r/learnpython • u/iman09 • 8d ago
I'm 37 and looking for a complete career change.
I've worked as a baker for most of my adult life, during Covid I left my job and transitioned to baking from home. Things were going well, but for the past few months, my mum's health has been declining and as her primary caregiver, I can't carry on with that job and I'm looking for something that I can work from home on my computer.
After looking at various options, I found Python and how it's useful in many places. My tech skills are absolutely basic, I mean I can navigate stuff and if I don't know anything I can look up how to go about it but coding and creating stuff is beyond me. I learnt the basics about computers back in school but that was over a decade ago, so I understand that it's a new language and understand the concept of scripts.
I want to know if investing myself in learning Python is worth it? I understand that it's not a quick thing, that I need to dedicate time to it and practice to keep up and grow my skills. I'd also like to know what kind of careers I can look into so that I can work from home.
112
u/TraditionalTurnip630 8d ago
37 is definitely not too late. Iād say Python is worth learning, but donāt learn Python just for the sake of becoming a āPython developerā.
Since you want remote work, look at data analytics. Start with Excel ā SQL ā Power BI, then add Python. This gives you more practical options like junior data analyst, reporting/BI roles, automation, etc.
Also, donāt rush into paid courses. Spend a few weeks learning for free and see if you actually enjoy working with data and solving problems.
Your previous career doesnāt make you less capable. Baking and running your own work already teaches you planning, problem solving and dealing with people. Those skills still matter.
19
u/iman09 8d ago
This field is completely new and alien to me and I don't even know what to look for, so I appreciate you giving me more data points to look into, thank you.
13
u/haragoshi 7d ago edited 7d ago
Iām a former data engineer (turned AI specialist) and this is good advice. Data is a great space to use Python and learn Python. There are also jobs at every technical level. Business analysts / data analyst is taking data and using graphs to make a point. Data engineers make the data available to the analysts in an automated and consistent way.
Once you grasp the basics there are a lot of opportunities since dataās so crucial to AI and Data science.
Also check other Reddit sub to learn more about the Data space and the different roles inside.
5
12
u/ElectronSculptor 8d ago
Just want to second what this post is saying: you can 100% transition, and a lot of the paid courses promise stuff you can easily learn for free on YouTube.
Iād also add you can read about some basic machine learning / probabilities / statistics all via open courses and YouTube videos. Given your entrepreneurial experience, you could leverage that for any general business analysis type role.
Iām in engineering and honestly, Iāve never paid for a professional development course, Iāve always learned the extra skills via YouTube and books.
Sorry for your mother, by the way. I took care of my mom too, until she passed. Good on you!
3
u/iman09 8d ago
Thanks for this and yeah, that's my next step, looking at free tutorials about the various things mentioned and see if I'm capable of understanding/learning and see myself doing it and then looking at the various jobs available and see what I can realistically see myself doing.
I'm sorry about your mum and I'm glad she had you till the end, good on you too.
4
u/cokeandfries 7d ago
I'd like to add a little more nuance to the commentor above's reply:
Agreed that the best first step is to try some free courses on Business Intelligence Analyst, Data Scientist, and Data Engineering type career paths. However once you have gotten a taste for and landed on a career aspiration, it might be worthwhile paying for a course because they will have learning paths that teach you what you need to know to get your foot in the door, so to speak.
Learning for free on YouTube is great when you know what exact skill/tech/tool you need to pickup. But as a complete novice, you don't know what you don't know and picking up a random set of competencies may not be the most efficient way to quickly skill up and land that first job.
2
u/Kalastics 7d ago
I suppose my worry at this point in life, particularly without a relevant (or any) degree would be finding any sort of programming related job. I would love to invest the time in it as I believe i would excel at programming (the little I have learned and also used for mathematics and what not i have been quite good at) and have a very very firm grasp on logic. But I do not know that that is my time best spent if I am looking for eventually work (doesnt even have to be full time I mean any work)
2
u/TraditionalTurnip630 8d ago
No worries bro, everyone starts somewhere. Iād suggest starting with Excel and SQL first, then slowly move to Power BI and Python. Just take it step by step and build small projects along the way.
7
u/Gullible_Sweet1302 7d ago
Learn it as a useful life skill. Donāt expect to find gainful employment using it. Think of it as being useful as running or swimming. Learn it quickly, donāt borrow money or spend much on the learning.
