[soneca]

I am at a similar position but have not yet to started to actually look for a job. I am a 37 yo marketing guy and now I am learning to code to become a software developer (web). My approach is to take some time to learn the basics, create some projects that a potential future employee would recognize as demonstrative of my hard skills and then start looking.

When you talk about software development, this path is obvious, you can't do anything if you don't code. But even when there is no obvious hard skill that you can learn, I think you should try doing this way. Study, practice and create a portfolio of projects that demonstrate you are really knowledgeable about the topic. Don't expect any potential employer to trust that your skills are transferable and the new skills you will learn "on the job". Try to be as ready as possible to perform at the new role, not be hired as a promise.

Also, I don't believe 3 months is that long time to be discouraged and draw conclusions about why you are unemployable. Keep trying to check if that is actually the reality.

That said, I don't discard ageism or other reasons not related to performance to influence all the dismissions. It is possibly (probably?) part of the reason, but one you can't control. Except having some thoughtful arguments on why your age shouldn't be a problem, maybe even an advantage.

Good luck!

[innomansland]

wow, you are doing more of a pivot then I am!

In my years of working, the most rare gems I ever found was people that are not only good at marketing but can code. If you are a champ at these 2 skills, man.. such a killer combo.

I said somewhere above but I actually do code and have a portfolio of side projects but it doesn't seem to matter (at least with the companies I have applied for). Nevertheless, you are right that 3 months is not that long.. I will start despairing at the 1 year mark! :D

[mxuribe]

This is interesting, in my almost 20 year career, I took the opposite approach: started out as a web dev. ("coder"), then moved to marketing...Actually it was as follows: web dev. > tech lead > project mgr > product mgr.

It is weird for me though; whenever I am in interviews, and the interviewer finds out my past, their eyes light up (because I can straddle both the tech and non-tech/business/marketing sides), and always get excited about my skillset...However, on paper, people eyes don't light up...Its like recruiters and the HR filters want specialists (pigeon-holed into the exact job duties without any deviation what so ever) at least per so many job descriptions that I have seen...But then when you are in an interview with the hiring manager, what they actually, really want are generalists who can have at least one specialty in whatever specific role they need. I'v gone on enough interviews in my time, and while maybe not 100%, this scenario plays out well over 90% of the time. Maybe its my resume, but it seems so odd; there are roles out there not being filled, but plenty of people who can likely satisfy them...Again, it could be my resume, but it seems the candidates know what they want or what they can do, and the hiring manager knows what they need...but the folks in the middle just can't get the relevant parties to meet each other...I wonder if the initial vetting process for hiring is broken nowadays...?

[soneca]

Thanks, I will try to have it in mind when starting to actively pursue a job.

Actually, a possible desirable outcome is to become a Product Manager. To get the really interesting jobs with this role, I felt that I needed to have practical knowledge of software development.

Any tips on how to direct my career toward that path?

[mxuribe]

I've only ever worked for "conventional" large, multi-national non-software type corporations, so can't help with smaller orgs., or startups, or software companies...so my notes should be taken in that context...

That being said, within non-startups and non-software companies, any folks in any organization who have any inkling of software dev. (or any tech knowledge) are usually respected...so you will want to highlight that. Not necessarily that you CAN CODE...because the orgs specifically hire devs for that. Simply that business/marketing folks believe you can act as a translator, BS detector, etc.

For example, technology to this day is still dark magic for many people...So much so that whenever a dev. or digital agency or freelancer/consultant gives project/product stakeholders a development estimate - e.g. the platform will be deployed in 3 months, etc. - stakeholders have no expertise to call BS on that estimate, or wherewithall to pose questions about it. Your exposure to the desires/wants/needs of the business/marketing side, and your exposure to deeper tech than the typical person will uniquely position you to become an advisor to the higher ups. Most higher ups will respect you, a small percentage will abuse that...but with this dual-expertise, its straight-forward to bounce to other jobs.

My overall recommendation:

* Gain tech experience, whether that's dev./coding or system admin, or even just a general survey/overall understanding of "how stuff gets done".

* Continue to improve your communication skills...your value will be shown when you can act as the translator between the "techs" and the "non-techs". The good techs will learn to appreciate that they can speak with and through you, too.

* Highlight the heck out of the above sets of skills. That could be with S.T.A.R.-type bullets/notes on your resume, or through side projects, etc.

I hope that helps!

Good luck...And you can always reach out to me for networking (bam! This is another skill, that i admittedly don't do enough of! ;-)

[soneca]

Thanks! It helped a lot already! Opened my eyes to the potential of doing that on non-software companies. I was indeed only considering startup/software companies.

[karmajunkie]

Not to hijack the OP's post, but good marketing coupled with the hard skills to work with marketing automation is a really strategic combination if you play it right. Good choice!