I am 10th pass with a career gap of 5 to 10 years. I have basic English speaking knowledge and basic computer skills. I am aged 40+ now. Can I resume or restart my fresh career in computer software stream?
Yes, even as a 10th pass with 40yrs+ of age, there are various free career opportunities in the computer software field, particularly in India. Eagerness to learn is the price that can defy any age. Here is a step by step guide with a beginner's roadmap for you to follow:
(I)Learn Basic Computer Programming (Free)
If you are unable to afford getting admitted to a Govt. recognised institution for learning, then you can better start learning from scratch on the Govt. initiated online portals instead:
SWAYAM (by Govt. of India)
Access online https://swayam.gov.in/- Offers free courses from IITs, NPTEL, IGNOU.
- Beginner to advanced computer science, software development courses.
-
NIELIT (National Institute of Electronics & IT)
Go to https://nielit.gov.in/ online - Offers basic and advanced courses in software, programming, and more.
- Low-cost certification is optional.
- These platforms do not require a degree and teach software development from basics:
| Platform | What You Can Learn |
|---|---|
| freeCodeCamp | Web development, JavaScript, Python |
| CS50 (Harvard via edX) | Computer science fundamentals |
| Coursera | Free courses with auditing (no certificate) |
| Udemy | Many free courses on Python, HTML, etc. |
| Khan Academy | Very beginner-friendly coding |
Once you start, pick an area to specialize in:
- Web Development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
- Python Programming (Great for beginners)
- App Development (Android using Kotlin or Java)
- Data Entry + Automation (Excel + Python/VBA)
- Create simple projects (websites, apps, tools).
- Share on GitHub or make a blog/LinkedIn profile.
- This shows your skills to employers even without a degree
- After you get thoroughly skilled by the above mentioned processes, you can try getting paid tasks, assignments and more in the below mentioned online platforms:
- Internshala – entry-level internships.
- Freelancer, Upwork – freelance projects.
- Turing.com or Remote OK – remote software jobs.
Bonus: Certificate Courses (Low Cost)
If you can afford a small fee, these are useful:
- Google Career Certificates on Coursera (Scholarships available)
- Meta Front-End Developer certificate (Facebook-sponsored)
- NPTEL online courses with ₹1000 optional certification
Conclusion:
- Your age is not a barrier at all in the tech world. Skills matter more than degrees now.
- Focus on one skill at a time. Consistency is key.
- Start with Python or Web Development — both are beginner-friendly.
