, the one that got stuck when I was 17 years old. It was in 2020 when I did some independent projects parallel to my formal work. And in the year 2022 I decided that all the knowledge acquired in the world of programming as a self-taught person should be validated with a professional title and with a proyects to be used or seen by anyone.

At 36 years old (2022) I realized that what I really wanted was to work in what I have always dreamed, of being in the IT world as a Software Engineer. Today I am on that path, I started my career, I already make my portfolio is where this article is currently and I'm going in search of my dream.

Now that you know my story, you may feel identified or maybe your story is totally different, but let me tell you that whatever reason is. It's not too late for you to start learning programming and I tell you why!

What is Programming?

Technically speaking, it is a process that consists of a sequence of well-detailed steps which are called algorithms, this sequence is transcribed using a programming language such as Python, Java, JavaScript, among others. When executing our code, the computer receives the necessary instructions to execute, for example, software or perform a certain task.

What is programming logic?

In this section I'm going to be brief using my own words, many people say that good programmers are those people who use logic to solve problems. For example, when you have to solve a problem, the first thing you should do is use your logic to solve that problem in stages. That is, go step by step until you get the resolution to your problem.

Is it difficult to learn to program?

If you are a person who likes to solve problems and knows how to use logic, it will be very easy for you, so it is always recommended that you first start by understanding the logic of programming, there are several free courses on the internet. You should never start by trying to learn a specific language such as Java or C #, you should first learn the programming logic and after that put focus on a one programming languages. It is also not recommended that you learn two or more programming languages at the same time.

What are the steps I should follow in my learning road map in programming?

First: You must determine if you like programming or not.

It may be sound hard, but not everyone likes to program, here you must investigate on your own and as I suggested before, take a programming logic course first.

Second: Identify the technology to learn.

Programming has several categories, for example there are Frontend Developers, Backend Developers, Data Science, Analytics Science, Blockchain, Mobile Developer and these are some of the many out there. Once you have identified which one you like the most, it is time to identify the technologies to learn. For example, if it were Frontend you should know HTML, CSS and JavaScript at least.

Third: Acquire the knowledge

Here is the time to study, to learn. There're several ways and means and all of them are valid. University Career, Bootcamp (Accelerated Course) Courses, self-taught. And it is here that you will ask yourself: then is a university degree necessary? And the answer is no, but keep in mind that if there are two candidates with the same technical skills and one of them has a university degree and the other doesn't, it is very possible that the person whoto be selected for the vacant position will be the one with the university degree. And finally, as a piece of advice, never stop learning, as you know, technology is constantly advancing and the same thing happens in the world of programming. That is why we have to be learning all the time, it is very good practice for programmers to continue studying even when they are already working.

Fourth: Project development.

Here in this step you can apply it as you acquire knowledge, you must create your own projects, practice what you learn. Participate in other projects collaborating. And if you don't know what I mean by projects, I'll give you an example: you decided on the path of frontend developer, make a website, for example.

Fifth: Get your first IT job

Here I'm going to make a brief summary, because I will make another specific article for this topic. You must create your portfolio, use a professional domain for example: yournameyoursurname.com, have an active profile on LinkedIn, all programmers must have their GitHub if you don't know what it is, look for tutorials on the internet. And finally apply to offers in which you think you can meet the requested requirements. Don't be afraid to have an interview and don't get frustrated if you don't get the job. For each interview you have, you will learn and prepare yourself better for the next one until you get that first IT job.

I hope I have helped you to clear your doubts and if you want to ask me more about this topic write by mail or use the means of communication found in my Portfolio.

Much courage future programmer!