I learned to code at age ~16. I’m now 61.

So negative observations first: I’m the oldest programmer I’ve ever met. It is difficult to fit in with younger teams — and I actually lost a job mostly because I failed to fit in with the companies’ expectations for partying and social drinking.

I can get a job easily because I have a L-O-N-G resume — and I get senior positions as a result. But as a newbie to coding — you’re lacking that resume — and ALSO lacking the social/fitting-in thing.

So this isn’t going to be easy.

Positive observations: Age discrimination is illegal in the USA — hence your age and things you did more than (say) 10 years ago can stay off of your resume or have dates redacted. Hair dye makes you look a LOT younger…I hate to have to “cheat”…but it really does help. There is no doubt that you can be a good coder at your age. Most of what you need to get good is PRACTICE…there is no substitute for writing LOTS of code. Since you enjoy doing it — you can probably work at it evenings and weekends — and set up side-projects that will get you the practice that you’re going to desperately need. Maybe they’ll even earn you some money, before you have to ditch your present job.

Consider signing up to help out on an “Open Source” project. This will get you the essential skills of working in a team programming environment — and result in people critiquing your code (possibly mercilessly!)…which is another critical thing. It also looks good on your resume. It blows people away at interviews when they ask: “Do you know X?”…”Well, yes, actually I worked on the Open Source team that actually WROTE X!!”. (Choose your ‘X’ wisely!)

Having Open Source people who know you will get you connections on your LinkedIn page — which is important because that’s how most recruiters find you — and how you find jobs with companies that your connections work for. That gets your resume on top of the pile…very important!

A good recruiter can really help you here. They can advise on everything from resume style to interview technique to dress code for interviews for a particular company you might be considering. This is important. For example, I read that a two page resume was the goal…no longer, no shorter. My recruiter said: “Well, yes — but you’re playing to your experience — so make a 10 page resume!”…advice for you will be different, but probably insightful. I typically re-craft my resume for each job I apply for — tweaking the wording and emphasis for the company I’m addressing.

I think you’re doing a good thing — it’s not necessarily going to be easy.