Slashdot Mirror
Starting a Career in Science at Age 38?
A Science Nostalgic writes "I'm 38, have a successful career as a software developer but feel the all-too-similar enterprise apps are boring my brains out, and I'm intensely missing the world of science, which I didn't pursue in favor of programming when I got my engineering degree. Now, I'm contemplating a job in research, but fear the age and the lack of 'exercise' with math and physics would pose an understandable handicap. If I study math seriously, I can realistically shed the 'rust' in a year, maybe two, but I still fear I'll be considered too old for research. I graduated abroad so I don't have any old contacts at the local universities (there are a few in my city). I checked their job boards, and they have no positions for research, just the usual ones in software development that I could use as an entry point. Do you have any experience with such a career change? Is it feasible at all to get into science once you approach 40? I feel my brain is still alive and kicking, and years of debugging have taught me a few things about investigating causes and correlations, which are useful skills in research."
Do you have any experience with such a career change?
no - it's weird you would even ask.
Is it feasible at all to get into science once you approach 40?
like i said, i'm probably not the best to ask but my guess would be no - it's not. i've never found taking risks or pushing for change to be worthwhile.
It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
I hear there is good money in debunking these scurrilous theories about man's effect on climate.
Their they're doing there hair.
Wow, like my horoscope this morning totally said like the exact same thing. Are you a Taurus?
I'm a theoretician in a physical science and my learning capacity, memory, and math abilities have not diminished with age; to the contrary I feel like they've gotten stronger and ... wait, what were we talking about?
unless you like working for overpaid incompetents, slaving your ass off for pennies, meaningless work and zero job satisfaction.
Obviously he wouldn't go into science if he liked these things...he would just stay in software development.
I'm a Corvette. Vroom!