Change of career

[hibeesjoe]

Hi, Does anybody have experience of completely changing there job in there late 30's or later. Been thinking about it for a good while and getting quite scunnered at my work now. My job is secure so there is always that as a plus point but it's going nowhere fast. I have been interested in I.T for years but have never done anything about it. I was looking into a few courses that will be starting in September, was thinking about cisco but it's maybe a bit much too soon. CompTIA A+ is another one that interests me. I don't want to spend the time and money to not have any job prospects at the end of the courses though. Anybody with any experience give me any pointers about what way to go or maybe even why I shouldn't bother at all. Cheers.

[The_Todd]

Depends on what career track you're looking to go down. You mention A+ and Cisco but they're different directions entirely. An A+ will probably help you get into tech support (helpdesk, deskside support) but it won't help you get into networking (Cisco). As well as support and networking there's the area I work in which is datacentre operations - basically server admin, email admin, storage etc. Then there's project management where you're not directly involved in the technical work but from an management point of view. Or there's business systems folks who maintain and develop apps. Don't forget the DBAs who work with databases. "Getting into IT" could be any one of these things, and they're all specialist roles.

Also from my point of view, qualification in IT like an A+ with no experience won't get you anywhere. It's all well and good saying you know stuff from a book but real life scenarios are different. As for Cisco courses, they ain't for beginners. You won't find anyone in the course who's only exploring a new career. If you're really into netwoking maybe go for a Network+?

If you're lucky you can get an entry level IT job on a helpdesk and you can progress from there, but it's all about where you are now and if you'd be willing to go entry level. I don't know your situation, but working on a helpdesk may net you something like £15k a year so I've no idea if that's the same, better or worse for you. Some employers will pay for you to go on the courses - my employer (one of the Universities) is excellent at staff development. If there's a training course I've seen I can request it and if it's relevent to my job (ie is it about Exchange server, or Windows server etc) I'll likely be allowed to go on it.

[Beefster]

Hi, Does anybody have experience of completely changing there job in there late 30's or later. Been thinking about it for a good while and getting quite scunnered at my work now. My job is secure so there is always that as a plus point but it's going nowhere fast. I have been interested in I.T for years but have never done anything about it. I was looking into a few courses that will be starting in September, was thinking about cisco but it's maybe a bit much too soon. CompTIA A+ is another one that interests me. I don't want to spend the time and money to not have any job prospects at the end of the courses though. Anybody with any experience give me any pointers about what way to go or maybe even why I shouldn't bother at all. Cheers.

I left my job and went to Edinburgh Uni to do Computer Science in my mid-30s.

As The Governor says, it's all about where you are now and what you want to do. I got a place at Edinburgh with a combination of qualifications, showing that I was committed to studying (whilst I was working full-time) and my work experience being relevant to the degree.

I presume your employer sponsoring study via the OU isn't an option?

[hibeesjoe]

Cheers for the reply. To be honest it's more networking that interests me. I started reading up on cisco and will also maybe have the chance of work experience involving it. It's a total change from me current job so there's no way I could get funding from my employer and I also couldn't drop to £15k a year unless pay increases were large and regular. Apart from having a good employer that will help pay for courses is there any other way you know about that can help funding? Since these courses are from specific company's aimed at there products there doesn't seem to be a lot of help that I can see off.

[jodjam]

Go for it mate. I was one month shy of working 25 years with the likes of jp Morgan , BoS and IBM. Changed career now a private tour guide. Typing this from the grounds of balmoral castle. Can't get any less stressed than my job. Off to Skye for 3 days at weekend with repeat guests. Good luck

[sidjames]

I went from legal work in the civil service to working in stage management.

Happened by chance after chucking it to learn cleaning swimming pools.

its the leap that's hardest. The fall and landing take care of themselves.

I need a full time carpenter to help build sets for the new season too. Odd world sometimes!

[Allant1981]

Go for it mate. I was one month shy of working 25 years with the likes of jp Morgan , BoS and IBM. Changed career now a private tour guide. Typing this from the grounds of balmoral castle. Can't get any less stressed than my job. Off to Skye for 3 days at weekend with repeat guests. Good luck

Out of interest how did you get into being a tour guide?

[The Green Goblin]

I can't offer such detailed advice as other posters on here who are much more knowledgeable about your chosen career path, but I would say this: sometimes a change is as good as a rest; if you think that doing something different will make you happier, then go for it- you'll feel much better for it. Don't know if that helps you any, but good luck!

[hibeesjoe]

I left my job and went to Edinburgh Uni to do Computer Science in my mid-30s.

As The Governor says, it's all about where you are now and what you want to do. I got a place at Edinburgh with a combination of qualifications, showing that I was committed to studying (whilst I was working full-time) and my work experience being relevant to the degree.

I presume your employer sponsoring study via the OU isn't an option?

I can't see them sponsoring my study through the OU. It would all need to be done off my own back which I don't mind if it gives me better job prospects. I suppose it's like another poster wrote, it's just the initial jump that's the hardest.

[hibeesjoe]

I can't offer such detailed advice as other posters on here who are much more knowledgeable about your chosen career path, but I would say this: sometimes a change is as good as a rest; if you think that doing something different will make you happier, then go for it- you'll feel much better for it. Don't know if that helps you any, but good luck!

A change would definitely improve my happiness I think. It's not like I want to earn millions a year, just to enjoy going to work more would be a start. I've been thinking about it probably for the last couple of years but it's building to the point where I need to take the next step, pull my finger out and do something about it.

[jodjam]

Out of interest how did you get into being a tour guide?

Mate of mine was doing it. I helped him out and loved it. Got some good contacts now and being high up on tripadvisor keeps me busy.