Career Change

Hello Techies,

I have been working as a structured cabling technician for a few years now, but I want to get into the IT field. I am not new I do have hardware and basic networking experience but still have a lot to learn, and starting with the A+ and will move on to CCNA....love networking. Anyway I just turned 28 and I feel like i am a dinosaur in the entry level tech crowd, and I wanted to ask those of you who also made career changes how old were you when you made the decision and started working toward your goals.

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Comments

jbaello

I started as a Desktop Support at age 23, I also did contract jobs configuring small business network/infrastructure needs, when I got in the US at age 22, I was a programmer without experience and job was hard to comeby with outsourcing to India an all, I was forced to change career, then on April of 2007 I decided to pursue MCSE 2003.

I've been blessed ever since I decided to do this, there is so much to learn, and I am probably just getting started.

Goodluck!

Crunchyhippo

davidjbar wrote:

Hello Techies,

I have been working as a structured cabling technician for a few years now, but I want to get into the IT field. I am not new I do have hardware and basic networking experience but still have a lot to learn, and starting with the A+ and will move on to CCNA....love networking. Anyway I just turned 28 and I feel like i am a dinosaur in the entry level tech crowd, and I wanted to ask those of you who also made career changes how old were you when you made the decision and started working toward your goals.

LOL - I started at 42. If only I were 28 and starting....

Relax. You have plenty of time.

MCPWannabe

davidjbar wrote:

Hello Techies,

I have been working as a structured cabling technician for a few years now, but I want to get into the IT field. I am not new I do have hardware and basic networking experience but still have a lot to learn, and starting with the A+ and will move on to CCNA....love networking. Anyway I just turned 28 and I feel like i am a dinosaur in the entry level tech crowd, and I wanted to ask those of you who also made career changes how old were you when you made the decision and started working toward your goals.

28 Years old is still a baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You better enjoy the youth while you still have it.

Daniel333

I am not a big fan of Comptia, but A+ is still pretty well respected. It's not a bad starting point. Just don't linger on it too much.

The certs that will actually help put a roof over your head and much father down the way, and in many cases easier than A+!

Psoasman

I formally got into computers when I was 32. Before that it was a hobby. I had previously been a massage therapist and got tired of killing my hands.
Since you have a lot of experience in cabling, that will boost your resume right now.
I would definitely hit the A+ IT technician, then Network+. You might also take a MS course and get an MCP. CCNA is always good as well.

Slowhand

Sounds like you're on the right track, starting off with A+ (and possibly even Network+), and the CCNA will give you a good idea of if you "really want to go into networking". As for being 28, that's well below the "you're a dinosaur" age for IT, especially if you have work-experience in another career to show that you're not just another gold-digger or some punk kid that wants to make lots of money in IT. (Any professional experience that doesn't involve the phrase 'would you like fries with that' is good experience.)

And as for seeing younger, hungrier guys studying and working right along with you, don't let it get to you. Don't think of yourself as older, you're a legacy techie.

janmike

56 when I made that decision. Now I am 62 and still learning.

Good luck!

With best regards,

The T-Rex(lol)