I'm looking into new career options and I'd love some advice from folks in the field. I want to get into tech, and I'm debating which path to take.
If I could go back to my 18-year-old self, I would have told me to become a software engineer, but I think it might be too late for that now. My understanding is that I couldn't really do that without a degree in the field. Is that correct? On the other hand, it seems that web development is the new up-and-coming area and can be done without a degree. I am willing to take a few courses, maybe get a certificate (usually 5-6 classes) but I do not want to get an entire degree. The truth is that I hated school and I would be miserable if I had to spend years studying in a formal setting again. I have a bachelor's and a master's, but in liberal arts fields. On the other hand, I am happy to learn on my own or through a mentor, so learning itself isn't the issue.
I have been learning basic html, css, and javascript through codecademy.com and so far I'm enjoying it. I need to find some more thorough online courses, and I am wondering in which direction to go. Should I be pursuing php and python, or java and c++, for example?
I am mostly wondering about the differences in the day-to-day work in the different tech careers, as well as the career path opportunities. Salary is not an issue, since until now I always worked in nonprofit and even a minimal starting tech salary will be more than I've ever earned before. I am 33 and would be looking for jobs that would not require another full degree. I would also need a job that could be done at least in part from home (this is non-negotiable, due to health issues.) Obviously, working from home one or two days a week would depend on the specific employer, but I need a field where it's possible, since in some areas it isn't. I live near Boston, so there should be jobs available in just about any area you can think of. I like to work independently - give me the basics and let me run with it! I hate having someone stand over my shoulder, micromanaging. And I love solving puzzles. Actually, I've been thinking I could be a good debugger.
So what do you think, oh wise mustachian engineers of the forum? What are the different careers like? What are the pros and cons of your particular field? And can you suggest something I haven't thought of? I'm open to anything!