Would you hire a Systems Administrator that looks young?

Although I'm in my mid 20's I look like I'm a 16-17 years old teenager. The only jobs that I held had to do mostly with desktop support. Pretty much all my server experience comes from experimenting on a virtual machine at home and I'd really like to use/evolve my skills at a job in a more of an administrative role, but I'm afraid I won't even be given a chance based on how I look.

I'm really into networking and right after I finish my Associates degree (just few more weeks to go

) I plan on going to another college for my Bachelors where there's a lot of concentration on Cisco stuff, but then again I've never seen a "Cisco guy" who looks like a kid. I'm really worried and I'm getting a little depressed. Should I be concerned?

Thanks.

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Comments

human151

no need to worry. I've seen some pretty young "Cisco guys"...and they actually worked for Cisco.

Mishra

I'm 23 and people ask me if I am old enough to work at where I am at.

Age discrimination DOES happen but it doesn't prevent you from getting a great job. It just means you have to try even harder in the interviews.

I've had a few job interviews where almost everyone is telling me that I am great. One interviewer said "Can we get you on our team?". But I still didn't get hired mostly due to age discrimination.

gojericho0

If I felt he was the most qualified applicant. I would not have an issue hiring someone that looked young.

vCole

I'm the youngest person working here (full time). There was definitely a concern for my age when I started working here. You just have to work a little harder.

paintb4707

I'm 20 and the Network Administrator for my company. I'm also the youngest employee in the office.

jamesp1983

loss4words wrote:

Although I'm in my mid 20's I look like I'm a 16-17 years old teenager. The only jobs that I held had to do mostly with desktop support. Pretty much all my server experience comes from experimenting on a virtual machine at home and I'd really like to use/evolve my skills at a job in a more of an administrative role, but I'm afraid I won't even be given a chance based on how I look.

I'm really into networking and right after I finish my Associates degree (just few more weeks to go ) I plan on going to another college for my Bachelors where there's a lot of concentration on Cisco stuff, but then again I've never seen a "Cisco guy" who looks like a kid. I'm really worried and I'm getting a little depressed. Should I be concerned?

Thanks.

They will grill you harder in an interview sometimes if you look young. I was 23 and an MCSE and the interviewers still didn't think I knew anything. A company gave me a chance to prove that I know my stuff and they were amazed and told me constantly that they were really happy they gave me a chance. I wouldn't get depressed over it, you'll be fine. Just make sure you know your stuff...

I've often been the youngest guy in my department, so don't think being young is a handicap. A lot of Cisco guys are really young.

famosbrown

jimmypizzle83 wrote:

loss4words wrote:

Although I'm in my mid 20's I look like I'm a 16-17 years old teenager. The only jobs that I held had to do mostly with desktop support. Pretty much all my server experience comes from experimenting on a virtual machine at home and I'd really like to use/evolve my skills at a job in a more of an administrative role, but I'm afraid I won't even be given a chance based on how I look.

I'm really into networking and right after I finish my Associates degree (just few more weeks to go ) I plan on going to another college for my Bachelors where there's a lot of concentration on Cisco stuff, but then again I've never seen a "Cisco guy" who looks like a kid. I'm really worried and I'm getting a little depressed. Should I be concerned?

Thanks.

They will grill you harder in an interview sometimes if you look young. I was 23 and an MCSE and the interviewers still didn't think I knew anything. A company gave me a chance to prove that I know my stuff and they were amazed and told me constantly that they were really happy they gave me a chance. I wouldn't get depressed over it, you'll be fine. Just make sure you know your stuff...

I've often been the youngest guy in my department, so don't think being young is a handicap. A lot of Cisco guys are really young.

+1 for this story...almost exactly like mine. Just do well and prove you know your stuff and they will give you the opportunity to work and gain that coveted experience as a Systems Administrator that you cannot get doing anything else

nel

I Find age discrimination is rife. When ive posted for jobs etc it always comes down to my age and i find it v.frustrating! Dont let it get to you though, just get better qualified, get some more experiance and you'll be on the right road

HeroPsycho

I don't look like I'm 31; more like mid 20's. For awhile, I grew a beard for this specific reason because people assumed I was green. It's so asinine, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

ilcram19-2

i been working as a system administrator for the last 3 years im now 23 years old it is really funny because people dont have a clue of what i do they always say that im really young and that i dont act my age well thats at my work place you learn that you need to be a professional and do your job the best you can, you need to be more mature than what you look like

snadam

ilcram19-2 wrote:

i been working as a system administrator for the last 3 years im now 23 years old it is really funny because people dont have a clue of what i do they always say that im really young and that i dont act my age well thats at my work place you learn that you need to be a professional and do your job the best you can, you need to be more mature than what you look like

I started this stuff when I was 20 and couldnt get the time of day with my co-workers. Now that Im 25; I still cant get the time of day, only when I fix something important to them (ie fixing their audio stream

and when you cant/shouldnt; they think youre crap) So its progressively getting better

I just discard it and show them Im confident in my work.

dynamik

loss4words wrote:

Would you hire a Systems Administrator that looks young?

Sure, if she is hot.

HeroPsycho wrote:

I don't look like I'm 31; more like mid 20's

Better than looking 40.

