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Home > Archive > Certifications and IT jobs/Salaries > March 2003 > Just Now Entering IT Field
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Just Now Entering IT Field
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| mhr1970 2003-02-10, 6:20 pm |
| Just one question for all you IT Folks. I'm 32 and I've toyed with the decision to enter the IT field for about 5 years now and I've finally began pursuing my CCNA and Should start My CCNP Next Fall. My question is have I waited too long? I understand many are entering IT like gangbusters but I believe I will really enjoy what the job entails. Any words of wisdom from you all. Seems many of you have been in the industry for years and might be able to shed some light on what the future of IT Employment might be. Believe it or not I'm beginning to wonder if being age 32 is a bit to old to finally begin pursuing an IT Career.
Regards,
Mike | |
| aslee0 2003-02-10, 8:03 pm |
| I wouldn't say your too old but more importantly lack experience?
If you're not already in the industry, its hard (understatement) to break into. Many places expect 5 or more years of hands on experience. And with so many IT/Network Engineers laid off who do posses the experience it makes it nearly impossible for newbies to break in. 1. The market is saturated with professionals WITH experience and probably certs (but not necesarry if you have the experience) 2. Out of the Newbies, there's tough competition to vie for any network position... in fact any IT position, help desk, LAN admin, Sys Admin, etc etc...
My advice (as sad as it is) if your good at something else and may enjoy something else other then IT, Pursue that.
But of course thats just my opinion | |
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| quote:
Originally posted by mhr1970
Believe it or not I'm beginning to wonder if being age 32 is a bit to old to finally begin pursuing an IT Career.
Nonsense. It was Kathleen Turner who said "Professionally, I have no age."
Here's some Aristotle..."The body is at its best between the ages of 30 and 35."
quote:
Originally posted by mhr1970
I've finally began pursuing my CCNA and Should start My CCNP Next fall..
My suggestion to you would be to specialize in a particular endeavor, such as Security, Databases, etc. Find a niche. The following quote, although it refers to a scientific worker, applies to any field one might embark upon:
QUOTATION: Only by strict specialization can the scientific worker become fully conscious, for once and perhaps never again in his lifetime, that he has achieved something that will endure. A really definitive and good accomplishment is today always a specialized accomplishment. And whoever lacks the capacity to put on blinders, so to speak, and to come up to the idea that the fate of his soul depends upon whether or not he makes the correct conjecture at this passage of this manuscript may as well stay away from science. He will never have what one may call the “personal experience” of science. Without this strange intoxication, ridiculed by every outsider; without this passion ... you have no calling for science and you should do something else. For nothing is worthy of man as man unless he can pursue it with passionate devotion.
ATTRIBUTION: Max Weber (1864–1920), German sociologist.
quote:
Originally posted by mhr1970
I understand many are entering IT like gangbusters
You got me there...
You will hear a lot of negativity about IT these days, but it will get better as the economy picks up. It's your call. I leave you with the best career decision advice ever:
"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."
---Confucius | |
| darthw 2003-02-11, 2:45 pm |
| I think the future of IT will be promising. Really the downturn right now may serve to clear out some of those who shouldn't be in the industry, either because they lack the ability, the willingness to learn, or both. However, I think over the next few years the IT world will have a lot of opps. Just plan on keeping up with learning. If you can, get a degree. Get certs. Get experience. | |
| goalie13 2003-02-11, 5:55 pm |
| The only thing I would add to what eveyone else said, is don't expect a big payday. With so many IT pros and so few new jobs opening up, competition is fierce. The days of the big money for no job experience are long gone. Salaries have been driven down by the glut in the employment market. Employers are taking full advantage of this fact. If you can start at the bottom and can live off the salary that will accompany an entry level position, go for it. The experience you gain now will pay off in the long run. When the economy picks up and companies start hiring again, you can make up for the low pay you take now. Good luck ! | |
| thecomeons 2003-02-12, 4:37 am |
| if you start a firm as a junior tech, expect to make the same money as somebody in their teens or twenties starting there. | |
| jackiechan 2003-02-12, 7:48 am |
| If there is a war and it is protracted then I.T won't pick up for a long while. Be a soldier. | |
| aslee0 2003-02-12, 4:46 pm |
| The FUTURE of IT is NOT Promising. I say this because when, and who knows how long it will be, the economy does pick up, there will still be a surplus number of QUALIFIED but more importantly EXPERIENCED people. As of right now, I dont see how a person with NO experience can compete with the recent people layed off with 10 years of experience. The people with that kind of experience most likely wont be making a career change. So you do the math...