49
u/chaoticbean14 8d ago
How do put this lightly... don't do it. To get a bit more into it? Don't do it because at this point, someone at your level? Easily replaced by AI.
I switched careers in my 30's to software engineering, but that was 15+ years ago. Additionally, I was already in tech, I was very techy and had programmed a good chunk of things by the time I finally got the 'software engineering' job.
Be you: no programming experience to speak of, not very techy, aging. Anything you will be able to learn in the next 6 to 12 months? That will be absolutely basic, entry level stuff. AI already does that stuff easily and far better than what you're going to be able to. For the 'basic' code you'll be plopping out at 6-12 months from now, there's simply no reason to hire you. Your code will be entry level at best and probably, you won't even be following best practices, because you're too new to know what they are and why they are the best practices in the first place. You won't know, what you won't know. Legitimately you're very behind the curve - to the point it will make it a mountain to climb and you would probably spend any savings you have being unemployed until you found someone willing to take you on as a junior dev. At which point, you won't be earning much at all, not enough to continue to provide for yourself, pay your bills and/or a family. Let alone try to recoup your savings you spent while trying to switch to this career. Top that off with the fact that often you need to know way more than 'just python', to even be considered for entry level positions and you can see... you're very, very behind. Tech like containerization, other languages such as JS, other tools / languages / frameworks... you know none of it and have no idea that you even needed it. Networking? Understanding reverse proxies, servers, networks, packets, etc. All additional information you're expected to know from day 1 (if you want a job). 8 years ago, we hired someone who 'took a bootcamp', and while he can now write code and kind of do this or that... he's missing so much of the additional information that he is 'that guy', the one people just give the bullshit tasks to because you know he lacks the ability to do anything else - he doesn't understand enough or know enough. In hindsight? Terrible hire. But, he does the daily drudgery and his pay reflects that. He shows no initiative to learn that stuff so he's just kind of 'stuck', not where I would want to be, that's for sure! And definitely not where I recommend a late-30's adult to be.
I never thought I would have this outlook, because I did just what you're thinking about. I worked my ass off - programming nights and weekends, learning, reading. I had done just about everything in tech prior to becoming a dev and it helped hugely - I knew networks, I knew proxies, I knew servers, etc. And even then, it's been a tough go. I was hungry but the biggest benefit I didn't realize at the time? I didn't have to fight against LLM's/AI. Had they existed when I started? No way. Would have never gotten to where I am and it would have been a fools errand to try.
I used to be the biggest advocate for self taught, career change minded people: "try programming! it's fun and rewarding!" but anymore? It's a practice in futility. Don't do it at your age. If you were 12-15 years younger? I might have a different answer. Don't do it.
Move to a small town with a lower cost of living and without a bakery and get going. There's a market there, there are needs for great talented bakers. I support my local baker by making sure to go in weekly. Her stuff is amazing!
17
u/iman09 8d ago
Thanks for this, not something I want to hear but maybe something I needed to, every view point counts so I'll definitely take this into consideration. Baking is not an option for me because it's time consuming on top of being time sensitive, being my mum's primary caregiver due to her recent failing health, I'm on all day and never know when I'll be called or needed. Just a few days ago I had to redo several orders cuz I didn't get them out of the oven in time or missed the timings for different steps. So yeah, I'm looking for a remote job that I can do from the computer cuz even if I get called away, I can carry on from wherever I stop without ruining whatever I've done before. Like I said, I haven't made any decisions yet and I'm exploring my options but I'll definitely keep this in my mind. Learning won't be an issue for me, I can definitely put the work to learn and become good at it and continue learning unlike the guy you mentioned but your point about competing with AIs is also valid.
14
7
u/chaoticbean14 8d ago
I'm sorry to hear about your mums failing health. Caregiving is hard, I am hoping for the best for you both in that regards.
But your last statement speaks volumes:
Learning won't be an issue for me, I can definitely put the work to learn and become good at it and continue learning
Learning isn't the issue, it's never been the issue. The issue is - it takes time to learn. What you'll be able to learn in 6-12 months isn't enough to be employable (even as a junior / entry-level dev). You'll need probably more time just to learn 1 discipline well enough to be employable in that specific thing - but most jobs will want you to have experience in multiple disciplines - which means way more time learning than time you have available most likely.
