career change to Software Developer at 38

GeorgeStobort

I have an ordinary degree in science and have been working in the pharma industry for over 15years. To be honest I'm finding it rather boring and would like a change of career. I would like to now my options to changing to software development

TrustedApple

GeorgeStobort wrote: »

I have an ordinary degree in science and have been working in the pharma industry for over 15years. To be honest I'm finding it rather boring and would like a change of career. I would like to now my options to changing to software development

Have you ever done any kind of programing work or as a hobbies ?.

I used to have to deal with TY students in my 1st job outside of college weekly and my 1st thing i asked them was do you like computers ?. Do you like fixing things and working on a complex problem ?.

The best option is to a online cert or course in say Java and see how you like it and then see about getting a degree in software Dev. As I work myself in a large software company with 100 + software devs everyone i spoke to came from studying IT in college and have done certs and more on top of there degrees. ITs going to take at lest 2 or 3 years before you start looking at a entry lv role into software dev.

GeorgeStobort

TrustedApple wrote: »

Have you ever done any kind of programing work or as a hobbies ?.

I used to have to deal with TY students in my 1st job outside of college weekly and my 1st thing i asked them was do you like computers ?. Do you like fixing things and working on a complex problem ?.

The best option is to a online cert or course in say Java and see how you like it and then see about getting a degree in software Dev. As I work myself in a large software company with 100 + software devs everyone i spoke to came from studying IT in college and have done certs and more on top of there degrees. ITs going to take at lest 2 or 3 years before you start looking at a entry lv role into software dev.

Yea I love problem solving and would say I have the head for maths . The problem is I can't really go back to college full time so are there any degree programs you recommend I could do by night or better yet through online distance learning. I know WIT have a computer degree you can do by night and Sligo IT have a electronic and software engineering program one could do online but I'm not sure how suitable or good either is .

GeorgeStobort

This is one option https://www.wit.ie/courses/school/science/department_of_computing_maths_physics/bsc_in_information_technology_part_time

Senna

Check out springboardcourses.ie, it would be a conversion course for you, there are loads of options and best of all, they are 100% funded by the state even if you are in full time employment.

I was looking at the distance learning software Dev courses last year.

GeorgeStobort

Senna wrote: »

Check out springboardcourses.ie, it would be a conversion course for you, there are loads of options and best of all, they are 100% funded by the state even if you are in full time employment.

I was looking at the distance learning software Dev courses last year.

I heard that those ICT Springboard courses are rubbish

GeorgeStobort

Another option

https://www.itsligo.ie/courses/beng-hons-electronic-computer-engineering-online/

Nuig do a post grad diploma, or a masters in software engineering and database technologies. Both are delivered online.

TrustedApple

RoboKlopp wrote: »

Nuig do a post grad diploma, or a masters in software engineering and database technologies. Both are delivered online.

But if the poster has never ever done coding going doing a masters in it with be like sending someone into war with just a knife it wont work at all.

TrustedApple

TrustedApple wrote: »

But if the poster has never ever done coding going doing a masters in it with be like sending someone into war with just a knife it wont work at all.

No, this course doesn't require any previous coding experience.

jimmycrackcorm

GeorgeStobort wrote:

I have an ordinary degree in science and have been working in the pharma industry for over 15years. To be honest I'm finding it rather boring and would like a change of career. I would like to now my options to changing to software development

Yes you can. You well need a degree or equivalent but the thing about software development is that the tech is changing so fast that it's an opportunity to get into the latest frameworks where you're not competing with a lot of people with an existing skill base in those areas.

One interesting area that has really good prospects is the growing info security. While not core software development, it can convert affects of defensive secure coding.

GeorgeStobort

RoboKlopp wrote: »

No, this course doesn't require any previous coding experience.

Perhaps but all those post.grad.masters and conversion courses require a person to have a level 8 hons degree in another area . I only have a diploma which.is equivalent to a level 7 ordinary degree

dublin_paul

go back to college and do a CS undergrad, you might also qualify for the Back To School allowance.

Senna

GeorgeStobort wrote: »

Perhaps but all those post.grad.masters and conversion courses require a person to have a level 8 hons degree in another area . I only have a diploma which.is equivalent to a level 7 ordinary degree

I would ask the college first, especially for the conversion courses, the colleges seam very relaxed on the entry requirements when money is being waved in their face.

Senna

GeorgeStobort wrote: »

I heard that those ICT Springboard courses are rubbish

Depends what you are looking for, its a level 8 so that gets you an interview, what you do after that is kind of down to you. Girl to my right did a conversion from Engineering and guy behind me done a conversion course, I think he was something in construction.
It'll all about foot in the door, plus not having a level 8 holds a lot of people back in early career.

GeorgeStobort

dublin_paul wrote: »

go back to college and do a CS undergrad, you might also qualify for the Back To School allowance.

To be honest even though I'm not.happy in.my job I'm earning very good money and can't just give that to go back to college full time. I'd prefer to keep the job and study at the same time

jimmycrackcorm

GeorgeStobort wrote:

To be honest even though I'm not.happy in.my job I'm earning very good money and can't just give that to go back to college full time. I'd prefer to keep the job and study at the same time

Ideally once you have a course done you should be looking at development related to your current core field of expertise as an opportunity to jump past the grad entry level.

ArtieBucco

Look up
https://www.coursera.org/
https://www.edx.org/
and also codeacdemy.

Try edx for free courses in Java etc.

I tried the ICT conversion, found it ok, only got as far as one semester, work commitments took over. NCIRL where well set up and good facilities, DIT ok too.

Just practice Java and web development (HTML,CSS etc) before taking a professional course. Most people who take up these ICT conversion courses are well clued into programming, even though they say they never done it before. Some guys where not very helpful and where competing with each for grades, which I found silly. I come from a construction background, found the programming tough but coursework can make up the grades.

You will enjoy it, best of luck!

GeorgeStobort

GeorgeStobort wrote: »

Perhaps but all those post.grad.masters and conversion courses require a person to have a level 8 hons degree in another area . I only have a diploma which.is equivalent to a level 7 ordinary degree

They definitely let people's with level 7 in. There may be extra requirements in that scenario though. Interview, work experience, reference etc. You'd need to check with NUIG.

scamalert

Id ask OP can he transfer any medical field skills into IT ? since software developer at that age one would have to be fully committed, and i dont think is a field where one can get in just because they think they like computers or math, given competition and how wide it is.Since its easier to transfer existing skills and applying them to IT, be it sys admin, or engineer for medical field.Thus actually having foot in the door,as opposed trying to get into smth completely different.

Xios

I'm starting this course in July.

https://www.ait.ie/courses/master-of-science-in-applied-software-engineering

It might be worth a try to apply, pm me if you're interested and i'll give you a contact to pursue it further.

The course is a fast track path into a job as a software engineer with Ericsson, the age profile ranges from 23 - 40+ as i've seen so far. I'm coming from a background in business and just finishing a HDip in Computing. I'm 29 years old.

The masters is worth 24k for the year. 12k for the masters, 6k in bursary and 6k in salary for 3 month internship.

doc22

Xios wrote: »

I'm starting this course in July.

https://www.ait.ie/courses/master-of-science-in-applied-software-engineering

It might be worth a try to apply, pm me if you're interested and i'll give you a contact to pursue it further.

The course is a fast track path into a job as a software engineer with Ericsson, the age profile ranges from 23 - 40+ as i've seen so far. I'm coming from a background in business and just finishing a HDip in Computing. I'm 29 years old.

The masters is worth 24k for the year. 12k for the masters, 6k in bursary and 6k in salary for 3 month internship.

How do you apply for that? What's the standard of applicants?