Too over the hill to "BREAK INTO" the IT field? 1

[Gardyngrrrl]

How the heck does someone with little or no training AND age 42 get into the IT field?
I have over 15+ yrs experience in Admin/Clerical work and know my way around a PC with no problems-It's just the flip side of the coin for me.
I was able to land a 3 month contracting job with a Help Desk for a wireless infrastructure roll-out (which just ended) and I was fascinated by the challenges and all the information I was learning.I have no $$$ or time(I gotta work ) to go to classes and get certified-Will anyone take me seriously without certification?
Signed-
Want to know more!!!!
Cynthia DIckson/Fayetteville Arkansas


"Always do right. That will gratify some of the people, and astonish the rest." Mark Twain

 

[kHz]

Based on the fact you were able to land a 3-month contract for wireless support speaks a lot about your capabilities.

With the constant changes in technology these days - and in the future - it is more important for an employer to hire someone who has good problem-solving skills, is logical and analytical, rather than finding someone who has a specific skill. (However, there will always be a need for someone with specific skills.) If you impress upon a potential employer about your willingness to learn and show them your ability, there should be opportunities available for you in the field.

 

[Gardyngrrrl]

kHz-Thanks for the reply.I have gotten alot of flack from people thinking I should not change careers due to my age or such....most of the people in this area in the IT field are male, and I get some puzzled looks when I tell recruiters what I am looking for and my past job history/skill set.I will keep trying anywho...It has been discouraging tho.

"Always do right. That will gratify some of the people, and astonish the rest." Mark Twain

 

[svanels]

Not a few years ago I was working part-time for a NGO in the educational field and I indicated an older friend (women). Today she lectures access, powerpoint, excel etc. as part of continuing education (bussiness administration etc.)
Her background: teacher in gymnastics

Gardyngrrrl, probably you are asking the wrong people for advice . Recruiters are looking for big fishes (so their share is also big).

You landed 3 months in a help-desk job, network the contacts you made in that time.

People trying to sink your ship with flack
1) Probably they don't know what to do with a .
2) They are afraid, because they know you are coming .

Regards

Steven

 

[sha76]

You can sell your lack of training as a plus point, emphasise your ability to communicate with users in a language they understand, rather than confusing them with technical jargon that means nothing to them. You'll also have a far greater understanding of the stress the person on the other end of the phone is under than a recent graduate, you've no doubt been there.

Ignore anyone who reckons you're too old or the wrong sex! Yes, it may well make it a little harder for you & you will have to fight against people's preconceptions, but there's no reason that either should stop you from doing what you want. My mum left school at 16 with no qualifications, she spent a few years working then 16 as a housewife & mother, aged 45 she managed to get on to a postgraduate course & is now a very sucessful historical researcher - if you're determined enough it's amazing what barriers you can get through.

If you did want to go the certification route there may be ways round the money & time issues. I know in the UK there are charities who will give grants to mature students or to women, check out if there are any in your area, maybe you could get an online course funded this way?

Don't let negative people discourage you (would I be right in thinking these people are not ones with thrilling careers themselves?), if you want it then go for it!

"Your rock is eroding wrong." -Dogbert

 

[LesleyW]

1) You have 3 months experience, it's a start.
2) Remember you only need **one** person to give you a chance to get some more experience.

Go for it, the IT industry needs more people like you - you will be new enough to it to be enthusiastic. Changing careers is a postive decision for you, not just a "might as well carry on doing what I've been doing for the last 15 years" attitude that other candidates will carry.

 

[mmorancbt]

Gardyngrrrl,

As someone who has built an IT career without and IT degree or an IT certification, and helped others do so for years, yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!!

You can definately build your way into an IT career. However, I would not start in an IT department to do so. That is not necessarily the most successful way to do it. In fact, it can often be a myopically limiting experience - where you are given a job to do and you do not deviate from that role.

Instead, as indicated above, capitalize on past experience (transcendent skills) and communication skills. Work in a department or for a smaller organization and support their technology. Once huge area of need is in office automation/productivity tools using MS Office (VBA) and other tools.

