is age a concern in this industry or is it just me?

hey everyone, my name is mike and i am a computer geek ( you should b proud to be a geek) neway my question is this, why is it whenever i apply for an IT position i get turned down on the grounds of my age? true i understand that 17 is a bit young to start my career, yet i have more knowlage and experiance than your average 17 yr old geek. i left school and college because nothing seemed to challenge me, so i decided to study on my own for qualifications that i thought would allow me to break into the industry.
So far i have completed my MCP Network+ A+ and MCSA, as you all know thats no small feet, yet i am still seeing people much less qualified than me get into the jobs i want. now why can nobody seem to see my potential? i dont intend to stop studying (working on my CCNA and MCSE atm) so if i have these qualifications and this knowlage at the age of 17 then what do you think im going to be like by the time in 25? if there is somone out there that can help me out i would really apreceate at, ever since i was 12 i have dreamed of working for somone like Microsoft, IBM or Cisco. i just need a foot on the ladder to get going and i will be there, i am a very determined person, especialy when it comes to IT.

please e-mail me if u would like a copy of my cv

thanks

michael whtitehouse

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Comments

garv221

The problem here is that you have certifications but no real world experience at anything, your 17. I'm sure I'm not the first to tell you that all a cert is - is a piece of paper. You need experience not only in IT but life in general. Certifications are worthless without experience.. Give it some time.

knownasthatguy

Certs will only carry you so far. I have a decade worths of experience in Communications. Not every piece of equipment is CISCO or every problem you come across will be in a book. It takes some out of the box thinking on multi vendor, multi platform systems. Now, my experience comes from the DOD, but most of what we used is industry standard anyway. Dont discount the certs cause they count, but if you are willing to get a cert, get a degree too. I am working on my AAS in Telecomm/Network Eng. Tech. and will transfer to East Carolina University for a BS. I know for high level jobs like network engineering, like at CISCO or Nortel, a BS is highly desired, but so is experience. Just keep your head up, get your "I am qualified stamped sheeps skin", and keep at it. Start small and then wow them with your knowledge, then move up.

kramit

i have about 3 years expierence working part time for my local internet cafe wich involved quite alot of troubleshooting and also networking win2k and 2k3 servers with some wans and iis thrown in there for good measure (and to be fair i have never come across a problem that i could solve from looking in a book so i support u fully there knownasthatguy and i too have spent many a long hour with a fag in my mouth staring at IT equipment trying to figure out what the hell is wrong, there are just too many problems to list in books) now that may seem like not alot of experience as it was only a small operatoin with links to other cyber cafe's round the uk, but my point is this, how am i supposed to get experience if all jobs require it? ive even e-mailed microsoft on this point and they told me that they would accept me for an internship over in america, fat lot of good that is when i live in birmingham england. thanks for the offer bill, but i dont really fancy a 2000 mile commute. like i say i need somone to recocnise my potential and support me in what im good at.

D-boy

kramit wrote:

ive even e-mailed microsoft on this point and they told me that they would accept me for an internship over in america, fat lot of good that is when i live in birmingham england. thanks for the offer bill, but i dont really fancy a 2000 mile commute. .

Depends how bad you want it

linuxguy

dont give up.

I had the same sort of issue. Just keep studing your certs, get your degree if it will help over there (I do not know the job situation over there), get every piece of experence you can, and apply for everthing you are closely qualified for ( you always have to reach a little

)./

Do not let them hose your dreams. Keep trying and it will happen sooner or later.

BTW.
I do not know if it is as big a deal over there as here, but the way you apply here is very important. EX: layout of resume, personnally addressed cover letter, interview skills, etc.

Webmaster

Now don't get me wrong here, but you won't get far fast if you keep claiming that you have three years experience while you are 17. No HR department on this planet will take anyone who does that seriously. You just cannot have 3 years of professional experience, at least not in the eyes of the HR person reading your resume (CV). Besides that, nobody wants to hire a kid while they can choose from an eager herd of grown-ups

I was 19 when I got my first job in IT and age was 'a problem' until I was 25+. I knew I could do the jobs that I got after 25 easily when I was 20, but that didn't do me much good. When you apply for a job that a 25-60 year old typically does, you are actually claiming that a 17 year old guy can do their job. Most people don't appreciate that and won't take you seriously (as they automatically assume you are not taking the job and the required skills seriously). And this is exactly one of the reasons you need experience, and not just with products/technologies. Again, don't get me wrong, I think I know exactly how you feel, and probably give you a job if I could. But try to be modest instead of emphasizing how much you (think you) know. Make sure they notice what you do and how you do it, but remain modest. Take any job (real job) you can get to build up a resume with experience. No matter how hard you try, you will have to start at the bottom like everyone else anyway. There's no shortage in IT pro's so companies can pick candidates with skills (based on years of experience). To get that experience, you need to work, full-time, preferably in a corporate environment.

i just need a foot on the ladder to get going and i will be there, i am a very determined person, especialy when it comes to IT.

ive even e-mailed microsoft on this point and they told me that they would accept me for an internship over in america, fat lot of good that is when i live in birmingham england. thanks for the offer bill, but i dont really fancy a 2000 mile commute.

If Microsoft actually offered you an internship, and you are determined as you said, you should probably take that offer. If you prove your ability there, you're set for life.

There's something positive to it though: you'll be 25 in no time and than you will have a lot of experience compared to other of the same age or older even. (Although then you'll wish you were 17 again

).