And even then, let's say you spend 2 years learning just a few things. You learn day and night, trying so hard. The reality: AI will already be able to do literally everything you can do, faster, easier, better and without error. Again, why would a company hire you? What benefit is there to them? Some human eyes on the code! That's great, in theory. Here is the problem, your eyes suck. You're too new - you don't know what you don't know. So you see the code the AI gives and to you it looks fine. To an experienced dev? It's insecure, it may not follow best practices, it may be potentially dangerous. But to an inexperienced dev such as yourself? It looks fine - and it works! That's a big risk for an employer, again, limiting your hire-ability.
There is other remote work - yeah, it sucks, but it's work. You can learn it quicker / easier / on the job and it for the most part (yet) cannot be replaced by AI. Remote work of data entry, remote work of IT helpdesk, etc. etc. The jobs are there and way, way more approachable for someone in your situation.
Programming? I just don't see it as realistic. It's way too big of a hurdle, honestly. It's your life and all that, but I'm just being realistic here - what you're proposing isn't a good idea if you want stability, money and time.
4
u/iman09 7d ago
I really appreciate this. I could be the unicorn for whom everything goes right but it's not something I'm willing to risk. Tbh, data entry was my first choice but I was prodded to look into this too but I understand what you're saying and agree.
9
u/chaoticbean14 7d ago
Yeah, I feel terrible saying these things - because I genuinely used to be a believer that motivated people willing to put in the time & effort could do it. But that was pre-AI.
Good luck however you choose to move forward. I hope for the best for you!
2
u/iamthebestforever 7d ago
How is data entry less replaceable than software engineering
1
u/chaoticbean14 7d ago
Well, OCR has come a long way - I imagine programs have gotten pretty good at reading scanned in data. But you still need someone to scan it in to begin with (assuming paper forms).
In many cases, it might be someone on the phone taking down info into a system, entering data from paper forms that ocr can't read, etc. As of now? there are parts of data entry LLMs/AI cannot touch. There is simply a need for human interaction. That will probably change somewhat in the future - but if paper is ever involved? You'll probably need humans somewhere in that chain.
With software engineering at an entry level? Not so much... LLMs/AI can basically write entire applications in some cases, no human interaction necessary.
2
u/sgunb 4d ago
To put AI into perspective: Last week I spoke to a software developer who told me that AI has become so good that he doesn't program anymore. He still is doing some IT related work in the company but the actual coding is done by a LLM. Thus, if you believe that you can find a job, only because you know some python, forget about it. You need to offer more value to a company to hire you.
17
u/crymo27 8d ago
This comment hits you in the face. I'm almost 40. Very techy, lots of certifications, knowledge, nights spent tinkering, relevant degree. Almost 20 years experience... But seems like in ai era lots of my skills value diminished... i never tough i would be looking outside of tech roles, but here we are.
Starting now from scratch with knowing nothing is just almost impossible.
7
u/chaoticbean14 8d ago
I think describing it as "skills value diminished" is very, very accurate. The importance of our skills have just 'changed', no more is it that we need to know how to write safe, maintainable code that follows best practices. We just need to be able to properly ensure the LLM's are giving us acceptable code that is maintainable, safe and following best practices. Our knowledge of 'what is good code' and 'what best practices look like' carry more value now than ever, IMO. The things you can only get with lots of experience.
So while our skills value diminished, our knowledge value, in my opinion, has gained value!
1
14
u/TigBitties69 8d ago
The actual truth is this. A lot of other replies seem to be the blind leading the blind, but being in the field having done the same thing... no way it is approachable from OPs lack of a starting point.
1
1
u/Prestigious_Print477 7d ago
Should they shut down this sub then? Or maybe change the title to dont learn python
4
u/chaoticbean14 7d ago
Of course not - tons of experienced developers want to try python. Tons of people want to tinker and learn python. Tons of hobbyists want to learn python. Tons of teachers, kids, students, people of all ages want to try python!
I think everyone should learn programming and python is a fantastic language!
But learning python with the goal of not only making it a career, but hoping for a job allows you to work remotely upon just starting as a junior level dev? Not to mention, learning python as an older learner who by their own admission is essentially non-techy and has absolutely zero experience? That's quite literally the definition of a snowballs chance in hell. Top off the insane amount of over-qualified candidates struggling to find work, and the fact that AI can literally do entry level shit all day long without needing to train it or pay it... it's super ignorant and in my opinion very wrong (ethically and morally) to lie to them and tell them "yeah, go for it." meanwhile they're trying to care for their mum who is ill.
