[sibeliuss]

At 36 you're still in your thirties, only just done being a kid. Many new engineers bring skills from previous careers over (such as communication, which I would argue is the most important skill, at least in software). So in many regards, compared to someone just starting out in their early 20s, you've actually skipped a few steps.

That said, if you're not willing to put in time _practicing_ and _learning_ in your off-hours, it will be very difficult to break through and be successful on the job at work. And to be hired, you'll need more than a generic code boot camp portfolio.