Is it too late for a career in IT at 32?
Discussion
I'm looking for a little guidance as I'm wanting to change careers at 32.
Since 2007 I have been working in expat IFA companies mostly in Asia. I have to say my heart isn't in it and I'm pretty bored. My role entailed setting appointments via cold calling and email for my wealth managers to go and visit potential clients with a view to selling them offshore investment products, along with sorting relevant paperwork needed for the deals to be written.
Qualifications wise I only have average GCSE grades to fall back on, at the time my dad said I wasn't good enough for university so never went.
What I'm looking for now is to have a real job with real chances of progression, a career. I feel my skills would be suited to a job in the IT sector, ultimately I would like to be a contractor that travels to sites to help maintain and build systems.
Would anyone have any advice as to how to go about this please?
Since 2007 I have been working in expat IFA companies mostly in Asia. I have to say my heart isn't in it and I'm pretty bored. My role entailed setting appointments via cold calling and email for my wealth managers to go and visit potential clients with a view to selling them offshore investment products, along with sorting relevant paperwork needed for the deals to be written.
Qualifications wise I only have average GCSE grades to fall back on, at the time my dad said I wasn't good enough for university so never went.
What I'm looking for now is to have a real job with real chances of progression, a career. I feel my skills would be suited to a job in the IT sector, ultimately I would like to be a contractor that travels to sites to help maintain and build systems.
Would anyone have any advice as to how to go about this please?
Bibbs said:
What side of IT?
Software development, sales, management, infrustructure?
It's a pretty big industry, with vary diverse role.
I'm in development and could offer advice on that, otherwise my knowledge is quite basic.
I would be interested to hear about the development side please, and how you can expect your career to develop?Software development, sales, management, infrustructure?
It's a pretty big industry, with vary diverse role.
I'm in development and could offer advice on that, otherwise my knowledge is quite basic.
Personally, I could code basic stuff before I started high school, I did A-Levels, a Degree, 6 years at a software company, 5 years as a coder for an IT reseller and then have started contracting.
But ..
If you have the basics, you can jump in at any level. Can you code?
I see a lot of work outsourced to Asia, if you are happy living there it'd be easy to pick up work. Especially if you have western experience, and don't mind Asian pay.
I recon with 2 years .NET and SQL knowledge, you could easily earn a living.
(I'm based in Australia)
But ..
If you have the basics, you can jump in at any level. Can you code?
I see a lot of work outsourced to Asia, if you are happy living there it'd be easy to pick up work. Especially if you have western experience, and don't mind Asian pay.
I recon with 2 years .NET and SQL knowledge, you could easily earn a living.
(I'm based in Australia)
If you have MS Office, you could start with VB6 and Access.
It's about knowing the basics (how to link a screen to a database). I've suggested it before on here, but have a go at creating a DB for your CDs or DVDs. Get an idea about relational databases and GUI front ends. I'd then look into writing a webpage to replace the VB you've written in HTML and ASP.
Once you have the process in your head, you can apply it to different databases and different languages.
My job is mainly modifying systems to the clients new requirements. Sometimes it's an hour change, sometimes months.
I use these as references still :-
www.w3schools.com
But most my learning has been on the job.
It's about knowing the basics (how to link a screen to a database). I've suggested it before on here, but have a go at creating a DB for your CDs or DVDs. Get an idea about relational databases and GUI front ends. I'd then look into writing a webpage to replace the VB you've written in HTML and ASP.
Once you have the process in your head, you can apply it to different databases and different languages.
My job is mainly modifying systems to the clients new requirements. Sometimes it's an hour change, sometimes months.
I use these as references still :-
www.w3schools.com
But most my learning has been on the job.
I certainly hope not.
I am 36 and am starting my first IT role in less than 2 weeks.
I am effectively starting at the bottom, having over 7 years experience in a finance role.
I'm starting in a support role, with the aim of picking up some MS certs over time.
The company has also offered to assist me in my degree, so that's a bonus.
I am 36 and am starting my first IT role in less than 2 weeks.
I am effectively starting at the bottom, having over 7 years experience in a finance role.
