Breaking into IT at 50

RedXIV

Hi guys,

My dad is finishing up a 30 year stint with the Gardaí this year and as he's only 50, he has no desire to stop working. He'd love to get into the IT industry but as you can imagine, age is against him. In saying that, he does have a Hons Degree in IT that he got part time as he worked and is nearly finished the CompTIA A+ course as well. He's always been into computers and his general knowledge of them is fantastic. He has taught courses in the basics like ECDL too which I reckon might help.

He doesn't have any strong programming skills which will go against him but do you think he still has a chance at getting his foot in the door? He's no problem commuting and not looking for huge wages, just wants to spend the last few working years of his life working with what he loves.

Any advice or help from anyone in the IT industry would be great

Cheers!
Red

seamus

It depends on how long ago he got his qualification. If it's recent enough, he should be OK, but if it's been more than five years then he needs to refresh himself somewhat.

I would advise that he looks for a position as an I.T. assistant or the like in a small company - somewhere with like 10/20 staff members where there would be just an I.T. manager and your Dad. Most people start in I.T. at the helpdesk level - in a large company with an established bureacracy, your Dad will be surrounded by guys half his age and may find it a little demeaning.
In a smaller company, he'll get direct hands-on experience with the company's technology and it'll be much slower paced and have less red tape. His age and life experience will also have more weight in there and he will be considered more of an equal by his colleagues.

Some of the basic industry certifications will help also - an MCDST for example.

In the current environment I imagine many small companies would jump at the chance to take on someone with your Dad's background at a cheap rate. I'm sure he has plenty of contacts from his career, perhaps he could arrange a month or two's internship to give him and idea of what working in I.T. is like?

RedXIV

Cheers for the reply!

His IT degree was done part time over 10 years so he doesn't hold much stock in that, it's there just so he can say he has a degree in IT if it would be a prerequisite for job. I'll get him set up on that cert alright, once he finishes his A+.

The major stumbling block I foresee for him is that he doesn't know alot of people in the IT industry. I'm in it but i'm only a recent grad so don't have much weight to pull. But hopefully this will be enough to start looking in the right direction

the_syco

Ask your dad what he did in the Garda, and go from there? For example, if he did security, maybe something about security in places, with an IT slant? I have no idea what the Gardai do, apart from catching crims.

RedXIV

Eh he was in the Traffic Corps

Not a huge amount we can do with that. maybe networking speed cameras

Nothingbetter2d

an IT based security company such as netwatch might suit him. For having an ex copper on their team would mean he knows the law inside n out and if he was any good as a cop he'd also know how to catch intruders hehe.

RedXIV

Nothingbetter2d wrote: »

an IT based security company such as netwatch might suit him. For having an ex copper on their team would mean he knows the law inside n out and if he was any good as a cop he'd also know how to catch intruders hehe.

Thats actually a really good idea, cheers mate!

hmmm

His age shouldn't count against him in hiring, but as was said here does he really want to end up working in first level support amongst a group of 20 year olds? I like the idea of trying to get in to a small company, or perhaps even volunteering with some charity to get experience. Either of these will help with the CV and will also help him to figure out if he likes the work.

RATM

Your dad is of the age that he can communicate well with people of his own generation and with the elderly, OAP's.

He has the ability and to teach basic PC, internet, Word, etc. Why not see if he can find a job teaching this group of people? Just one avenue but it might be worth looking into

dory

Also if he'd like to start out with some volunteering why not look into Camara? They refurbish old computers and send them to Africa. They're always looking for help.

RedXIV

Thanks guys, really appreciate all the input!

More I've been thinking about it, the more I agree that a month or two internship would be the best start for him. As said, it'll let him see how he likes the work and would be good for his CV.


