How many late starters do we have on here?

I'm a late starter (35 yrs old) in IT due to some bad personal decision in my 20's. I am currently attending school at University of DC for my computer science with a specialization in network security. I'm hoping to find a entry level job maybe in a NOC or even better a SOC. I figured most of you guys are young but I was just curious to see if anybody else had their start in IT late.

Find more posts tagged with

Save $250 on 2025 certification boot camps from Infosec!

Book now with code EOY2025

Button

Comments

7255carl

Hi Alex, for exactly the same reasons as yourself i started at 27

Carl

kohr-ah

I started corporate IT at 27 (now 32).

White Wizard

Had no idea what I wanted to do until I was 25. I knew it would be IT, just had no clue what area to specialize in.

I'm 27 now and close to finishing up my associates, my main focus is getting my bachelors (eventually masters )and certifications.

dsgm

I am a late starter as i mostly did just odd jobs in computer repairs for years not knowing what i wanted to do then i found networking and decided i want to go down this path, then the movement from jamaica to USA slowed me down a bit more. Now i am 31 and looking work.

Fulcrum45

I spent my post college years in retail; that's what a History degree will earn you, folks. It wasn't until I was standing in the desert in Northern Iraq at the age of 29 did I begin to realize that my college degree (or the Army Reserves) was not going to save me from a life of retail when I got back home. I began studying to take the PRAXIS exam for post graduate teaching work when I was offered a sales job at a small ISP. From there I made myself learn what I was selling and I evolved from there. Do I LOVE computers and have a passion for the industry? Meh, maybe. Do I continue to improve myself every opportunity I get? Damn right. I'm 35 now and their's no turning back.

apoole15

I was 37 when I started. I'm 42 now. 5 years later and I can confidently say I made the right career move. I'm happier than I've ever been at work and the financial returns I've seen are amazing.

coreyb80

I'm 33 and just started.

Tyb

I worked for 14 years in corrections and was a Sergeant when I decided to resign and move to something I enjoyed. I busted my tail over the next two years to get my AAS in IT and was just accepted the LAN Specialist position at a local college. It's never too late to switch up as long as you enjoy what you are doing and if you're in a field that you are dissatisfied with make a change; in the long run you will be much happier for it.

Krusader

31, In my job just over a year. Love the work, hate the lusers

Asif Dasl

I'm not sure how 35 is a late starter other than you had other jobs before you got in to IT. I don't think it's a hinderance at all - in fact if IT is where you want to be, then I can see you being a tortoise and hare situation. Slow to start but once you have passion for IT then it'll take you places and you might finish ahead of others who started earlier than you.

I only started certifications when I was 26, I'm now almost 33. I could have better experience of IT than I have at present but I'm sure that will resolve itself in the next few months once I get in to a new job. As long as you are happy in your position that's what matters most, not when you started.

Alexsmith

Thanks for the responses it is interesting seeing the different ages. My supervisor is a young guy and he acted surprised when he found out my age and wondered "why" I started out so late. Initially made me feel kind of bad but I figure that everybody has their own paths to getting to where they want to go.

scaredoftests

Just 'guys'?

LOL..I have been in this field for awhile and branching out in new directions (I'm 54 years young). Right now, I am a Database Manager, but have been a network admin, windows support, progammer/analyst etc. I go with the times, because you always need to reinvent yourself these days.
Never stop learning!
Oh yeah, started from being scared to death of computers (thanks to hubby who pushed me) I had an AA in food and beverage management and then went for a AA in computer applications at 33 years old. Learned mostly on job(s).

100k

Started at 25 when I realized being a manager of a grocery store was not my ideal career. From Geek Squad to Help Desk and now looking for my next move at 27. Really wish I did not have so much fun in college as I may have had an easier time. O well those memories are priceless.

Qord

Really started college at 28, got a real IT job at 30 (as opposed to pc repair or setting up someone's home wireless network in exchange for a 6-pack and a pizza), 33 now. Not old, but not young anymore either.

Geek1969

Started my IT career at age 38. Still working on college and certs today, 6 years later, but life is a whole lot easier and more fun when you enjoy going to work everyday. It's never too late....

no!all!