Also with all these academies pumping out people with Certs, I believe the quality of people entering the industry is significantly lowered. For example 2 of my former roomates went through Cisco Acadamy or something similar with out ever having had seen a router or a switch. I'm sure prospective employers, especially when having a technical interview, can see that they are not sufficiently qualified. | |
| onoski 2003-02-15, 8:31 am |
| QUOTE: Originally posted by aslee0
The FUTURE of IT is NOT Promising. I say this because when, and who knows how long it will be, the economy does pick up, there will still be a surplus number of QUALIFIED but more importantly EXPERIENCED people. As of right now, I dont see how a person with NO experience can compete with the recent people layed off with 10 years of experience. The people with that kind of experience most likely wont be making a career change. So you do the math...
Also with all these academies pumping out people with Certs, I believe the quality of people entering the industry is significantly lowered. For example 2 of my former roomates went through Cisco Acadamy or something similar with out ever having had seen a router or a switch. I'm sure prospective employers, especially when having a technical interview, can see that they are not sufficiently qualified.
Why you have made a point and I quite agree, however whichever career you name or are trying to break into there would always be COMPETITION. The problem with IT and people trying to break into it is mainly because of the money factor. Well those days when a company would be willing to over pay an IT personnel has come and gone for good.
It is the determination and a willingness to learn that would see any serious ITer through these turbulent times not just the ten years experience you mentioned. I don't belive any career is easy to break into be it medicine, engineering or bio-tech it's all about determination in gaining the right degree, certs or experience,skills even for minimum pay that's the key. Lets be honest with our replies as well as know that just because you have ten years experience means you're more employable or indispensible. Best wishes to all those who are not looking for short cuts into the IT field. Don't give up either cos I believe IT is a career and here to stay.
You also mentioned over qualified ITer's vs those with experience or both. Well in a civilised and modern society this is a good thing. So hopefully when the market picks up this should not be a problem at all with a forward moving economy. I hope I have shed enough light onto this issue. | |
| Kasor 2003-02-15, 12:31 pm |
| Many college graduate with CS/IS degree might not find a job or a decent job at this time.
They got the skill and knowledge, now do you think you want to spend all those money to get certified, but no job.
Current market is unstable. Do we really need all those technican? The dot.com BOOM is gone. So, I suggest to think more carefully before wasting your money and time.
I am not disencourage your decision, but certification is only the SUPPORT role of IT. There are many are of IT - programming, designing, research, assurance, database, .... more.
Think | |
|
| What?
Anyway, if your trying to break in just look for Helpdesk jobs. Yeah their low paying, but they are out there to be had. I see 3-4 each week in the Minneapolis Sunday paper. I've been in the bizz working for 6 years now and started doing shipping receiving and RMA's and some PC setup, helpdesk for a small networking company and just stuck with it and got A+ and N+ only and now I'm a Net Admin for a large company. Just stick with it. I took me 7 years total to get in and have a job doing it for the long haul. I started with a DOS 6 class at a tech school(you HAVE to have a couple of PC's to mess with though to learn!) in 94 never knowing nothing more than a little from high school back in mid 80's using apple 2e's. I wasn't a PC geek b4 and I'm really not now either just opened the paper in the mid 90's and saw 6 pages of computer jobs and said hey what the heck I'll go to school for that. Bottom line if you want to do it go for it and stick with it it will happen.
Oh and dude.. I'm 32 now also. So yeah, don't waste anymore time. I've already got 5-6 years on ya. | |
| chodan 2003-02-18, 8:39 pm |
| I belive the people who are willing to work and are willing to except the fact that the gold rush of the mid to late 90's is over are working.