Great stuff so far though, thanks to all for posting!

mickman

no offense but i would say his chances of getting in at that age is almost zero

companies want people under 40 for tech jobs and preferably under 30

RedXIV

None taken, just looking for advice and opinions

mwrf

Would he be interested in this?
He can continue to be a Garda.

http://cci.ucd.ie/content/cybercrime-courses?q=node/17

philboy

mickman wrote: »

no offense but i would say his chances of getting in at that age is almost zero

companies want people under 40 for tech jobs and preferably under 30

Completely disagree, maybe thats the attitude of a lot of companies. Personally, I think if he shows a lot of interest and enthusiasm, he may get lucky. It may well take a lot of CVs and rejection but overall it should pay off in the end. If he has any contacts, this could be his key. In the meantime, work on small projects in the area he is interested in to show his enthusiasm.

Go for it, I admire his get up and go after 30 years in another job

BostonB

I don't think it would be easy. But certainly some companies value real life experience and maturity, especially contracting. Can't see how people/business'es wouldn't love the idea of a ex Garda on the team. Pick up some IT certs, maybe in IT security. Theres also IT forensics too. even if he didn't want to do something that technical. Even small companies fixing home computers involves a lot of trust, and being an ex Garda is going to help a lot with that.

woolymammoth

mickman wrote: »

no offense but i would say his chances of getting in at that age is almost zero

That's true for a lot of people nowadays.

mickman wrote: »

companies want people under 40 for tech jobs and preferably under 30

There is a lot of bias, but for different reasons. The biggest one, in my opinion, is pay. Companies tend to hire younger people because they can get away with paying lower wages, less benefits, contract roles.. things that a senior person would likely not put up with.

RedXIV wrote: »

not looking for huge wages, just wants to spend the last few working years of his life working with what he loves.

I'd tell him to go for it. go and apply for every job that takes his fancy. nothing ventured, nothing gained. An interview works both ways, an interviewee should be trying to figure out if this is who they really want to work for. He might love IT, but hate the company, some places falsly advertise roles and have you doing something almost completely different.

The fact that he's happy with wages equal to his experience should give employers less of an excuse not to hire him. Everyone in IT started off at some point, at the bottom of the pit, knowing nobody. But when he gets into it, he'll soon find people. Just be persistent, network, learn.. etc. To be honest, from what you've described, he's got a hell of a lot more going for him in IT than some 'fresh out of the box' IT grads i've worked with.

As the guys have said here already, a smaller company / organisation would be better. Possibly something in security too, or a training / teaching capacity. There are a lot of qualities in someone 50+ that are impossible to get in someone <=30.

Do the gardai completely outsource their IT?

28064212

woolymammoth wrote: »

The fact that he's happy with wages equal to his experience should give employers less of an excuse not to hire him.

^ This. People just starting out get very little. One of the main reasons older people don't get hired is because they have more demands on their finances (mortgage, families etc) and think they're entitled to higher wages because of it. If you're starting a new career, you start at the bottom

BostonB

... think they're entitled to? only some,

...need higher wages because of it. Most likely.

28064212

BostonB wrote: »

... think they're entitled to? only some,

...need higher wages because of it. Most likely.

Both are applicable. Regardless, the employer only sees two inexperienced options, one who's looking for a lot of money, one who isn't

woolymammoth

It would be too easy to get into a debate on why our elders want/need higher wages. But that's far removed from the point that starting at the bottom in a new profession, you start at the bottom of that industry's pay bracket. A 30 year old trainee garda will get the same wage as a 20 year old trainee garda, it won't matter if the elder one has a mortgage and 3 kids.

OP, your dad should be prepared for plenty of knock backs. Help him stay persistant and enthusiastic.

BostonB

In my experience some places will value maturity and experience, even if its another field. So thats the kinda places to look out for. Of course it depends what the role is.

empirix

mickman wrote: »

no offense but i would say his chances of getting in at that age is almost zero

companies want people under 40 for tech jobs and preferably under 30

what a load of rubbish, where do you work, i know plenty of contractors well over 40/50 even one past retirement age!!

mickman

empirix wrote: »

what a load of rubbish, where do you work, i know plenty of contractors well over 40/50 even one past retirement age!!

contractors with lots of experience over 40 etc have no problem finding work. does the person this post is about have experience ? no

read the post before you make a rant please.