General Discussion

Author

Too old?

rogerfielder

2002-03-13, 11:54 am

I am 54. Is that too old to start a career in IT? I don't feel old.

I've recently left teaching, have qualified with N+ and MCSE and intend to take CCNA and A+. I'm getting the qualifications but I'm not getting the jobs. One problem could be that most job ads want 1 or 2 years experience, or is it that I'm too old?

eric1971

2002-03-13, 12:11 pm

It is hard for anyone to break in to IT right now. Keep trying and try to get some experience by volunteering your time. If there are any IT professional associations in your area, join one so you can meet some people in the field. A lot of the time getting a job comes down to whom you know.

wbafrank

2002-03-13, 12:18 pm

No, you are not to old, the problem is that there is a dip in the industry at the moment. If, I were you (ex-teacher) I would look at becoming an MCT, maybe this could get your foot in the door!!

Pavlov

2002-03-13, 12:26 pm

Never too old! Even those of us with experience are writing to you today from home. I agree with frank - you might want to look at grabbing the MCT.

The VMS Kid

2002-03-13, 12:39 pm

If you know what you are doing and like what you do, you are never too old. In some ways you may have an edge over younger competition in that a more mature person may be expected to be . . . well . . . more mature. The IT field can be great, breaking in is the hardest part. If you really want it, keep at it.

RBud

2002-03-13, 1:13 pm

You are never too old to do something you are good at .

Shadowwraith

2002-03-13, 2:27 pm

All good advice. Again really what it boils down to is not so much what you know but who ya know and will help you get the long thick big toe of yours in the door. Best of luck.

Crutch

2002-03-13, 4:33 pm

Good for you, Roger!

I admire people like you. Having the foresight to retire and start another career.

Anyway, Why not look into getting back into the school district you came from? Maybe there is an opportunity for you to become a teacher's consultant. I have many friends that are teachers and don't know much about computers. So, the kids don't get much in the way of computers, either. You could become the liason between technology and teaching.

Just my $0.02 worth

TW2001

2002-03-13, 6:05 pm

Adding an Alphabet soup behind your name with no experience seems to hinder most trying to enter the field.(no offense Old or Young..newbie is newbie.Speak with some other IT profs and validate that.

As far as MCT.Ask yourself "Would i want training from someone who has never been in a production environment."

Shrink

2002-03-13, 9:57 pm

damn....I hope you aren't too old. I was 55 when I took my first computer training class and 56 when I got my A+ cert. After 30+ years in the mental health profession, I was just burned out. But I discovered computers thru my son, who is a tech, and I feel like a kid with new toys. I love doing this work and am now the quarter-time LAN administrator at the agency where I have worked for 27 years. I'm hoping to build that experience into a full-time position eventually.

So hang in there Roger, keep at it and get whatever experience you can. Good luck to you.

wildscribe

2002-03-13, 10:08 pm

I'm considered an "old-timer" at 44 and it didn't stop me from changing careers and getting an IT job. In fact, I got my first IT job without any certs. It has only been recently since work has slowed down that I have had time to study and get certifications.

The first thing to you have to do is stop reading want ads. You probably will not get a job at place that is looking for someone with 1 to 2 years experience. And you probably wouldn't want to work for these folks anyway. They are looking to hire someone fresh out of school and pay them next to nothing.

The best way to find a job is to get it through a friend or a friend of a friend who knows a company that is looking for someone. I have been in IT since 1994 and I have never gotten a job through a newspaper ad, online web site or headhunter. There are jobs out there. Trust me.

Here's what I did and it might work for you. When I decided that I needed a break from my previous career as a newspaper reporter, I told all my friends and colleagues that I planned to get into computers. At first, I couldn't find any full-time work, but I found a lot of companies needed someone to help set up a network or troubleshoot some computers. So for the first few years, I freelanced. I had to hustle, but I made some good connections and I still work for many of these clients today. Then the Internet boom came in 1996 and in New York City, anyone who knew even basic HTML was in high demand. I did a lot of job hopping and at one point, I became Chief Technology Officer for a health care website that has since gone dark. During that period I had a feeling that the venture capital bubble would burst and I saved a lot of money. When the bubble finally burst, I was able to take a few months off and now I am starting to freelance again. I got a lot of experience in not just computers, networks, and programming, but how to run a business as well. I know my age helped. I was working with a lot of young people and I often got singled out for promotions because I was older and considered "more mature." I always laugh when I see messages from people who think they are too old to start a new career. If the person was in their 70s, then there might be a problem, but for people in their 40s and 50s, I think being older in many cases is an advantage.

Another suggestion. Stay away from volunteer work. I know a lot of people suggest doing it, and it might be good for some people to get some experience, but you already have some good certs and you're time would be better spent looking for a paying job than working for free. Keep plugging away and you will get a job.

Good Luck and let us know how it turns out.

- Wild

Drummer

2002-03-14, 9:07 am

quote:
Originally posted by TW2001
As far as MCT.Ask yourself "Would i want training from someone who has never been in a production environment."

In a perfect world, trainers would have experience in the field. The thing is, those in the field don't necessarily want to be trainers, unless there are no other options like in the current economy. You can make more money in the field when things are going well than you can training. Also, if they didn't get the certs they may not be qualified to do it anyway. That's why training has become an entry level position.

Since Roger is trying to get into the field and he has the educational background, I agree that training would be the way for him to go. Later he can get some field experience but he just needs to break into IT first. If he can make the material interesting to the students he can do well as a trainer.

JoniF

2002-03-14, 11:33 am

I will be 48 on Monday, so far since I turned 44, I have gotten 2 A.S. degrees and almost 3 ceritifications, (one more test to go for Win2K) I started out entry level at my current positon and will soon be managing a much larger lab. So, I don't think age is a factor.
My first position before I finished school was doing tech support for a major computer manufacturer. I learned a lot since then. All it takes is determination.
Good Luck, I am sure you will not have a problem.

grawatkins

2002-03-15, 2:06 pm

Hi Roger,
I'm 61 next month. I am a freelance trainer migrated to IT training (Office mostly) 18 months ago. I have had lots of interviews for permanent positions (often knowing more than the interviewers!) but never got an offer (ageism is a fact of life!)
I get lots of work in local colleges teaching MS Office, I got qualified to MOUS expert last year and need only Outlook for the master cert which I will take next month.
I spent many years in the Water Industry and am qualified academically to master level but I don,t think this is relevant in the IT world.
I am also doing A+ and will take the core exam probably next week.
As a teacher I'm sure you could find work teaching in colleges if you want i, I do 8 sessions a week and could do more, its not brilliant pay but its good fun and keeps the wolf from the door.
Good luck
Graham

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