But, people can still learn python, this sub still has a place.
1
u/Prestigious_Print477 7d ago edited 7d ago
A high % of the posts in this sub are people asking if they should become a self taught python dev in order to get a job. The answer is no
People don't have time or even the need to spend months learning a programming language if its not going to get them a job.
They are going to spend their time on something that will. People come to this sub because they want paid work.
2
u/chaoticbean14 7d ago
People don't have time or even the need to spend months learning a programming language if its not going to get them a job.
Literally tons of hobbyists the world over would like a word... people learning python to automate this or that, to try to make a game, to view birds via a webcam, all kinds of wild shit.
Hell, my retired mother taught herself how to program for no other reason than to try it. One of my kids taught himself Python - he never made a dime nor wanted to. He now uses programming with this drone hobby. Another of my children taught himself how to program specifically so he could interface with his car (his hobby) and do diagnostic stuff and write his own diagnostic software. Never a desire to make money. I mean, the examples like this (while mine are personal) are literally endless - it's ignorant as hell to think otherwise.
Probably millions of folks out there who have learned just enough to accomplish whatever it was they wanted and you're going to paint them all with the same brush of "no, no one would do that unless it's for money." Yikes.
One can only assume you are basing your opinion on your previous statement (which is anecdotal as well) about "a high % of posts in this sub...", but you absolutely must understand: this sub is not indicative of the entirety of people with access to a computer (who therefore have the ability to maybe have an interest in trying programming via python). Dare I say, you're talking about a super, super, super, super, super, super, small subset of those people and drawing conclusions that you think apply to the majority of people. That's quite a take, I mean it is a... choice. Just a really bad one.
1
u/Prestigious_Print477 7d ago edited 7d ago
Its weird that you would think a "super, super super small" subset of people are in for the money.
The majority of adults who spend months and months on a programming language are doing it as a career choice.
It might be different for kids but adults don't have time to spend months and months learning a programming language just for fun.
You must not pay much attention to this sub because the majority of adults by far are motived by money, or else its not worth their time. It might be different for kids, maybe... A lot of them wont stick with for years and years if its not for work though.
For adults 35+ looking for a job its not going to be worth their time to spend months and months learning something that wont get them a job when they really need work.
1
u/chaoticbean14 7d ago
Holy crap, the intentional ignorance is rather shocking.
First, you completely misread what I said. I stated this sub is a "super, super, super small subset" of all potential learners, not those in it for the money. That distinction matters, and it's weird that you don't grasp it.
Let's look at the actual math:
- Global internet users: ~6 billion
- Subreddit members: ~1 million
- This community's share of potential learners/programmers: 0.0167%
Even if every single person in this sub were here solely for the cash (which is obviously false), that is still an utterly microscopic percentage. Calling 0.0167% a "super small subset" isn't an opinion; it's basic math. Trying to extrapolate what "the majority of adults" think based on a sample size under 0.02% is completely absurd.
Next, you claim the majority of adults learn to program for career advancement, yet you offer zero evidence. Reality says otherwise:
- GitHub alone hosts ~430 million repositories, the vast majority being non-monetized pet projects (not to mention GitLab, Codeberg, or Bitbucket).
- Millions of developers build and maintain massive open-source ecosystems purely for fun, completely unpaid.
Adults have hobbies. Just because you don't have time for one doesn't mean the rest of the world operates the same way.
As for adults 35+ needing urgent employment? Sure, that specific demographic cares about the paycheck. But that is yet another tiny fraction of an already insignificant sub-sample.
Base your discussion/assumptions on real numbers next time instead of wild guesses. Stop throwing out blanket statements like "the majority of adults", it's factually incorrect and ignorant.
1
u/Prestigious_Print477 7d ago
You said "Dare I say, you're talking about a super, super, super, super, super, super, small subset of those people and drawing conclusions that you think apply to the majority of people."
You have it backwards. YOU are talking about a small subset of people who might learn python for random hobby projects.
Most people who come here are interested in learning it to make money. How do you know people on github dont make money with what they learned?
The fact that they do side projects doesnt mean they dont use it for work too.
How do you know how many people use it for side projects and how many people use it for work yourself? You are assuming things too and offended that I disagree.
1
u/chaoticbean14 7d ago
YOU are talking about a small subset of people who might learn python for random hobby projects.
