Worth pivoting fields in late 20s / early 30s?

Question

I'm debating going back to school to give me the potential to pivot fields if I wish. I'm not talking about switching to something overly idealistic or low paying, but other technical fields which would pay less than software development, but by a normal persons standard would be relatively high paying, but more reliant on credentials. However, I currently hold no undergraduate degree, and best case I could complete and undergrad and potentially a grad degree by my late 20s / early 30s.But at that point is it worth it? Sure it's not old, but the only technical field you typically see people entering at that age is CS, which ofc, is very different from most. I can't see it being a positive in interviews, etc. being so old for likely entry level positions.

sigmaprimus · Accepted Answer

Late 20s early 30s is a fairly good demographic that employers target.
It's not too old that an investment in training a new employee won't be lost to retirement or health issues and not to young that the indiscretions of youth will affect work performance and attendance.
Some (sexist) employers might have concerns with women of that age getting pregnant and leaving to raise children but most smart ones will see employees who have children (Male or Female) as a benifit as it tends to discourage switching careers due to the inherent responsibility of raising kids, mortgages, health insurance etc.
Now would probably be a good time to look into online school as almost all schools are offering this due to the pandemic. Maybe You can keep working and go back to school at the same time, that would be almost universally viewed in a positive light because You will have shown that You are motivated.
If I was that age again I would do it, and I did do it. I was 28 years old when I went back to school and changed fields. I don't regret it but since then I have changed again to a completely different "field" of work, literally...
I'm now building my own farm/orchard!!

diavelguru · Answer

I&rsquo;ve seen something recently in movies and ads that says &ldquo;you do you&rdquo;, an impolite way of saying be yourself and do what you feel is right. Education is a personal goal that should be done for your own personal enrichment and future job prospects. If talking about a STEM Degree even more so as they are quite tough to get through and then pay off later. My grandmother got her PhD later in life and worked for many years after that. If you want it go get it.

just-juan-post · Answer

entry level CS is flooded and you will be entry level. you could be more like a project manager or use this extension [1] and maybe be a technical project manager.
take a few $10 udemy courses and just learn the concepts not the nitty gritty. if you can learn the concepts + personable + organized you can be a technical project person.
breaking in is another story. networking, contacts, cold calls, luck. first one is the hardest.
[1] - https://glossarytech.com/

paulbishop · Answer

still pivoting at 50!