[jawns]

I switched at 30, and already it felt like I would never catch up to my same-age peers, who alrady had close to 10 years of experience under their belt. In some respects, that has been true, especially with regard to pure technical abilities. But from my previous career, I brought with me another set of skills, and also a decent amount of experience that wasn't directly relevant but that helped me see the bigger picture in many cases. That has proven to be very valuable, and I'm glad others have recognized its value. Now, at 40, I'm leading a team and making strong contributions to my company.

So in terms of practical tips, I would say to look at the ways your previous experience may bring something extra to the table. Things like management experience, communication skills, mentorship/teaching experience, sales experience, etc. are often transferrable across domains.