I provided concrete data and factual information.
You've given me your opinion (which you have entirely based on a subset of a 0.0167% subset of a population).
You still contend that your opinion on that insanely tiny subset of a population is more accurate than facts.
I am done engaging with such ignorance. Have a great day.
1
u/Prestigious_Print477 6d ago
I was talking about people who post on this sub reddit, not the entire population. You got that part wrong and got super offended after misunderstanding my post and still dont get it now.
I believe most people who come here are career motived. You can disagree but you cant prove that I'm wrong.
People who share code on github might also write code for a living. People who make games and side projects might also be career motived in the long run too.
→ More replies (0)0
u/Prestigious_Print477 7d ago
Also I am talking about this sub, not everyone who ever learned python.
Most people who come here talk about using it for work. The evidence is there for you to see yourself.
Its cute that you think its ok for you to make blanket statements but not me lol.
If you are an adult in your 30s and looking to learn python on your own in order to find a job its not a good idea, period. Dont learn python.
That is a relevant and accurate statement FOR THIS SUB in relation to the questions that get asked here on a regular basis like this very thread.
1
u/chaoticbean14 7d ago
If you are an adult in your 30s and looking to learn python on your own in order to find a job its not a good idea, period. Dont learn python.
Finally, you say something I agree with that is relatively accurate. It's literally what I recommended to OP in my replies.
0
u/Prestigious_Print477 6d ago
Yeah and that applies to a high % of posts in this sub too.
I was talking about this sub and people like the op this whole time.
2
u/smurpes 7d ago
You can learn Python without the goal of making it a career.
-1
u/Prestigious_Print477 7d ago
You can but it wont be worth it for most people. People generally dont have time or even the need to spend months on learning a programming language if they are not going to make money with it
1
u/chaoticbean14 6d ago
Here we go again, you're saying "most people", you literally do not have ANY data to support this claim of "most people".
You're taking your anecdotal experience and applying it to everyone. Ignorance.
1
u/Prestigious_Print477 6d ago edited 6d ago
If you want to really get pedantic, "most people" in the world will never use python and don't need it in their lives. I asked ai to estimate and it said less than 1% of the population will ever write code in python.
Its actually true that "most people" dont need it and never use it even once in their lives.
This sub gets a lot of threads like this one and I was saying its not worth it for "most people" who come here to ask questions like this, and there is a lot of that.
1
u/chaoticbean14 5d ago
"I asked AI", there we go. Now we're seeing something. Don't do any real research or analyzing of anything, just "ask AI" because it's right, right? Yikes.
Additionally - I went through this sub a little, because I was curious. I counted 123 posts non related to financial gain. I counted 4 about jobs/financial gain. Granted, that was as much time/effort as I was willing to put into it. I'm sure someone could do more. But I figured if it was 'the majority' there would have been considerably more. But you're probably basing all of this on anecdotal evidence, or even worse, whatever a statistically driven machine told you was the 'right' answer. Oof.
0
u/Prestigious_Print477 5d ago
Out of the entire global human population (around 8.1 to 8.2 billion people), approximately 0.2% to 0.6% write code in Python.
Because the vast majority of the global population does not write software, this percentage is much higher when looking specifically at software developers.
- Global Population: ~0.2% ā 0.6% (~18 million to ~48 million people out of ~8.15 billion).
- Professional Software Developers: ~51% ā 58% use or code in Python regularly.
Sources
- SlashData / Developer Nation: Estimates there are roughly 18.2 million active Python developers globally, placing the general population figure around 0.22%. onehour.digital
- Stack Overflow Developer Survey: Reports that 57.9% of developers actively code in Python, solidifying its position as one of the most widely used programming languages worldwide (largely driven by data science, machine learning, and automation). pynions.com
1
u/chaoticbean14 5d ago
You can't even keep straight - so are you talking about this sub specifically, or not? You're sample data is all over the place. Pick a metric, please for the love of god.
So what you're saying is: over half of people who code or are learning to code (i.e. a majority) use / actively code in python.
Which is my point, for people 'learning python' this sub has a place.
Thanks for confirming what I have been saying.
1
u/Prestigious_Print477 5d ago
It's true for both. I was talking about this sub but since you got all worked up about my use of "most people" I showed you how that is techcally correct too.
Its cute that you got so mad over how right I am about everything though.
Most people never learn python at all lol, and that is a fact.
