What would you do if you had to start over again? Networking / IT Security Vs Dev?

The other day my cuz had asked me what I think is right path for someone looking to change career from retail to IT - this was in reference to his current midlife crisis.

Is it worth a while to start IT route certs or go into web development? He's 35, work with his dad in a small retail business they own. I think he's looking to get out.

What should I tell him? I'll probably let him know about this forum next time I see him.

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Comments

NetworkNewb

Its not like he is old... He should go into whichever he enjoys more. I wouldn't do it if he just chasing the all mighty dollar though. Makes it hard to succeed and stick with it if you don't enjoy what you're doing.

IronmanX

Is there any way he can be doing some dev for his retail business?
If its something his business needs he may be able to offer it to others.
A lot of small software dev companies start this way.

yoba222

I'd tell him to start by subscribing to Team Treehouse for 3 or 4 months and make some practice web sites. It's like $30 a month. If it's his thing he could hop on Craigslist or use his retail connections and start doing websites for people. It's very easy to outsource web development though and web development might not be for him. $30 a month for a couple of months is a gentle and low risk commitment.

DatabaseHead

With that much retail sounds like service management/service desk. More along the soft skills, empathizing with the customers, triage incidents and problems.

MrSecurityGuy

I mean to say Retail as in small gas station.

MrSecurityGuy

Just spoke to him and he said after much researching he wants to do IT Security. He does have few years of help desk exp from long time ago from his early 20's.

I told him to start working on his CCNA -> CCNA security and apply for NOC / SOC position.

Also, told him about this forum as well. I hope I said the right thing.

volfkhat

You should ask him what he thinks a career in "IT Security" means.

Seriously, he needs to describe it, in his own words.

Then plan a path from there...

LordQarlyn

Probably development, there seem to be more jobs available and they seem to pay more, just from my observation.

kiki162

He should do some research on his own first, and decide what he likes and doesn't like. Jumping into "IT Security" makes no sense, he needs to start with some of the core fundamentals first and work his way up from there. Since he's starting fresh start with the CompTIA certs, then work up into CCNA (or whatever). Doing it for the money always a bad idea. Do it because you enjoy it, and then the money will follow.