Need Advice On Making A Comeback

Here's my story:

I am 43. I live in Orlando, Florida. In the nineties I worked in the IT profession here in Central Florida. I worked mostly contracts for companies like Disney, Seagate Software, EDS, Price Waterhouse, Lockheed Martin, and others. I was an NT 4.0 MCSE, and held other certifications, such as Novell CNA, CheckPoint Firewall, 3COM, etc.

In 2000 I fell on hard times. The IT market went into the bucket in Orlando. I returned to college after the collapse and got a degree in MIS from the University of Central Florida. Unable to find a decent-paying IT job, I tried working in other professions. I just wasn't cut out to do anything other than IT work. I also had to take time off completely from work as I gained custody of my son. I devoted all of my time to him. Now that he is grown, I seek to return...

The problem should be easy to see. No one wants to talk to me. At 43 I am told I am old. Well, I don't feel old. I was very good at what I did and I once commanded a handsome hourly rate. I did everything from desktop work to designing and maintaining massive enterprise email systems (MS Exchange). I worked on Cisco routers and served a stint as an IT Manager for the Alcon office in Orlando.

I see that certification is still a big thing these days. I don't hear much about MCSE's or CCNA's here in Orlando, but Googling around and searching the job sites I see that employers still seem to be enamored with A+ for entry level personnel and MCSE for enterprise work.

How can I get back in the game? What would be a good first step? Should I obtain an A+ or an MCSA to impress a prospective employer, or is 43 really too old these days? Am I done? I'd like to think not, but maybe I just can't read the writing on the all.

Thank you for any help.

Greg

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Comments

dynamik

There's been stories of people here on TE just getting into IT in their 40s, so you're only too old if you think you are. You do need to accept that a lot has changed since you've been actively involved though, so you may have to start closer to the bottom and work your way back up. A+/Network+ are good entry-level certs and the MCSE and CCNA are still solid certifications. If they're not in demand in your market, you may need to consider a move as well. I'm sure things will come back to you once you get back into it, and you'll pick up on the new material quickly. Just believe in yourself and hang in there.

Daniel333

Actually someone in their 40's is idea. People in their early 20's are not stable enough generally.

Given your background I think A+ would be a waste of your time. Unless your really want it for some reason.

Kaminsky

I'm 44 and still haven no trouble getting work at all. Whoever advised you are too old should never be listened to again. Just got to get that foot in the door and your off. In the current climate though, that may be easier said than done.

Welcome back though

jamesp1983

you'll do fine. I would go for MCSA.

Bokeh

Youre too old? If someone actually says that, opens up to an age discrimination lawsuit. You'd have their job and lots more.

Why not go for MCSA, CCNA and then try getting some consulting jobs while you wait for the fulltime position to pop open?

neathneathneath

I would go for it.

I'm late 40's myself and studying for MCSA, hard but rewarding.
Personally I'm looking at it as more of an achievement thing rather than financial but who knows what the future holds? May come in handy one day.

itdaddy

go for CCNA and the CCNA voice to get on the fast track

i have seen many jobs opening for people with CCNA and then CCNA voice
you can do midsized companies and with your MIS should land you an IT manager job

that is my route right now dude ifyou are old then i am dead

i am 41 but like you have been doing it along time...get your CCNA and then CCNA voice
you will be hitting hard I would say CCNA in 6 months and then the following 6 months
hit CCNA i took over a year part time on ccna. i could have done it in 6 month if that is all i was doing and since you are done with college i think this is best route

my 2.3 cents

you can do it man! you have many years left and a MIS degree with you experience
get out of Orlando man move!

good job on the son...i am in your shoes igot custody of my son 2 years ago and yeah
you are good man God will bless you just do what i say hah serious
this is my route then CCNP willl be during my ccna voice slowly
ccna ccna voice then ccnp yeah!

LarryDaMan

itdaddy wrote:

God will bless you

God doesn't have his CCNA.

wat08

LarryDaMan wrote:

itdaddy wrote:

God will bless you

God doesn't have his CCNA.

LOL :P

Slowhand

It sounds like you were pretty heavy into the networking end of IT back in the '90s. If that's the case, you could start looking into Cisco or even Juniper certifications. You'd probably get more responses from employers with Cisco certifications, (not to knock Juniper,) since Cisco's a well-known and respected name in the industry. You also mentioned that you had your MCSE on NT 4.0, that could be a good stepping-stone to MCSE on Windows Server 2003. You could do MCSA as well, but if you're looking to get well-rounded training, as well as plenty of hits on your resume, you'll want to do the full MCSE. If you're going the Microsoft route, there is also a new generation of certifiations geared towards the 2007/2008 technologies, called Microsoft Certified Information Technology Professional. Specifically, there are two certs towards Windows Server 2008, called MCITP: Server Administrator and MCITP: Enterprise Administrator, respectively. Unlike the 2000 and 2003 generation of certs, where specialites like Exchange 2003 were part of the MCSE track, the new generation has MCITP tracks for different products, like Exchange 2007 and SQL Server 2008

With your background, I think it's safe for you to skip most of the entry-level certifications and focus on the more specialized and advanced things you worked with before. Since your prior work-experience is with Windows and networking technologies, I'd say start with one or both of those, and move from there. While there are plenty of Linux and Unix certs out there to be had, I'd say stick with what you know to start with as you're getting back into IT. There's plenty of work for Windows admins and network engineers; and don't be shy about applying for work as you're training. I hope this has given you a bit of direction, maybe some ideas, or at least a clear picture of what your options are. Good luck, and let us know what you decide to do and how it goes.

Daniel333

Slowhand has the right idea. You are way ahead of the game! Comptia's A+ would be a waste of your time, unless you want to work for Geek Squad? (say no)

MCSA would be a great starting point, 4 exams.
70-270 (windows XP)
70-620 (vista client)
70-290 (Windows 2003)
70-291 (infrastructure)

And you will be well cought up on your Microsoft technologies. I am betting you can knock this out in 6-8 months. You would be leaveraging your existing experience very well.

mamono

LarryDaMan wrote:

itdaddy wrote:

God will bless you

God doesn't have his CCNA.

Since God created everything, then I would say that he does. :P

jimmypizzle83 wrote:

you'll do fine. I would go for MCSA.

I agree with everyone else, you'll want to focus on Cisco and Microsoft for now. Don't forget about the Microsoft Second Chance offer.

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/offers/secondshot/default.mspx

It makes your first test seem like a practice test. Need to take it the second time, then its free the 2nd time around!

According to the Microsoft website for MCSA 2003:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcsa/windows2003/default.mspx

You can use your MCSE NT4 as elective credit. You only need to take three exams to obtain MCSA 2003. I suggest the following:

70-290
70-291
70-620

All three of these are applicable to MCSE 2003 and puts you another 3 exams away from MCSE 2003. You could always go the Cisco route. Either route is good.

Mrock4

Cisco also has the same promotion going on, the Second Chance, that is. It's going to end in a few days, on October 15th, but I'm sure it will be back.

Best of luck to you OP. It's admirable to see someone who's getting back in the trenches after a while away. If you get bored in Orlando move over here to Tampa..!

Greg in Orlando

I cannot thank you guys enough for the encouragement and advice. I have already paid for one A+ exam that I used a non-refundable voucher for. But I think I need to cut my losses on that track. Besides, I couldn't pass Geek Squad's personality test anyway.

Thanks again,

Greg

itdaddy

Faith