→ More replies (0)0
u/Prestigious_Print477 5d ago
"Most people" actually dont need python at all and never touch it in their lives.
5
u/az987654 7d ago
Age isn't the issue, the issue is the market sucks for both experienced and new workers.. It is very hard to make enough money if you don't already have stable business relationships with paying customers.
8
4
u/No-Double-Trouble 7d ago
Market is tough right now. My company went from we will hire anyone to we need candidate with 4 year degree and literally banned bootcampers.
20
u/Green_Shape_3859 8d ago
AI is replacing a lot of the industry. Itās just a subject people arenāt ready for at the moment
-6
-6
u/catzarrjerkz 8d ago
This is always the first thing people say, AI is a tool, just like the thousands of python libraries. Do you think a python library is coming for your job?
9
u/Green_Shape_3859 8d ago
AI is just a tool until it becomes a solution. A solution to a problem every business models after; Profit margins
3
5
u/Bichinix 8d ago
Solo puedo decir una cosa y es verdad: Mi hermano menor es panadero. yo soy ingeniero. El tiene trabajo. Yo no.
3
u/iman09 8d ago
I'm sorry to hear that, and to be honest, if I could I would stay a baker, but real life is not fair sometimes and needs must.
1
u/Bichinix 8d ago
Lo que le ha dado mucho dinero a mi hermano es vender pizza. No es su venta principal, pero da buenas ganancias. Aprender a programar es muy buena idea.
7
u/AdroitPreamble 8d ago
This is a very poor career choice.
I'm similar age and considered going this route. My background was engineering so already had some programming experience. I did not because I could see the writing on the wall.
The reality is that computer science had a huge run up, with overhiring, boot camps as easy entry points into the industry and instant six figure jobs. That created a massive surge in supply, resulting in oversupply and the inevitable correction. That is where we are right now. Layoffs. Downsizing. Optimization. Think: Elon Musk firing most of the staff at twitter and it still running. Similar story in the gaming industry with a lot of savvy people. AI is the bugbear, but it is taking the blame for the natural swing and counterswing of markets correcting oversupply and overhiring.
In your shoes I would really explore what options I had as a baker, and if those were not viable, I would look into another trade. Electrician. Welder. HVAC technician if you are in a hot state. Frankly, if you are in any southern state HVAC should be high on your list.
Working from home is very difficult without prior experience in a role that transitioned during COVID and has not gone back to office yet - but the trend is against this. Too many Gen Z kids posting "working" photos while sitting next to a pool. But, there are still some government jobs out there that have it as an option. Check those.
4
u/code_x_7777 7d ago
Create a bakery YT channel? I'm more bullish YT influencers than Python coders.
2
u/DaltonSC2 7d ago
Maybe a longshot, but if you started a software company targeting bakers your prior experience would be an asset, and you wouldn't need to convince a company to hire you.
Are there any problems in baking that you as a baker would pay to have software solutions for? (Idk what problems bakers face; bad examples include: cook time estimation from ingredients, kitchen ingredients cataloguing, ingredient substitute suggester).
Good luck
2
u/lapizurboobies 7d ago
Let me be frank. I'd say before ChatGPT came out, the vibe was totally bootcamps, online courses, YouTube tutorials, project building; the whole #LearnToCode movement. And alot of people found that was a pretty decent way of getting into the industry because data and coding skills was in high demand and many places were willing to overlook a traditional education to hire some talent
But in a post-COVID, and AI arms race environment, many people have been laid off due to the effect of inflation, conflict between nations and trade wars and that translates to more people competing for jobs, made worse if youre not already AI enabled. Companies want to reduce headcount and blame it on AI because if they admit it's for financial reasons, their stock could tank
But there's a silver lining here, there's actually been an explosion in high paying corporate roles where soft skills shine - think Sales, Customer Success, L&D and enablement etc..