I'm starting in a support role, with the aim of picking up some MS certs over time.
The company has also offered to assist me in my degree, so that's a bonus.
QROPS said:
What I'm looking for now is to have a real job with real chances of progression, a career. I feel my skills would be suited to a job in the IT sector, ultimately I would like to be a contractor that travels to sites to help maintain and build systems.
Would anyone have any advice as to how to go about this please?
First question is why do you think your skills would be suited to IT - what specifically fits into this area? (not doubting you, just looking to dig deeper into why IT might work for you)Would anyone have any advice as to how to go about this please?
32 is definitely not too late - that's how old I was when I started (although I already had a technical background)
IT is still one area that does not demand a degree to get into. Most people start at the bottom in some form of support role and work up from there - as ever this first role is the hardest to get if you don't have experience, particularly now that most of these roles are offshored. Basic support jobs are usually pretty low paid, so that's something to take into account if you are looking to switch careers.
If you feel that you are well suited and have the aptitude then go for it. I have recently been researching structural issues in ICT skills provision in Europe. There is a 750000 shortfall in ICT practitioners across Europe (EU stats). This problem will take a decade to fix. You will never be short of work though you will have to build up your skill and experience base.
Burrow01 said:
QROPS said:
What I'm looking for now is to have a real job with real chances of progression, a career. I feel my skills would be suited to a job in the IT sector, ultimately I would like to be a contractor that travels to sites to help maintain and build systems.
Would anyone have any advice as to how to go about this please?
First question is why do you think your skills would be suited to IT - what specifically fits into this area? (not doubting you, just looking to dig deeper into why IT might work for you)Would anyone have any advice as to how to go about this please?
32 is definitely not too late - that's how old I was when I started (although I already had a technical background)
IT is still one area that does not demand a degree to get into. Most people start at the bottom in some form of support role and work up from there - as ever this first role is the hardest to get if you don't have experience, particularly now that most of these roles are offshored. Basic support jobs are usually pretty low paid, so that's something to take into account if you are looking to switch careers.
It's a career move I've been thinking of for a while, and a post on here a few days back related to the way I felt and what they had achieved in this sector without a degree.
I've been an expat now for a number of years, but would happily travel back to the UK if there was an opportunity offered to me to learn. I'm well aware that I would start on the bottom rung and I have no issue with that at all. I desperately want a career with some longevity in an area that I have interest in.
fin racer said:
I certainly hope not.
I am 36 and am starting my first IT role in less than 2 weeks.
I am effectively starting at the bottom, having over 7 years experience in a finance role.
I'm starting in a support role, with the aim of picking up some MS certs over time.
The company has also offered to assist me in my degree, so that's a bonus.
Well done!I am 36 and am starting my first IT role in less than 2 weeks.
I am effectively starting at the bottom, having over 7 years experience in a finance role.
I'm starting in a support role, with the aim of picking up some MS certs over time.
The company has also offered to assist me in my degree, so that's a bonus.
May I ask what previous experience you had, if any?
If you are interested in web/database development I'd suggest giving it a go. Its probably less boring than the other IT roles and if you have a creative mind this can help.
A degree may be useful depending on where you apply to work but the "Microsoft certifications" are probably more focussed and better use of your time right now. I'd take a good look at the following first. If you can pick up a few of these exams it would give you a great start:
An SQL MCSA is a combination of 3 exams and just 1 or 2 would give you more than enough knowledge to start developing.
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/mcsa-sql-c... (exam 461 probably being most relevant to you).
The training material can be found all over the internet seaching by exam number/name. CBT Nugget videos or train signal videos are good but come at a cost unless you search hard enough!
I know far less about Developer certs than SQL but start here:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certificat...
I've also heard of people earning a lot doing mobile apps!
A degree may be useful depending on where you apply to work but the "Microsoft certifications" are probably more focussed and better use of your time right now. I'd take a good look at the following first. If you can pick up a few of these exams it would give you a great start:
An SQL MCSA is a combination of 3 exams and just 1 or 2 would give you more than enough knowledge to start developing.
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/mcsa-sql-c... (exam 461 probably being most relevant to you).
