Thirty often feels like a pivotal moment. You’ve invested nearly a decade building professional experience, and the idea of starting fresh can feel daunting. If you’re considering a move into tech, you might be wondering whether you’ve missed the boat.
You haven’t. In fact, thirty is often the perfect age to make the switch.
Why your thirties work in your favour
Tech isn’t exclusively for recent graduates who’ve been coding since their teens. At thirty, you bring something invaluable: real-world professional experience.
You’ve worked in teams. You’ve managed stakeholder relationships. You’ve met demanding deadlines and understand how businesses actually operate. These aren’t ‘nice-to-haves’ in tech roles – they’re highly sought after.
Tech companies need people who can bridge the gap between technology and business requirements. Your professional background gives you that perspective from day one. While a 22-year-old graduate might have strong technical skills, they often lack the business acumen and professional maturity that comes with experience.
What the numbers tell us
Industry research consistently shows that career changers entering tech training programmes have an average age of 32. Not 22. Not 25. Thirty-two.
At La Fosse Academy, over 40% of our associates are career changers in their thirties and forties. They’ve come from teaching, hospitality, finance, retail and the armed forces. Age hasn’t been a barrier – it’s been an advantage.
The tech skills gap in the UK means companies are actively looking for talent from diverse backgrounds. Your age and experience make you more attractive, not less.
Addressing the concerns holding you back
When people say “am I too old?”, they’re usually asking several specific questions. Let’s address them directly.
Can you still learn technical skills effectively?
Yes. Adult learners often outperform younger students because they have clearer goals and stronger motivation. Your brain remains highly capable of learning new skills well into your thirties, forties and beyond.
The key difference is approach. You’ll likely be more focused and disciplined than you were at twenty. You understand the value of the opportunity and you’re less easily distracted.
Will employers take you seriously?
Increasingly, yes. The tech industry has matured significantly in recent years. Employers now actively seek candidates with diverse professional backgrounds because they recognise the value you bring.
Your previous career provides context and perspective that purely technical candidates may lack. Many hiring managers specifically value the maturity and soft skills that career changers demonstrate.
As Sarah Mitchell, Talent Acquisition Lead at a major fintech company, puts it: “Career changers often make our best hires. They know why they’re here. They’re motivated. They bring real-world experience that helps them understand our business needs.”
What about starting salary?
You’ll likely start at a junior level technically, but many employers recognise the value of your transferable skills. Entry-level tech salaries often match or exceed mid-level salaries in other sectors.
Within two to three years, career changers typically see significant salary progression. Once you’ve proven your technical capabilities, your professional experience accelerates your advancement.
Most of our associates earn more within 18 months than they did in their previous careers, with clearer paths to further progression.
How do you afford to retrain?
This is often the biggest practical barrier. Various funding options exist, including free training programmes like La Fosse Academy, where you receive high-quality training at no cost and secure paid placements upon completion.
Other options include government-backed schemes, employer-sponsored training, and flexible payment plans with some bootcamps. The key is researching what’s available and finding the right fit for your circumstances.
Real stories from career changers
At La Fosse Academy, we’ve worked with hundreds of career changers who’ve successfully transitioned into tech in their thirties and forties. Their backgrounds are incredibly diverse – from teaching and hospitality to finance, retail and the armed forces.
What they all share is the courage to make a change and the determination to see it through. Many report that their previous professional experience became one of their strongest assets in securing tech roles.
Career changers often bring maturity, business understanding and well-developed soft skills that purely technical candidates may lack. Employers increasingly recognise this value, with many specifically seeking candidates with diverse professional backgrounds.
The transition isn’t always straightforward. There are challenges during training and moments of doubt. But the associates who’ve made the switch consistently say their only regret is not doing it sooner.
Their success demonstrates that age and previous career path aren’t barriers to entering tech – they’re often advantages that set you apart in a competitive market.
