Many people want to get into I.T. - I think I want to get out ....

... Trouble is, I am pushing 40 and it feels like I am stuck now ....

Anyone made the jump, re-learning at that age and actually made a career (again)?

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dave330i

I was 37 when I switched. Made a decent start in the 2nd career.

philz1982

What do you want to do? That affects the answer. I've changed fields 3 times in the past 11 years.

Snow.bros

I agree it is turning out into a full house everywhere, at your age i thought that would be a benefit with all the experience maybe now become a manager, but on the other hand it will depend on the type of job you are looking to get into.

jibbajabba

Becoming a manager is like trying to get a Network position without experience

To make it even harder - I don't even know what I would want to do instead .. I think I am just tired of the mentality in IT, where appreciation is the lack of blame

CCNTrainee

Being at that age as well, I would think and suggest Management/Director positions...

CCNTrainee

jibbajabba wrote: »

Becoming a manager is like trying to get a Network position without experience

To make it even harder - I don't even know what I would want to do instead .. I think I am just tired of the mentality in IT, where appreciation is the lack of blame

Well then, you can always jump into Healthcare... you'll always have a Job in that field... Lol

thenjduke

Actually it is not too difficult to become a manager. In your career as a IT Professional have you overseen any projects and manage people? If so include that on your resume. You may also want to go back to school for Masters.

QHalo

Do you like people? Because being in management that's the ultimate question you need to ask yourself.

Essendon

Start out on your own jibba. You've got enough experience and knowledge to be able to work for yourself I reckon.

JabbaIT, how does that sound?!

philz1982

So if you don't like blaming go into pen testing / auditing and get paid to tell peoole what they are doing wrong.

Geek1969

I moved from restaurant management to IT Networking at 38. Been doing this for six years now and I still love it. Best move I ever made. That being said, I do not plan to be an engineer forever. Doing a few things to work toward IT management in a few more years myself.

jibbajabba

Essendon wrote: »

Start out on your own jibba. You've got enough experience and knowledge to be able to work for yourself I reckon.

JabbaIT, how does that sound?!

lol not too bad. Having said that - I already made the decision that I won't be doing any permanent jobs after this one - will be contracting instead - at least I can move on when I am getting bored and I earn more money

If the money wouldn't be rubbish I would just open a pub ...

And yes, I do like people ... I just don't have anything to back me up as a manager.

Snow.bros

But you have all those years of experience to back it up isn't that enough? maybe you should start taking on certs that deal with IT business management, don't you think that you would get a promotion any time soon at this point in your career.

paul78

jibbajabba wrote: »

If the money wouldn't be rubbish I would just open a pub ...

And yes, I do like people ... I just don't have anything to back me up as a manager.

I entirely can commiserate. At 48, I often have fantasies of being a furniture maker or tailor. I actually don't like people that's why I got into IT in the first place - to work with computers instead of people.

--chris--

Snow.bros wrote: »

But you have all those years of experience to back it up isn't that enough? maybe you should start taking on certs that deal with IT business management, don't you think that you would get a promotion any time soon at this point in your career.

There is a great book called "The E-myth" (The Entrepreneurial Myth). The author is a smart man, I can attest to that after being in management for almost a decade...I have seen first hand most of what he preaches in that book.

Getting to the point (and no offense JibbaJabba) he makes it clear the reason many small business's fail is because of one simple reason: Amazing technicians =/= amazing managers). A person who is generally very technical by nature and can solve almost any technical problem in there realm, will usually make a poor manager. They approach problems from a completely different angle.

People who feel there great technical skills are being underutilized in a job where they work for someone else will sometimes think of opening there own business where they can cut loose and really show the world how hard they can work and get paid for it as well. The problem is, they NEED someone to manage them and guide them and corral all that energy and enthusiasm and the love for there work.

This is more of a general "my $0.02" on this subject, not really aimed at helping Jibba (since I don't know Jibba at all, I cant possibly make that claim). But I am sure there are others (or will be) that will read this and have a thought like I explained above. Read the book, its short and cheap.

@Jibba how long have you been thinking of making this move?

Snow.bros

paul78 wrote: »

I entirely can commiserate. At 48, I often have fantasies of being a furniture maker or tailor. I actually don't like people that's why I got into IT in the first place - to work with computers instead of people.

That's what i thought when i came into this industry but the reality turned against my thoughts because you pretty much have to work with people when you in IT, like working in help-desk you deal with people everyday or a field engineer you are also going to deal with people once you are dispatched to a site, i don't know what kind of job you do but on my end i am in a process of getting to know how to deal with people in a professional and friendly manner because i came into this industry with that kind of mentality, you will learn the hard way trust me.