Am I too old to enter the IT field and start over again

I just turned 40 and have a year before I finish up Bachelors degree, I have gotten some advice on what certifications I need and stuff, but I guess at this point my real question is this, am I am too old to be going into the IT field as a beginner. I guess I ask this when I was reading a post earlier, some of what some people earn is way outpacing what I do. I work a state university as a drafter, well started as a drafter did that for about 10 years and now I am more or less doing all the grunt work like inputting data in a database and what we call field work outside the office. I like to get people's advice on what they suggest. Thanks.

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Comments

jdancer

No such thing as "too old".

Just recognize that all beginners in any field start at the bottom and work their way up.

The only limit to your career progression is really yourself.

dave330i

I switched when I was 37. Doing pretty well now.

kriscamaro68

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Geek1969

I went back to a local community college to start learning computer networking at age 37. I started my first IT support job at age 38. Two of the best moves I have ever made. There probably are not too many people paying off student loans at 43, but it worked well for me. I am now a network administrator making close to twice what I did before going back to college 6 years ago, and loving what I do for a living. I won't say it was easy with kids, wife, mortgages etc...but it was definately worth doing.
Good luck to you.

goldenlight

You have a good 30 years ahead of you. Enjoy the Journey

rsutton

I would say 50+ would present a real challenge getting in to IT, even then with the right personality it's doable. I think you will be fine if you are truly motivated/determined.

neo9006

Thanks guys, the more I think about the more I think I can make a second career choice, hard work will not be the problem, before I had a job at a grocery store and this was when I was 28, I started at the bottom as a sacker, with in 6 months I was a checker and after another 2 years I was Assistant Service Manager on the front end. Another year later I was running the stock crew on the weekends and had a key to the store at the time. I probably could have made a career but my interest has always been around computers. I just need to get on the ball and set some goals for the next few months and get there. Hopefully this time next year I will have Bachelors plus some certifications as well and have my foot in the door by that time.

$hortCircuit

Your not "too old" till your sleeping. Keep stompin man!!

Michael2

Good luck. I hope you achieve your goals.

ADandridge

Your not to old to do IT. I think it's a field that you can quickly accelerate in. I don't have much experience outside the military about the IT world, but from what I have seen since getting out is how fast you can move up a chain if you take your career seriously and continue to learn. Well you have to continue to learn in IT as it is always changing. There is always an upgrade or new technology coming out. As long as your working hard to get to where you want to be. You can go from just a helpdesk administrator changing passwords, to doing server work, to actually planning an IT deployment. I say that because that's what happened to me in the Marine Corps. I have seen it happen with some of my friends that got out earlier though. I was a helpdesk guy, and by my 3rd year I was Server Chief and 5th year I was Communications chief.

sieff

No such thing as too old. Just get started. The biggest door opener to my career was the CCNA exam. Entry level exam, but its the gateway to so much more opportunity on the networking side. I'm mid-30's and I've been in my career for about 16 years. It's now the norm to run into 22 year old's making $100K a year. That type of money wasn't around when I was in my 20s. Making $60K then was considered successful.

N2IT

Naaaaa you are fine. My advice is to make reasonable goals along the way.

dave330i

N2IT wrote: »

Naaaaa you are fine. My advice is to make reasonable goals along the way.

Achieving unreasonable goals are way more fun.

neo9006

That is the plan make some reasonable goals and go from there and see how far I can get.

Ivanjam

neo9006 - I am 46 years old and don't even have my first IT job yet - slowly collecting a few certifications and about to start the BS-IT at WGU. I too am employed to a state college system (more like a draft horse than a drafter) and I hope to transition into one of their IT departments. So, you are a very young guy!

Go for it, my friend!

Qord

As others have said, there's no such thing as "too old." You know it wont be easy, and as long as you're willing to stick with it and not get discouraged too easily I think you'll do just fine.

neo9006

Very true, its always good to get people that understand and are encouraging, it helps how so much.