What makes a successful career changer
Working with hundreds of career changers has revealed several common characteristics among those who succeed:
Clear motivation
Successful career changers know exactly why they’re making the switch. Whether it’s better work-life balance, intellectual challenge, salary progression or future-proofing their career, they have a clear purpose driving them forward.
This clarity helps during challenging moments in training when motivation flags.
Realistic expectations
Understanding that you’ll start at a junior level technically, whilst your previous experience positions you to progress quickly, helps set appropriate expectations.
Most career changers advance faster than school leavers due to their professional maturity and ability to operate effectively in business environments from day one.
Recognition of transferable skills
Understanding which skills from your previous career apply to tech roles helps you articulate your value to employers. Communication, stakeholder management, problem-solving and resilience are all highly relevant.
Taking time to map your existing skills to tech requirements gives you confidence and helps you position yourself effectively to employers.
Commitment to ongoing learning
Tech requires continuous learning throughout your career. Successful career changers embrace this rather than seeing it as a burden. They’re curious and enjoy developing new capabilities.
If you’re someone who likes routine and doing the same thing every day, tech might not be the right fit. But if you enjoy learning and solving new problems, you’ll thrive.
How La Fosse Academy supports career changers
At La Fosse Academy, we specialise in helping people transition into tech. Our approach is designed specifically for career changers:
Free, comprehensive training
Our 12-week intensive programme covers everything from technical foundations to professional skills, with no upfront costs. You focus on learning without financial stress.
Real project experience
During training, you work on actual business problems for real clients. This builds a portfolio that demonstrates your capabilities to employers and gives you practical experience from day one.
Ongoing support and mentorship
After training, you receive continuous mentorship and support during your two-year placement. We don’t just train you and disappear – we’re invested in your long-term success.
Focus on your whole skillset
We help you identify and articulate how your previous experience enhances your tech capabilities. Your background isn’t something to overcome – it’s your competitive advantage.
Practical steps to make the switch
If you’re seriously considering a career change into tech, here’s how to start:
- Research roles that align with your strengths
Not all tech roles require extensive coding. Business analysis, project management, product management, UX design and quality assurance all value diverse professional backgrounds.
Spend time understanding what different roles involve and which might suit your interests and existing skills.
- Identify your transferable skills
Map your current skills to tech requirements. Client-facing roles develop communication skills. Management roles develop strategic thinking. Any role builds problem-solving abilities.
Make a list of your key strengths and research which tech roles value those capabilities.
- Explore training options carefully
Look for programmes that specifically support career changers. La Fosse Academy focuses on people transitioning into tech, regardless of background. We understand the unique challenges and opportunities career changers face.
- Connect with people who’ve made the switch
Speak to people who’ve successfully changed careers into tech. Their experiences will give you realistic expectations and valuable insights. Most career changers are happy to share their stories and advice.
- Take action
Not sure which tech role suits you? Explore different career pathways in tech to identify roles that align with your skills and interests.
The reality of changing careers
Making a career change at thirty isn’t always straightforward. You’ll invest time in learning new skills. You’ll start at a junior level technically. You’ll experience moments of doubt and frustration.
But you’ll also discover capabilities you didn’t know you had. You’ll enter an industry with genuine career progression. You’ll likely earn more within a few years than you would have in your previous career. And you’ll future-proof yourself against automation and economic uncertainty.
The hundreds of successful career changers we’ve worked with consistently say their only regret is not making the switch sooner.
Your professional experience isn’t something to overcome. It’s not baggage. It’s your competitive advantage in a market that values diverse perspectives and real-world business understanding.
Is thirty too late to switch to tech? Ask the 38-year-old ex-military officer now thriving in cybersecurity. Ask the 34-year-old former teacher who’s building a new career in business analysis. Ask the 31-year-old hospitality manager who now coordinates complex technology projects.
They’ll tell you thirty isn’t too late. It’s actually the perfect time.
Ready to explore your options?
La Fosse Academy offers free tech training for career changers.