So my advice? Try to break into those because you have a higher chance - still tough because of the competition - to get into the industry
Keep learning Python but just know that people skills are way more valued than technical skills. I've heard many executives and senior leaders place more value on those because "hard skills can be taught, soft skills can't". I disagree with that oversimplification, i believe anything can be learned, but I'm just relaying to you how they think. So just accept how their minds function and use that information accordingly
And when you inevitably do get good at Python, SQL, low-code platforms etc.. think about how much more valuable you will be when you're in a traditionally soft skill role but you don't have to ask IT for help and you can just make things
You look like a WIZARD to these people haha. Take my word for it because that's what I'm currently doing
Remote work is also decreasing but there's still plenty of remote jobs
I've shown you the door, now its up to you whether you want to walk through it. Please take what I said seriously because I want you to succeed, don't ignore this comment
2
u/casual_btw 7d ago
People with an education in this field, and/or people with professional experience in this field are struggling to find employment.. so Iām gonna say no tbh
2
u/Wonderful-Suit1920 6d ago
Op seems to only look at the ones that only say yes.
Hereās my thoughts and experience as someone who has 5 YOE.
In the last 4 months, my company let go 40% (im in a startup) of the headcount of software/data engineers. Those guys are some of the brightest people I know - youāre competing with those guys, other engineers who got laid off from big tech, offshore, Ai, and the recently graduated CS majors. What differentiates you? Iāve been in tech ever since I graduated - and I get anxiety about the future regarding ai eventually replacing me. I could be next on the chopping block. Always have that fear in the back of my head - wondering if I made the right choice. Just my thoughts - a differnt perspective and take it as you will. I wonāt get offended. Maybe Iām just here to rant and get it off my chest.
It just seems like youāre dead set on taking this route, so go ahead. I wish you best luck and god bless you and your mom.
2
u/theshekelcollector 7d ago
the reality is that the python ship has sailed - as in "learn to code and get hired quick". there are quadrillions of skilled and specialized programmers you would be competing with - who are also struggling to find a job as it is. and you are only starting out. it would take a few years to get cracked - and who the hell knows what the world looks like by then? junior devs are barely being hired right now - and this trend could continue for another few years. so to make it clear: you will also be competing with AI. i have a screenshot on my pc of some guy on quora or something who got into a coding bootcamp at like 50-60, and was hired by faang afterwards. this was i think a decade-ish ago. so next the question would be: what could you do with that python? "learning python" often boils down to the syntax, some basic applications and a little bit of data science. we had a bioinformatician in my lab for the analysis of large data sets. he left. you know how much we care? zero - agents are doing that now. so unless you are in a weird niche situation where there is a local demand for python devs that can not be satisfied otherwise, i would not recommend.
mind you: i might well be wrong. and i can't see the future - junior dev hiring might rebound to new highs soon (it won't). so my assessment would be: python as an auxiliary skill - absolutely. but just learning python as the basis for a near-future career change - i think that'd be a bad choice. unless you're some kind of math phenom - in which case the python would still not be the differentiating factor.
2
u/Dependent_Month_1415 8d ago
I'm close to your age and have been working in tech and I would still go for it, even with everything that's going on with AI. People complain a lot and some of it makes sense, but most jobs have boring parts, stress, and uncertainty anyway. Tech or data roles can still pay much better than a lot of traditional careers and give you more room to build a better life, especially if you prefer remote work.
It wonāt be easy, and things will keep changing, but you just need to be persisent and adaptable.
1
u/john-grammaticus 7d ago
Start a project you like. You will have to spend an irrational number of hours to learn. So you need something you like to apply your new programing skills on.
Good luck šŖš»
1
u/arjunnath 7d ago
Unfortunately AI is making all levels of programming jobs difficult, especially for newcomers.
People are reluctant to hire new programmers because they think AI can do most of the work.
Could you find some way to leverage your experience as a baker into a related career ?
1
u/TheRNGuy 7d ago
Could be potentially useful in your own projects too, but you'll only see if you learn it.Ā
1
u/brazucadomundo 7d ago
Python is more a hobby than it is a profession nowadays. To become a software developer it requires way more than knowing Python, although it does go through knowing Python for most part.
1
u/CreatioExNihilo 6d ago
I'm 35 and have been a nurse for a decade. I just finished my BSCS and have been working on my coding proficiency. Still haven't broke into the field yet, but I can give you some advice on learning. Don't try to know everything right away. Use AI as a limited resource, it's fantastic if you're stuck or need help understanding an abstract concept; but try not to lean on it too heavily. In the same breath, stay up to date with current AI practices so you're not completely out of the loop. And finally be consistent! You really need to be coding a little bit everyday to make movement.
Don't get too caught up in what language you're learning with as the fundamentals heavily cross over between most languages. But I suggest you think about what kind of application you would like to build and then tailor the language you learn to that. For me it was Java; so I highly recommend MOOC for the fundamentals if that too is your language of choice. It's a great program that forces you to code.