Sure they may not get the 6 figure salary anymore but heck if they were that good they will be placed eventually.
I belive "downturn" in the economy is just a stabalization proccess.
In my area IT employment is on the rise.
The thing is companies in my area aren't interested in "specialists" so to speak.
They do want a network admin for instance but they can get one with
networking skills
DBA skills
windows/unix-linux sys admin skills
and can handle lan/wan routers, switches
trouble shoot T1 circuits, terminate anything from a phone line to fiber.
Speaking a phones PBX skills will come in handy also. 
Also you must learn to troubleshoot at least half a dozen proprietary software and hardware packages.
But to get to this point you generally always start out at the helpdesk or of your lucky a PC support technician.
BTW the above list was just a fraction of my daily duties.
I don't know what your job is now but I was a 34 year old Barber "still have my license " and I got in on the ground floor as tech support and have worked myself into IS manager in 3 years | |
| luisjo 2003-02-18, 10:44 pm |
| Thanks for sharing your experience, you know my Granpa was also a Barber in my country, then his Stepbrothers take away the barber shop from him, so he became a shoemaker, a poor one, but over the years and making good choices he adquire the Rich man status, well he had a couple of millons but he didnt make noise about it, so if you ever saw him he was a simple happy man, he overcome adversity and conquer life, thats the best school he left his family, to always look to the future never look back, take your own desicions and stick to them.
Good luck to all. | |
| aslee0 2003-02-18, 11:01 pm |
| For Every 1 of those success stories there are THOUSANDS of unheard/untold failure stories.... Why? Because no one wants to hear a Sad/Realistic/Honest story... They all want to hear stories about HOPE and GOOD Fortune.
A friend of mine, comes from a bad neighborhood, we meet in college, he graduated with a Engineering Degree, worked his butt off and took out loans, got certs, and now cant find a job in the IT sector. And I'm not talking a nice cushy 40K job I'm talking Help Desk. 6 dollars an hour job. He cant get a job with a BS in Eng. CCNA, MCP, and Linx+. And I know atleast a handful of other in the same boat.
So for your GREAT STORY about your Grandpa... heres one to balance it out.
Have a nice day. | |
| luisjo 2003-02-18, 11:13 pm |
| Since it jobs are so difficult to find theres another option for all the people that think that theres no hope on hearth. For the Women side became prostitutes and for the man side became pimps, that doesnt riquere any study just plain knoledge, the more certs you have, the more school degrees you adquire the better chances youll get to get a good job. You just have to make the right choices or became a hooker or a pimp its up to you. | |
| onoski 2003-02-19, 2:50 am |
| QUOTE:Originally posted by aslee0
For Every 1 of those success stories there are THOUSANDS of unheard/untold failure stories.... Why? Because no one wants to hear a Sad/Realistic/Honest story... They all want to hear stories about HOPE and GOOD Fortune.
This is true. However, who said it is going to be easy in life? I don't think a cert or a degree is a visa to landing a job in any field for that matter. It is your persistence and determination that would see you through as the world does not owe anyone a job neither does mourning or complaining help. I think you need to understand that things does not always work out as one plans or hope as you mentioned in your post about unheard failure stories that are not talked about or referenced.
There is a word called competition and economic stability at the present time there is too much qualified and experienced personnels but only a hand full of jobs unfortunately. However, discouragement does not help anyone as I don't think you mean bad in any way. Those hard workers with a willingness to succeed would always shine with a little bit of effort and of course persistence and vision. Best wishes everyone and don't give up as the tough gets going when the going gets tough. I sure ain't given | |
| aslee0 2003-02-19, 5:53 pm |
| I wasn't complaining. I was merely pointing out for every success there are thousands of untold failures.
I agree persistance is good... but it doesnt always pay off. I think theres alot of luck, personal connections, and the X factor that contribute to success. I know a lot of people who have drive, ambition, heart... and they still cant make ends meet. Thankfully I'm not one of them, and I attribute that to being lucky. I'm 21 and making enough money to support myself, my own apt, my own car, my retirement fund, and some small investments. I'm determined but I was also lucky making the right connections.