The training material can be found all over the internet seaching by exam number/name. CBT Nugget videos or train signal videos are good but come at a cost unless you search hard enough!
I know far less about Developer certs than SQL but start here:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certificat...
I've also heard of people earning a lot doing mobile apps!
I'd disagree that IT pre-sales is not technical, anywhere I have worked the pre-sales people have been the most technically adept top of the technical tree with years of experience of both design and deployment often across multiple related areas. Most pre-sales have worked up from support via deployment and design.
IT sales guys don't need to be that technical because they have the pre-sales guys to do that bit.
I think that as you have skills in cold calling (sales) then it might be best to leverage that experience and look at IT sales/account management. The low end stuff is box shifting but the upper end guys selling solutions can work single accounts for years. It can pay extremely well.
You need to decide if you want to be hands on or not. Have you built a PC from components, installed an OS what hands on IT above click the .exe have you done? Any linux experience, set up a Raspberry Pi?
IT sales guys don't need to be that technical because they have the pre-sales guys to do that bit.
I think that as you have skills in cold calling (sales) then it might be best to leverage that experience and look at IT sales/account management. The low end stuff is box shifting but the upper end guys selling solutions can work single accounts for years. It can pay extremely well.
You need to decide if you want to be hands on or not. Have you built a PC from components, installed an OS what hands on IT above click the .exe have you done? Any linux experience, set up a Raspberry Pi?
Very interesting thread.
I have a strong "systems engineering" background with some project management and low level programming/scripting experience (I'm not a developer though).
Having worked at various levels from on-site installation/programming/commissioning to back-office organisational activities I have a general aptitude for technical "stuff" and am very good at understanding products (be they hardware or software) and what they do/can offer.
I too am of similar age to the OP and have recently been looking to make a change in career path. A sidestep into IT could work well for me as I have good technical foundation upon which to build.
However, if taking an entry level position I would want to see upward progression rapidly. I'm not really sure how feasible this is in the real world though.
I have a strong "systems engineering" background with some project management and low level programming/scripting experience (I'm not a developer though).
Having worked at various levels from on-site installation/programming/commissioning to back-office organisational activities I have a general aptitude for technical "stuff" and am very good at understanding products (be they hardware or software) and what they do/can offer.
I too am of similar age to the OP and have recently been looking to make a change in career path. A sidestep into IT could work well for me as I have good technical foundation upon which to build.
However, if taking an entry level position I would want to see upward progression rapidly. I'm not really sure how feasible this is in the real world though.
Bullett said:
I'd disagree that IT pre-sales is not technical, anywhere I have worked the pre-sales people have been the most technically adept top of the technical tree with years of experience of both design and deployment often across multiple related areas. Most pre-sales have worked up from support via deployment and design.
I'll rephrase that - it depends on the technology and services. You could do IT services presales with lower technology knowledge. But pure technology presales - I agree.QROPS said:
Are .NET and SQL something you could learn via distance learning?
Which part of .Net are you looking at Windows Forms or Asp.Net as although they use the .Net framework they are very different to code properly with.SQL Server would be a good grounding too as so many developers are little or no understanding of Data and Databases (and write code that shows this lack and preform so slow).
If you are sticking with the Microsoft camp take a look at SharePoint. It is rapidly increasing in popularity and 2013 version is particularly excellent. It seem like a black art to most people, but I've found it quite easy and you can learn it quickly and amaze people fast.
I don't agree with learning older languages like VB6 and Access as will you really want a job doing that?
Also the Microsoft E-Learning I have found very useful when I did my MS Exams. You can usually get cheap deals if you look around so they don't cost the earth.
Grenoble said:
I'll rephrase that - it depends on the technology and services. You could do IT services presales with lower technology knowledge. But pure technology presales - I agree.
Yes of course. And it depends on if you are a re-seller or vendor as well. You would need a good rounded knowledge for the services type roles. Chaps I know in those sorts of areas are more about the process and procedures (ITIL for example) and making sure the proper technology experts are talking and it all hangs together.IT is still an area where experience trumps exams. I assume that because most tech moves so fast it's hard to write a course that remains relevant.
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