Download the sample chapter from my book, Breaking Into IT - The Entry-Level Dilemma. It can be found at my site, on CiscoPress.com, or elsewhere on the web. It explains the above ideas more thoroughly.

Good luck and keep us informed.

Matthew Moran
Read my career blog at:

http://www.cbtoolkit.com

Career Blog:

http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/pm/career/

Todo esta bien.. Todo esta divertido (it's all good, it's all fun)

 

[DTSMAN]

I am 38 and starting school at the end of this month. I have an associates from 10 years ago and now going for my BS. I was on the fence because of age too, but I feel this may help me into the management part of the industry instead of toubleshooting all these hardware issues and cabling issues that I currently do. I am hoping it works out for me, because this time last year I almost quit and started my own lawn mowing business. I am doing it all on student loans and going at night for the next 2 1\2 years. I chose this route because the jobs that interested me on local web searches ask for bachelor degrees.

Bo

I'm a man,, I can change,, If I have too,, I guess. (Red Green)

http://www.redgreen.com/

 

[dyarwood]

Just as a little aside to getting a degree, it does not mean you will be sure of a job. It might help get you to the interview table but that is where you need to show you've got something they want.

Gardyngrrrl, do you know what you want to do in IT?

 

[lespaul]

do you know what you want to do in IT

When I graduated with my degree I was convinced that I was going into database administration. I really enjoyed the classes we had on database design, I found the logic of normalization very easy to understand. I hadn't enjoyed my programming classes at all. I thought that programming was just too hard [and too geeky ].

I've been a programmer for 4 1/2 years now. Still doing database design, but not administration. I love programming, it is so cool to start out with an idea or concept and turn it into something tangible that helps someone do their job easier or better. I love the problem solving and logical skills needed to develop a program.

I'm hoping in the future to get into project management.

I know that I would be happy doing just about anything in development (PM, database design, programming, analysis). I would HATE having to dive into the innards of the PC and having to work with cabling and network issues. Since IT is such a diverse collection of skills and talents, I don't think you need to be that specific. As long as you have an idea of what kinds of things you are interested in doing with computers you can learn and grow.

Leslie

Anything worth doing is a lot more difficult than it's worth - Unknown Induhvidual

 

[langleymass]

I can't really encourage anyone over 40 to try this out, but you never know what may happen. Some people tell me that I look over 40, and I think I am already seeing some discrimination.

I was actually born in 1971 (which seems to shock people). I honestly think I would be better off if people were allowed to ask my age.

I guess I've always looked old. When I was 19 and 20, people told me that I would have no trouble buying beer. I was about 22 when I noticed that my hairline was starting to recede.

 

[alexhu]

I also still listen to top-40 music.

Don't worry, you'll grow out of it

Alex

 

[jsteph]

How the heck does someone with little or no training AND age 42 get into the IT field?

I think it's quite possible...especially if you're willing to start at the bottom.

I have no $$$ or time(I gotta work ) to go to classes

If you're lucky, you could get training on the job or reimbursed tuition.

However, I wish I could tell you it would be easy...it probably won't be. I got in at 37 with no background, but that was in '97 and they were hiring anything with a pulse. It's very different now, but as was mentioned--the fact that you landed a help-desk gig (which is probably the most off-shored, outsourced job around) shows that you've got something going for you.
--Jim

 

[langleymass]

Whether or not a help desk job is outsourced depends on what you mean by help desk. If it is just phone work, it probably will get outsourced. But if it means supporting maybe 50 users in an office, it may not get outsourced.

I WILL NEVER GROW OUT OF TOP-40 MUSIC. I get up at 6am every Sunday morning to listen to Ryan Sechrist do the weekly top 40. I love rap. I love hip hop. I love pop. I love rock. I like Eminem, Kelly Clarkson, Gwen Stefani, Avril Lavigne, Coldplay, Korn, Bowling for Soup, and whoever else.

I AM 29 FOREVER.