Is it too late to learn web development? If you’re like most people, the answer is probably no—it’s never too late to learn anything, especially if you have a compelling reason motivating you. Keep reading to find out what makes web development a great choice at any age, how to get started, plus tips that can make learning easier when you’re older.
Why Becoming a Web Developer Makes Sense—At Any Age!
Web development is considered an excellent career choice at any age for a variety of reasons, including:
- The job outlook for web development is excellent; the industry is experiencing tremendous growth and is in dire need of new recruits to help fill open positions.
- Jobs in web development pay well, with salaries averaging around $100,000.
- Web Development is an exciting field that allows developers to use their creativity to overcome coding challenges and create engaging websites.
- Web Developers have flexible career options and can work in a variety of industries, including education, manufacturing, retail, marketing, government, hospitality, finance, construction, and entertainment.
- There’s a vibrant, active community of programmers who support one another and provide help when needed.
- A large percentage of Web Developers report being satisfied with their careers.
- Acquiring the necessary skills is easy; you don’t need a 4-year degree to work in web development.
Tips for Learning to Code When You’re Older
If you’re an older learner who’s considering becoming a Web Developer, here are a few tips to help on your educational journey:
1. Find Your Why
If you’re going to disrupt your current life to start working in a new field, you need to have a clear reason why you’re doing it. Feeling a vague sense of dissatisfaction with your current career won’t cut it—you need a reason that’s well-defined and powerful enough to carry you through your learning experience.
For example, are you learning coding because you want a job that allows you to work from home so you can see your family more? Or do you want a high-paying job that will help you save money for retirement instead of living paycheck to paycheck? Whatever your reason is, make sure that you understand it well and keep it in mind as you learn.
2. Don’t Overthink It
If you’re contemplating switching from your current career to web development, try not to get too bogged down while attempting to make a decision; you may develop analysis paralysis. Yes, you absolutely need to research, weigh the pros and cons, and discuss it with your family but don’t take too much time to mull it over.
Wrangling with the decision for too long is just a waste of time—the best thing to do is take action. It doesn’t have to be drastic, like quitting your job. Instead, you can enroll in a web development course or learn a bit of code in your spare time. That way, you can stop over-thinking, try coding, and find out for certain if you’d enjoy a career in Web Development.
3. Schedule Your Time
If you’re an older learner, chances are you already have a busy life. With so many responsibilities and obligations to take care of, it may be challenging to find time to learn code. The good news is that just because something is challenging doesn’t make it impossible.
The best way to ensure that you have time to learn coding is to schedule it in your calendar. Block off time—even if it’s just an hour every night—then stick to your plan. A great way to ensure you adhere to a schedule is by enrolling in an online web development class; this will provide you with built-in accountability to keep your education on track.
4. Be Patient With Yourself
As you start learning how to code, you’re going to come up against some challenges. When you do, don’t get frustrated; remember that learning a new skill is difficult for everyone, regardless of their age. So don’t get too discouraged—just be patient with yourself and keep going. In just a few months, the things you found challenging will become much easier.
5. Seek Support
Switching careers will bring its share of challenges, but they'll be made easier if you have ample personal and professional support. When you start your learning journey, be sure to let your friends and family members know what you’re doing and why; having their support can help whenever you start to feel discouraged.
It’s also a good idea to have professional support. Do you know anyone currently working in web development? If so, ask if they’d be willing to mentor you or at least provide you with feedback from time to time. If you don’t currently know anyone, you might try taking web development classes; they’ll provide you with an opportunity to meet other aspiring Web Developers and current professionals in the field, connections that will prove to be invaluable.
6. Be Persistent
Learning web development won’t happen overnight and it will be difficult at times. Though you may be tempted to give up, it’s vital that you remain persistent and keep moving forward. Persistence is a skill that’s absolutely necessary if you want to work as a Web Developer. In your new career, you’ll have to put your persistence and problem-solving skills to the test on a daily basis. So if you start to get discouraged, view this as an opportunity to develop persistence and stay the course.
7. Enjoy Yourself
Making a significant life change like switching careers can be stressful, but it’s important that you take time to enjoy yourself. Don’t tell yourself that you’ll be happy once you start your new web development job; choose to be happy now, in the midst of your transition. Change your mindset to see learning as a journey then relax and enjoy the ride.
Why Age Isn’t an Obstacle to Learning Web Development
Age is not an obstacle when it comes to learning web development—you can do it no matter how old you are! There are a few key reasons for this. For one, in web development, results are all that matter. As long as you have the skills necessary to do the job, you’ll be employable.
The high demand for Web Developers is also a factor. If there were few positions available, employers could choose to be picky and might favor younger applicants over older ones. But the reality is that there’s high demand for Web Developers with far more open positions than there are candidates. This means there are plenty of doors open to older applicants.
In fact, some companies may prefer to hire older employees. Why? Because they have life experience that will help them succeed at their job. Older employees have also had time to develop plenty of soft skills like communication, compromise, listening, and patience, making them attractive prospects.
How to Start Your Career in Web Development
If you’re ready to switch careers and learn web development, then you should consider enrolling in a web development bootcamp. Regardless of your age, bootcamps are the ideal way to acquire the skills you need to embark on a new career path; they offer intensive skills-based classes on an abbreviated schedule, so you’ll be ready for your new profession in just a few short months. For maximum flexibility, you can even take a web development bootcamp live online.
If you’re not quite ready to complete a full bootcamp, another option would be to sign up for individual web development classes. That makes it possible for you to expand your skills and gauge your overall interest in web development before committing to a bootcamp. Depending on where you’re located, you might even be able to find some web development classes in your area. If none seem to be available nearby, you can always take web development classes live online without having to leave your home.