How to Learn Programming If You’re Older?

The world where programming is everything. But, Wait, What is Programming? Programming is a set of instructions that tells a computer (or gives instructions) how to perform a particular task. When it comes to learning programming or a new technology it is often believed that only young generations can do that. But that is completely a myth as per the survey people aged above 50 are one of the largest technology users. Apart from this, the average time taken by the late coders to begin as working professionals is less than half that compared to the early coders.  

If you are someone who wants to learn to program but think you are too old for this, No Worries, Surely you’re at the right place to end this myth. All you need to learn programming is strong willpower and then age is just a number. Here, we will discuss a complete plan on How to Learn Programming if you’re older. So let’s get started.

1. Trust Your Potential

There is a common saying that trust yourself and you are halfway done. Doesn’t matter how old you are if you trust your potential then nothing is impossible. It’s too late to transform your career to tech as scientists claim that your brain is constantly evolving across the entire life span. You may face some extra difficulties when you are older but your brain has the amazing ability to master new skills at any age. You need to sort your priorities to focus on your learning. You may take a longer time to learn to program but trust yourself that you will surely succeed. As per the survey, the average age for a career change is 39 years so surely you aren’t alone.  

2. Career Opportunities in Programming

Programming is a lucrative career option that promises insanely High salary, Global recognition, Extensive growth opportunities, and a lot more. Programming jobs are expected to rise by 21% by the year 2028 which is four times more than the average rate of other careers. Nowadays programming is used in almost all the sectors like healthcare, finance, customer support, education, etc. With the advancement of technology, industries are using programming to handle their administrative work, digital marketing, automating their day to tasks, and lot. So it is an amazing career option for people belonging to any age group.

3. Decide Which Language You Want to Learn

So now you have made up your mind to learn to code and you are well aware of its career opportunities. Now it’s the right time to decide which language you want to learn. As per Wikipedia, there are around 700 programming languages so deciding which one to learn can be confusing. So as per the career perceptive, future demands, and business requirements some of the top languages that you can consider learning are:

• Python: It is one of the main coding languages that is used by more than 80% of developers.
• Java: It is one of the most powerful languages that is currently used in more than 3 billion devices.
• JavaScript: It is one of the most in-demand programming languages that is currently used in more than 97% of websites.
• Kotlin: It is one of the fastest-growing languages which is used by more than 60% of android developers.

Depending on your interest and future demand, go for that particular language. To know more about the top programming languages then read the article – Top 10 Programming Languages to Learn in 2022.

4. Start With an Online Course

You made up your mind about which programming language you want to learn now it’s time to decide how you need to learn. If you are older then, the best way to learn to program is to start with an online course. It provides you the freedom to schedule your class around your life so you can manage your learning at your convenience.  

Start with a basic and affordable course. Further, opt for the short-term course with high salary potential especially if you are 50 plus. Its main benefit is that you will get an idea of whether you enjoy the subject or not without investing a lot of money. If you are enjoying that particular programming language now is the time to start with an advanced level of learning to get in-depth information.

5. Build Something of Your Own

Now is the time for you to start building something that helps to stand apart from the crowd. It is really important especially if you are older as it manifests your programming abilities. This will provide you an edge in interviews and your chances of getting hired increase to a great extent.  

Ideally, you must have 20-25 projects in your GitHub profile but you must mention the best 2-3 projects in your portfolio. Project displays your practical knowledge, teamwork ability, and expertise in a particular domain. 

6. Continue Learning to Stay Updated

If you are interested in learning programming at an older age, you are surely excited by lifelong learning. It is very well said that “Change is the only constant in today’s world”. Every day there are new updates, new programming languages, business requirements, and a lot more. The only way to cope with these ever-growing demands is through continuous learning. “Stay updated with programming languages”. Some of the ways for continuous learning are:

• Organize your schedule in a way that you have enough time to learn and adapt to the latest technologies.
• Use online platforms and websites to learn new trends.
• Contribute continuously to open source platforms.