I wasnt trying to discourage, I was trying to show realism. | |
| mhr1970 2003-02-19, 6:42 pm |
| I appreciate everyone's reply to my question. I have made the decision to pursue this field because I believe it will be rewarding. I don't expect to make a fortune and that is fine...but what I do expect is I will enjoy what I do for a living no matter how frustrating it might be at times. Again, thanks all. I enjoy reading all of your replies because it gives me a better and realistic outlook on the situation. I will be fine. I will break into IT. Thanks | |
|
| quote:
Originally posted by mhr1970
I appreciate everyone's reply to my question. I have made the decision to pursue this field because I believe it will be rewarding. I don't expect to make a fortune and that is fine...but what I do expect is I will enjoy what I do for a living no matter how frustrating it might be at times.
The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise.
--F. Scott Fitzgerald
Best of luck! | |
| aslee0 2003-02-19, 8:16 pm |
| I also wanted to wish you good luck...
It's gonna be a long and bumpy ride, but I for one think its rewarding.... | |
| chodan 2003-02-20, 5:06 am |
| mhr1970
You will do it.
as for aslee0's friend I think I might see his problem from a hiring perspective.
He is underexperienced for a high end job so he tries for an entry level job which he is overqualified for.
The hiring manager is thinking "why hire someone who will leave in 3 months for something better?" or "this guys certified and diploma'd up the wazoo but does he have any production experience" between a rock and a hard place.
I would advise him to try to offer himself for an intern position to help get the latter experience and also build contacts.
We have hired 2 of the internes we have used in the last year because they were good workers and showed themselves to be quick learners. | |
| baba4140 2003-03-05, 3:28 pm |
| quote:
Originally posted by 0=1
Nonsense. It was Kathleen Turner who said "Professionally, I have no age."
Here's some Aristotle..."The body is at its best between the ages of 30 and 35."
My suggestion to you would be to specialize in a particular endeavor, such as Security, Databases, etc. Find a niche. The following quote, although it refers to a scientific worker, applies to any field one might embark upon:
QUOTATION: Only by strict specialization can the scientific worker become fully conscious, for once and perhaps never again in his lifetime, that he has achieved something that will endure. A really definitive and good accomplishment is today always a specialized accomplishment. And whoever lacks the capacity to put on blinders, so to speak, and to come up to the idea that the fate of his soul depends upon whether or not he makes the correct conjecture at this passage of this manuscript may as well stay away from science. He will never have what one may call the “personal experience” of science. Without this strange intoxication, ridiculed by every outsider; without this passion ... you have no calling for science and you should do something else. For nothing is worthy of man as man unless he can pursue it with passionate devotion.
ATTRIBUTION: Max Weber (1864–1920), German sociologist.
You got me there...
You will hear a lot of negativity about IT these days, but it will get better as the economy picks up. It's your call. I leave you with the best career decision advice ever:
"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."
---Confucius
0=1,
Your advice is well taken and you well spoken... | |
| The Cert Sage 2003-03-05, 4:46 pm |
| I started at 35 years old 5 years ago so it can be done.I now work for a huge Fortune 500 telco and run a certification website on the side. There is ageism but its not rampant. The experience is going to be your issue.
When the economy recovers there will be more I.T. jobs than right now but they will still want the experience and will be able to find the techies with experience.
As a side note just my two cents...I think almost all programming jobs in the U.S. will be gone in 3-4 years. They will all be in China, Malaysia, India wherever there is cheap labor that can do the work. I.T. is no different than building T.V.'s, radios etc in the Board of Directors minds here in the U.S.. If they can get somebody to build them a finished product and then FTP to the servers in the states and save a boat load of money they are going to do it. | |
|
| quote:
Originally posted by baba4140
0=1,
Your advice is well taken and you well spoken...
Good advice is something a man gives when he is too old to set a bad example.
---Francois de La Rochefoucauld |
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