I consider myself a late starter, 28 now and started when I was 25. Before IT I rolled burritos for a living...

shodown

Started at 27. Look at my post over the years and you can see the progression I've made. I'm glad I started closer to 30 than 20. I knew what I wanted and was able to turn off the BS. I have a bunch of NOC guys right now who are like 19-22. They could be where I am in 5 years, but sadly I only see that one of them really wants it. The rest of them are content playing steam games all day and night and will wonder whey they are still in the NOC when they are 30.

networker050184

I agree shodown, you can get very far in this filed in a (relatively) short amount of time with some drive and purpose. Starting young doesn't have much to do with it.

devils_haircut

29 here.

Went to IU straight out of high school and blew 2.5 years of tuition doing basically nothing. Dropped out and joined the Army, went to Afghanistan, got out, worked in warehouses for another 3 years or so while the GI Bill paid my way through college. I'm now finishing my Associate's in Network Administration, got my CompTIA trio, and soon to have my CCENT. I didn't decide that IT was where I wanted to be until I was 25.

I think the push to put 18-year-olds in college is a bad move for most. I had ZERO idea what I wanted to do for a career at 18. But I'm happy now that I've finally settled on a path. I don't worry so much about being behind my peers. I'm just glad that I don't spend every day feeling lost; instead I feel like every day is a step closer to where I want to be.

Tremie24

29

Just landed my first IT job.

Xyro

I have thought of where I would be if I had the opportunity to start all of this a decade ago. I try not to concentrate on this though because, as I note, I am already farther ahead (not that I am so far haha) of where most of the 18-22 year-olds I went to school with are. I find that very rewarding to concentrate upon instead.

bull313

Relearning at 40 after a long absence. This forum has been most encouraging and very helpful

Hatch1921

Retired from the Air Force at 38.8

took at year off... decided to purse a new career in IT... went back to school... will finish BS degree this summer @42

Starting career #2 a little later in life... but optimistic

Chitownjedi

First IT gig at 28, (31) now. I had always been into computers, just never wanted to "support" other people breaking their stuff. Then I stopped being stupid. lol

bherbie

I am 30 almost 31 and will finish my AS this year and move to a BS in IT Security hopefully from WGU. I just found out what I want to do, and am ready to leave my current career path!

techwizard

Well, I started playing around with computers since about 8 years old, when the TRS-80 computer came out. I remember cassette tape drives. I remember 5 inch floppy disks. I remember the game Tai Pan. I remember coding "Pong" in basic from scratch just for fun. I played around with computers at a very early age, and then stopped for a while for school (I probably should have continued following my passion for computers) and then around 1998 getting my very first large beige box with nifty Windows 98 on it, where we had to bind TCP/IP to the modem to get on the Interwebs. I started playing around again, wiping and re installing windows 98 many times on a spare machine I built with the spare parts after upgrading the first computer. Around 2000, I eventually attempted to take the Microsoft Windows 98 exam, and failed it with a 670 something, I should have tried it again because I probably would have passed it. I have been tinkering with hardware and software pretty steadily since 1998, playing around with Windows installs, even attempted to install Windows NT 4.0 on yet another slow beige box and I remember it took around 3 or 4 hours to complete the installation, because it was so slow, and barely had enough memory to run it. Now I am running an intel i7 940 with 22GB ram, 64 bit windows 7 professional, 240GB SSD main hdd. I can run several VM's and still work on the main computer and surf the web and whatever. I am 44 now, and I realize I should have probably gotten my MCSE 10 years ago, back when it was only 2 or 3 exams or whatever. I should have gotten my credentials much earlier. So now I am having to play catch up, and earn my credentials, and looking for a job working for someone else so I can depend on job security, a paycheck, and not have to worry about if/when I will get paid, or spend time doing the books myself. I am so tired of doing that all myself, and the lack of work is so stressful.

Krones

33 years old.
1 year experience.

Worked for peanuts at first but now at 40k.

I am not getting the experience that I really want (nix or networking) but some experience is better than none.

joemysterio

I'm 27, and in my first 6 months of being in IT. I start WGU March 1st and totally excited for the rest of my career. Better late than never!

stryder144

I'm 42 and have been in IT, professionally, for a year this month. I, too, spent a long, long, long time in the military (22 yrs in the USAF), doing another set of jobs. I'm glad I made the jump, to be honest. I fit IT better than just about any other job I could imagine.

jabney

I started hard core IT at 26 now 36 and still on my way to my goals. I've seen some peaks and valleys and overall enjoying the ride I would never do anything else but IT.