Started working in IT in my early 30s am I "too old"?

draught

This makes a feel little nervous when mostly all the other employees who aren't management are in their 20s in my company. I had to start out out the bottom to get a job in IT. Because I'm in my 30s I feel like I need to really get things done in my career quickly before I hit 40 when it will start to be hard to get IT jobs I suspect.

Is there anyone else that started in this field in their 30s as well?

N7Valiant

30 now, just started applying for entry-level IT. We'll see how that works out. Been applying since Dec 19th, 3 interviews, 2 with staffing agencies, 1 as a result of one of those staffing agencies, 2 more this week.

But yes, I do feel like we'd have to move a little faster and be a little more aggressive to keep up. I do have it in my head to be a sys admin in 2-3 years. I don't expect to have much of a social life in the meantime.

greeneon

No you are never too old. Your life experience can be an asset to your professional experience. Your maturity will provide you with insight and wisdom that someone who is younger doesn't have. Hopefully, by this time you have learned how to balance life. This will help you to advance faster. Just continue to grow!

Welly_59

Never too old but you will need to work harder to make it come quicker.

I moved to networking when I was 35. In the time I've been on my team I have taken a lead in learning and spreading knowledge, learning as much as I can. Interviewed yesterday for a job on 50k so will see how that goes with 2 years experience

LordQarlyn

If you are then I must be ancient for starting IT at 40 lol, and my old man, he must be venerable since he became the IT guy for his work at 59 (he was a scientist so that probably gave him an edge picking up new technologies).
Remember soft skills such as people skills and problem solving skills, and organizational skills, carry over to any field. So you may have started a bit later than most do in IT but you picked up soft skills that will give you an edge, and if you worked in any kind of technology, you may even have tech skills you can apply to IT jobs. Indeed, that's what I did and I was able to go straight to system admin skipping the helpdesk stage entirely. And my soft skills probably more than my tech skills helped me get an IT Manager job.

mbarrett

You are never too old, and if you have dedication and good "soft" skills as mentioned previously, that will help a lot in many situations.
But depending on what you have been doing up until now, it will require additional focus & drive than if you started sooner.
I wouldn't worry about going for jobs if you are older too much, in IT the biggest factor is usually whether you have the knowledge & skills (and you are able to demonstrate it.)

Danielm7

Age'ism is a thing, but 30s is not old by any stretch. The average age of IT engineers where I work is mid 40s.

tedjames

I started working in security at 41. I'm 52 now (but I read on a 55-year old level) and still going strong. Got my last job 2.5 years ago. Ageism does exist, but don't let that stop you.

networker050184

You're certainly not too old. If I were you I'd be using it to my advantage. Use your maturity to be a natural leader of your younger group. Stand out, take initiative and get noticed.

emek

I've worked with help desk guys pushing close to 50. I think you're fine in your early 30's, especially with your certs.

--chris--

Started in IT when I was 28, 32 now. Only been up/up/up and away since I started.

No issues at all...if anything I think employers give us "older" folks more opportunity. Where I work now, maturity and professional behavior is an issue for almost everyone under 25. They expect the younger workers hired in will need a year of grooming/maturation (and place them in appropriate positions).

Exmaple: One of the developers here. Hired into helpdesk straight out of school, with the plan of moving up to a developer position after 9-12 months. He had a rough patch, showed up habitually late by 5 minutes. They worked with him, get it straightened out and after a year he was moved into a dev spot with more money, responsibility and freedom.

edit: I should add most of the "senior" folks I work with are in their 40's to 50's. If your late 30's now, your on track for "senior" by then

EnderWiggin

"Don't trust anyone over 30!"

LordQarlyn

So that's why I stopped trusting myself

EnderWiggin wrote: »

"Don't trust anyone over 30!"

LeBroke

--chris-- wrote: »

He had a rough patch, showed up habitually late by 5 minutes. They worked with him, get it straightened out and after a year he was moved into a dev spot with more money, responsibility and freedom.

Wow I wouldn't even work in a place where that's an issue... And neither would a lot of good engineers, a lot of whom, let's admit it, tend to be extremely disorganized and happy go lucky.

--chris--

LeBroke wrote: »

Wow I wouldn't even work in a place where that's an issue... And neither would a lot of good engineers, a lot of whom, let's admit it, tend to be extremely disorganized and happy go lucky.

To each their own. Rules be rules, matey. We all know them and sign up for the same thing.

dhay13

Not me. I started at 40. I feel I had to work harder and smarter then most others. I didn't come to this field on purpose. A workplace injury forced a career change and I needed something where my age wouldn't be as big of a hit so I chose IT. Don't get me wrong, I love what I do, it just wasn't 'voluntary'. I had to catch up at warp speed as all those in my classes were talking about the old 386's and stuff I never heard of. I read and learned as much as I could and used my maturity and responsibility to help me get a leg up. I had perfect attendance at every job and was reliable. I also had an eagerness to learn. Fast forward about 9 years later and I feel I have 'caught up' and now have a great job with a nice paycheck.

LeBroke

--chris-- wrote: »

To each their own. Rules be rules, matey. We all know them and sign up for the same thing.

There's rules that matter (i.e. "follow change request process"), and rules that don't matter. Being 5 minutes late is a rule that doesn't matter, especially if your job is pretty flexible overall in the "get X done by end of sprint" sense.

Welly_59

Depends on the organisation. I can see big business and govt being fussy on timekeeping

gkca

LeBroke wrote: »

There's rules that matter (i.e. "follow change request process"), and rules that don't matter. Being 5 minutes late is a rule that doesn't matter, especially if your job is pretty flexible overall in the "get X done by end of sprint" sense.

Don't get me wrong, but which rules matter defined by those who sign your cheque

echo_time_cat

Just to chime in with the others... No, there is no such thing as too late.

I started in IT in my early 30's, and even though I should have taken the plunge earlier having always been the guy in the office that fixed 90% of whatever went wrong, the life experience I had in a variety of other roles and fields was still put to good use. 6 years in and a few certs (got a couple more on the go now), I am further along and happier than I anticipated. You might have to do extra studying (as I did) to make up for time, and lab more to make up for experience, but it's certainly doable.

It's really all up to you.

LordQarlyn

Yep! And almost every place I worked at cared about punctuality. I used to be one of those "who cares if someone is a few minutes late!!" type people. But as a manager now, I do see a correlation between those who are habitually late even if only a few minutes and having sloppy work.

gkca wrote: »

Don't get me wrong, but which rules matter defined by those who sign your cheque

--chris--

LordQarlyn wrote: »

Yep! And almost every place I worked at cared about punctuality. I used to be one of those "who cares if someone is a few minutes late!!" type people. But as a manager now, I do see a correlation between those who are habitually late even if only a few minutes and having sloppy work.

This ^

The discipline to get to work early/on-time everyday is (usually) indicative of other disciplined acts. I am not passing judgement on the guy, hes a great worker (and a friend) but he did have a laissez faire attitude to things when he started. Now he understands that things get done because you actively ensure they get done.

Xdxturx

Not at all! As long as you are dedicated to continuing to learn materials and advance your career you'll be fine.

scaredoftests

I am 58, still going strong and willing to learn. Never stagnate yourself.

Fulcrum45

I started in IT at the age of 31. It was a hard go at first but since I worked at a small MSP, at least my age was a non-issue. Just put your head down and learn as much as you can. I think you'll find that your age won't be as much of a factor as you think.

NavyMooseCCNA

Hell no! I was thirty when I got into IT!