I've just done some basic computer programming and I love it - what next?

I've been working in various roles for a large organisation for some years since graduating. I am a project manager earning a decent salary in my late 20s. I sometimes enjoy the job and it has good prospects, but there is a lot of politics and it is sometimes extremely stressful. For the past two years I've had a feeling that it's not quite the right job for me.

Recently I was required to learn some basic computer programming. I found that, almost instantly, I loved it and have been self-teaching for several hours a day after work even since. The mix of creativity and logic is something I find very attractive. Not only that, but I've discovered that developers get paid well, generally seem to love their jobs and have great career prospects. I am now seriously considering a career switch to become a software developer.

I'm not afraid of the change but have no idea how to do it, what it would cost and how long it would be before I was back earning reasonable money again.

I have a first class degree and a good educational background, including an A in A-level maths, but no qualifications in anything related to computing.

I'm afraid I can't give you much direct advice - it's too specialized a field for me. But I can encourage you, whole-heartedly, to follow your instinct. At your age it is not remotely too late to change careers, and you're extremely fortunate to have stumbled on one that you not only find fascinating but for which you seem to have a talent.

Appropriately, the internet should be able to give you the guidance you need. If you haven't already done so, sign up to LinkedIn and others sites to post your CV and register your position, rather as you have to me. Start conversations going. Your academic qualifications are excellent and you'll soon find out if you need more to pursue your new enthusiasm. Some words of caution: it is probably best to stick with your current job until you're sure of the next; and be prepared for some - hopefully small and temporary - setback in salary.

Readers say

Programming is a bit like driving: you only learn to do it well once you're on the road. Its also an industry of niches: C programming, HTML, Java, C++, games, financial, embedded and so on. To get a good job you need to be well versed in one of these niches. I would see where in your current field or company you can use these skills, writing small utilities for your work (even if only for personal use). Another route may be to use your project management skills as a software project manager. Look in the computing press and talk to a recruitment agency - they will know what the market is looking for. There are a lot of new graduates with quite naive computing skills and they get jobs as graduate or junior programmers, so the roles are out there. Good luck.