Seriously though, most places will look beyond your age to your actual talents. If some place doesn't, brush it off and move along. Just be sure to present yourself as mature and responsible.

networker050184

Another young person here. I'm 24 and the youngest in my group by seven years. I'm sure at first people thought I was green, but now that I have taught them all a few things I am well respected. Just make sure you know your stuff because like stated above you will get grilled in the interview room.

Good luck!

TechJunky

I am 25 at my current company. I am the youngest system admin in our group by about 10 years. Most of the people I work with are military based and have been dealing with things like VOIP for 15 years. I feel lucky to be where I am at today with all the other knowledgible people that are in my group. Also considering this is the first company that I have worked for where I can say I worked on a 5 million dollar project etc.

I have always been the youngest in my group at every position I have held. Dont let "looking young" hold you down. If most of the people are in their 40's then those should be the people you surround yourself around so you will begin to talk like them, act like them, understand where they are coming from etc. I know it sounds silly but it works! Most of my friends now are 38+ just because of where I work and who I associate myself with now. I have maybe 3 friends under 25. Partly because I wouldn't even know how to find anyone under 25 in my office.

bjaxx

TechJunky wrote:

I am 25 at my current company. I am the youngest system admin in our group by about 10 years. Most of the people I work with are military based and have been dealing with things like VOIP for 15 years. I feel lucky to be where I am at today with all the other knowledgible people that are in my group. Also considering this is the first company that I have worked for where I can say I worked on a 5 million dollar project etc.

I have always been the youngest in my group at every position I have held. Dont let "looking young" hold you down. If most of the people are in their 40's then those should be the people you surround yourself around so you will begin to talk like them, act like them, understand where they are coming from etc. I know it sounds silly but it works! Most of my friends now are 38+ just because of where I work and who I associate myself with now. I have maybe 3 friends under 25. Partly because I wouldn't even know how to find anyone under 25 in my office.

i'm 25 as well and am a systems admin for a the biggest company in this area. Most of the people in our office have been here 10-20 years.

I do feel at times I don't get the respect, because i'm a young buck... But once you "prove yourself" they let you play in there sandbox.

kripsak

HeroPsycho wrote:

I don't look like I'm 31; more like mid 20's. For awhile, I grew a beard for this specific reason because people assumed I was green. It's so asinine, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

LOL

I know exactly what you mean. Most of my interviews I shaved my stache, and lately I had this feeling that they looked at me like I was a young buck. I'm 31 also, and now I just leave a trimmed stache. I'd rather walk in with a goatee and stache, but the goatee is not very professional for some of these interviewees.

snadam

dynamik wrote:

loss4words wrote:

Would you hire a Systems Administrator that looks young?

Sure, if she is hot.

WINNER FOR BEST ANSWER CONTEST!

Kasor

Experience is what I'm looking for... not the look or young. If he or she can't do the job, then what is the point to hire them.

blargoe

HeroPsycho wrote:

I don't look like I'm 31; more like mid 20's. For awhile, I grew a beard for this specific reason because people assumed I was green. It's so asinine, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

Exactly what I had to do. I still have the goatee 8 years later. I tried to go clean shaved a couple of times, but I was getting tired of being like 23 years old and getting carded to get into R rated movies. I'm 29 now and I'm going to keep it into my low to mid 30's.

HeroPsycho

dynamik wrote:

Seriously though, most places will look beyond your age to your actual talents. If some place doesn't, brush it off and move along. Just be sure to present yourself as mature and responsible.

There's a problem though with that. Moving up beyond engineer has an increasingly stronger focus soft skills. Ironically, no one has a problem recognizing technical talent with younger people, but they do with softer skills.

brad-

Youth in the networking and computing industry probably is a negative given that it usually translates to less experience in the workplace...ie less job history to show your reliability.

However, if you know your stuff and interview well you should be able to overcome it...and maybe the company could recognize that grabbing a young 20's guy might be a positive if you choose to stay with the company.

JDMurray

brad- wrote:

Youth in the networking and computing industry probably is a negative given that it usually translates to less experience in the workplace...ie less job history to show your reliability.

Quite the opposite in the software engineering game. Younger people who have no life are preferred because they are more eager and energetic than us "older" guys with a life and family. Older guys want a more respectable salary too. Certain industries, such as computer gaming and art, require a certain "hip culture" that favors and even requires youth. I've seen people go from 25 to 30 to 35 and not fair well with the transition from the "in-crowd" to the "old-crowd." To see it just breaks my heart.

damsel_in_tha_net

HeroPsycho wrote:

I don't look like I'm 31; more like mid 20's. For awhile, I grew a beard for this specific reason because people assumed I was green. It's so asinine, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

same for me......i'm in my 20s and look much younger...

add to that i'm female....so a beard isn't even an option!

so how's that for "difficulty"?

neathneathneath

My present job is an IT Technician / Network Administrator (we cover desktop and server issues).

When I went for my job interview abouut 2 years ago, all the other competitors were more than half my age. I flew the interview as the young ones had no experience or no idea about the job.
Sometimes it can work the other way and employers go for age and experience.

Any thoughts on this?

mamono

Younger also means more willing to learn new technology. I don't think that being young is a red flag, but actually the opposite. What you need is to get the experience and certifications, so that you can let them do the talking and only have to answer questions to prove that you know the subject material during the interview.