Good luck!

/usr

I agree with Webmaster. You just can't really expect a company to hire a 17 year old. I'm not saying you don't have some experience, or the ability, just that you'll probably have to wait a bit longer.

marcread357

Have you tried going with a temp/contract company? You may have to wait until you turn 18 but that is a good way to get your foot in the door. Nothing is woring with geting a low level help desk job. Where i work, we have a couple of guys who are 18-21 who work on a contract through a tech company. might be worh a try.

Drakonblayde

Well, I don't know where you're at, but at least in my state, there are alot of restrictions on minors working fulltime jobs, and that's part of the reason why some companies simply won't consider anyone under 18.

But your age isn't all that's going to count against you. Leaving school at such an early age is something that alot of employers might not like because it could indicate an inability to stick with something. If they were to hire you, how would they know you wouldn't leave in six months because you got bored?

I'd advise getting your high school diploma (if you haven't already) and at least a 2 year degree. You might find your age becomes less of a problem then.

Cherper

Anybody applying for a job at 17 with nothing but certifications is going to be seen as nothing more than a paper XXXX (put your cert here). You need to get some real world experience and put your time in somewhere even if it is just a $8-10/hour help desk job. Put in a few years and you might find that you can get where you want to be.

Orion82698

You need to get some real world experience and put your time in somewhere even if it is just a $8-10/hour help desk job. Put in a few years and you might find that you can get where you want to be.

I agree. I had to start out making $7 an hour just doing desktop repair (desktops, laptops, printers) I was very underpaid for having A+, but the knowledge that I gained was priceless. You need to look at it as I did. I didn't care what I was getting paid, because knowledge was power. The last job I was at hired me due to my experiance, not my certifications. Don't give up, there is a job out there somewhere for you.

Goodluck

C

viper75

You need real world experience!!! I was hired at where I am now because of my experience. That was the major factor...they really didn't care much about my certs. Been here for almost 6 years.

Zraxniah

Go to college, and get drunk. Make some friends, pass the time, get a degree. Have some fun. I started looking after high school with the same complaint. At 21, I'm doing the same ol' bs (lugging PCs around in the dirt while the network admin comes to me for scripting help).

The best way to get into the job market is to goto school full time and take summer internships. They'll pay a little less than your full time job since no one will pay you what you're worth, you'll complete school, and get work experience. Keep working on the certs too.

If thats exactly what you didn't want to hear, its probably the right advice (it was for me, but I didn't listen, although I am in school nights).

Gah, I'm just bitter though. It will hopefully work out better for you.

Another approach to job searching is to search for businesses that you would want to work and then send them targetted letters. I'm going to try that soon.

Ten9t6

I agree with others...it is not really your age, but a lack of provable experience in real world jobs. As others said...certs will only get you so far. If you are serious about all of this, I would do the following (but this is only my opinion):

enroll into college for a technical degree- Even if you do not like college, a degree can take you further....Plus...it's all about "networking". You will make all kinds of friends and contacts that can lead to future jobs. All of the jobs that I have had since I got out of the Army have been because of who I know...not so much what I know...

While in college...start doing some small consulting gigs....If you do a good job, this will lead to more jobs...This is great extra money and experience that can go on a resume..Side jobs here and there gave me about 10-15,000. of play money last year....This was really without trying..so the potential is out there.

Get involved in local User Groups. Cisco, Microsoft, and Linux....have user groups all over the world. This is another good way to learn...and Network....

I know this may not be what you want to hear.....but, this is the route that I would go....Hope this helps..

viper75

Ten9t6 wrote:

I agree with others...it is not really your age, but a lack of provable experience in real world jobs. As others said...certs will only get you so far. If you are serious about all of this, I would do the following (but this is only my opinion):

enroll into college for a technical degree- Even if you do not like college, a degree can take you further....Plus...it's all about "networking". You will make all kinds of friends and contacts that can lead to future jobs. All of the jobs that I have had since I got out of the Army have been because of who I know...not so much what I know...

While in college...start doing some small consulting gigs....If you do a good job, this will lead to more jobs...This is great extra money and experience that can go on a resume..Side jobs here and there gave me about 10-15,000. of play money last year....This was really without trying..so the potential is out there.

Get involved in local User Groups. Cisco, Microsoft, and Linux....have user groups all over the world. This is another good way to learn...and Network....

I know this may not be what you want to hear.....but, this is the route that I would go....Hope this helps..

Very true!!! I agree with you 100%

hc2ab

keep working on it. I'm sure everything will work out.

you can probably set up a home network with some server and demonstrate what you can do in interview. vmware helps alot if cost is a problem

If time permit I really hope you'll consider going back to school though, even night school. You'll meet interesting people. And it might help you advance your career more.

/usr

Go to college, and get drunk.

My head still hurts.

HackNack

I used to get the same thing. What I learned is that I should drop the attitude and keep trying. This is the best advice I can give you. Drop the attitude and keep trying.

/usr

Does he even actively post anymore? He hasn't responded since this has been brought back up.

/usr

Does he even actively post anymore? He hasn't responded since this has been brought back up.

strauchr

IT is more than just about your technical knowledge and certs its also about responsibility, multi tasking, prioritising, organising, using your initiative, undestanding business needs.

This is the main problem with most newbies to the industry, you need those soft skills and experience before anything else and you do that by working from the bottom up. Help Desk work is the best place to learn those skills.