I didn’t go in until late, whilst quite a while ago. PPL as a hobby for 15 years then CPL at 35. Age seemed to assist in terms of job progression as I was on a narrow body early 40s. Had the command at 45 and on the home run as we speak. I was constantly quizzed by fellow colleagues on why the late start....quite simply earning more cash in a previous field setting myself up before going into low paying aviation jobs on piss poor terms and conditions being screwed over regularly (yep that last part panned out as expected).