At 39, after nearly two decades in trucking operations, I made the decision to switch careers by 40. I left a lead planner role, enrolled at the Turing School of Software and Design, and committed to learning JavaScript from scratch. It wasn’t easy — but it was worth it.
Looking back, I’m proud of what I got right:
- We saved up beforehand, and my wife’s income helped carry us through my full-time studies.
- I chose a program with structure and support. Turing gave me hands-on experience quickly.
- I asked to repeat Mod 1 — not because I failed, but because I wanted to own the fundamentals. That gave me the foundation I needed to succeed.
But there were also things I got wrong:
- I underestimated the emotional toll of starting over. Going from expert to beginner is humbling. School took a toll on my closest relationships. My wife and I weren’t prepared for how all-consuming it would be for seven straight months.
- I let self-doubt creep in, especially being surrounded by classmates mostly in their 20s. Imposter syndrome is real, and we all deal with it. Find someone you feel safe opening up to — you’ll quickly realize you’re not alone.
- I assumed “learning to code” would just click. It didn’t — not right away. I had to find resources that made sense to my brain and how I process logic. I had to practice, build, and build some more.
Today, I’m a mid-level developer working full-time. I’m still learning. Still figuring things out. But starting a new career two weeks before my 40th birthday — and getting through an intensive coding program to do it — remains one of the things I’m most proud of.
If you’re considering a late-career switch, here’s what I can tell you:
Start scared. Start uncertain. Just start.