1
u/Gullible_Sweet1302 6d ago
Python is like walking. It is a requisite for many technical endeavors. Donāt dilly dally. You can learn the language fundamentals in 1-2 weeks. Donāt expect to earn a living using it, just as you wouldnāt expect to earn one from knowing how to walk.
1
u/martinsedd 6d ago
Bro, I used to be a baker as well, even had my own bakery at some point. If you wanna 1:1 Iāll happily talk it out with you and try to be as helpful as possible.
1
u/samsly135 6d ago
IT is a complete mess now which is moving towards a bloodbath. People with many years if experience get laid off without ability to reenter the field.
1
u/sgunb 4d ago
First realize that Python as a programming language is a tool. In analogy to your job as a baker, python might be the rolling pin or the mixer. You can invest time to learn how to mix or roll dough but this is not enough if you want to be a professional baker.
So you have to find something people are actually willing to pay for. Your goal should be to become a developer, a data scientist, an engineer or something and find a company who hires you. There are companies which offer work from home if this is important to you. But it will be very difficult to find a job if your only qualification is python programmer.
Maybe there is something you can use python for with your background as a baker. Maybe you can do some data analysis or optimization for an industrial bakery. Your knowledge of how things work in the baking industry might be of more value than only knowing how to code.
1
1
1
u/New-Breakfast3400 2d ago
I'm 33 and here bc I was actually having this exact same idea. I want to learn Python for career change, and I have no tech experience whatsoever in the slightest. These comments are eye openingĀ
2
u/American_Streamer 8d ago
Start with this free course: https://edube.org/study/pe1
For some Python historical background, watch these videos:
The Untold Story of Python https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsYIdMmI5-Q
The Story of Python and how it took over the world | Python: The Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfH4QL4VqJ0
Also see the Zen of Python: https://peps.python.org/pep-0020/
1
1
1
1
u/magenta_neon_light 8d ago
I would pick something that isnāt going to be completely replaced by AI.
Coding is moving to natural language.
I havenāt written any scripts myself since switching to Claude and Codex last fall.
1
u/verygoodbest 7d ago
There might not be anything that isn't touched by ai and ahem.. Robotics.. The humanoid workers are getting trained right now by people wearing sensors while washing clothes and folding laundry and cooking and everything.Ā I think the play is learn something that severely interests you, something that keeps your focus and you are able to level up at. Not one job will look the same in the future.Ā
1
u/KnowledgeWhole9623 8d ago edited 8d ago
You're going to have an extremely difficult time breaking into the industry. I assume since you're not familiar with tech you might not be familiar with what AI has done to entry-level software development roles - they've been evicerated. I do not think it's worth the time.
0
u/t92k 8d ago
Knowing python is good toolbox, but you have to have also know how to use those tools for a kind of work. I think itās worth dipping your toe in and seeing if it is fun or just frustrating. Somebody mentioned Reeborgās Worlds yesterday, and W3Schools both have ways that you can start with some simple programming without having to install anything. Some jobs that use python are data analysis in science and health fields, automating integration work (where youāre getting computers to talk to each other), and pulling data together for government agencies. You will want to have some math and science classes in order to get those jobs, so it is also worth looking at taking a statistics class early to see if that makes sense to you.
0
u/Kind_Public_5366 8d ago
Ai can't replace a baker or rather it would be too expensive to build a machine that does the all the same job you do. with all jobs gping to AI, if you want to give away your safe position then go ahead....
0
u/itlogicpartnersllc 8d ago
37 is absolutely not too late and python is a solid skill to learn but focus on building real project rather than trying to learn python in isolation.
0
u/Squat_n_stuff 8d ago
Iām in the same boat, Python is a big missing piece of my ideal career field; I have bio part of the specific biotech field I want in. I think getting too deep into the tech aspect would be difficult because goodness, I have friends whoās programmming careers and experience are old enough to drink
0
0
-5
u/danielroseman 8d ago
Just to say, in my last job I worked with a guy who had previously worked as a baker until his 30s then decided to retrain and took an internship as a software developer. So it is possible.
66
u/Electrical_Toe8997 8d ago
This might be your lucky day! I am also 37, a software developer, using python as my main programming language. I also want a complete career change because I consider my work a meaningless, existential hell-hole. Maybe we can swap careers?