Comment Re:Write android apps. (Score 1) 306
Definitely second this, either Android or iOS. Market is hot, tools and devices are cheap, code for fun and learning, make apps you can show to employers, and there is a marketplace for individual developers you can try. The stores are a roll of the dice, but the opportunity is there. Key goal is to create demonstrable product and build skills. Your java/C# skills help with either Android or iOS. I code in Objective-C, the language skills are all pretty much interchangeable, the investment is in learning the frameworks and toolchains.
I had to fight for an IT job at 50 after getting laid off. The age discrimination is real but you minimize it by not wasting your time applying online. Go where you can be seen and can talk. Workshops, meetups, hackathons, anything in person. Bring apps to show, even if they are fun or silly. If you have deep skills in your business domain, try to utilize those in the apps. Build apps that use webservices, lots of financial data out there to use for free.
I did 25 years in IT and app development, got up to senior management. But had to start at the bottom again and am enjoying just programming now.