Older Age group / Desktop Support / Helpdesk Level I / II

JSP

Is it unusual to find people in their 40s doing Helpdesk level I & II ?

Mrs OBumble

I can't speak for Ireland, but I've experienced it overseas.

They tend to be folks who've been with the company for a while, and decided that they don't want to progress. (not always, you have some return-to-the-workforce folks etc).

Some managers don't like 'em, 'cos they want a staff that's ambitious etc. But they're a good fit in other places - more likely to follow procedures, come in without having been partying all night, respond calmly in a crisis etc. (Yes, these are gross generalisations.)

Why do you ask?

Rossin

In college I noticed there are 2 older men on the help-desk alongside 2 men in their late 20's,early 30's. I just assumed they were very content with their job!

Cuddlesworth

I would say it was more to do with their hiring policy's. Not the industry norm.

beetlebailey

There just isn`t that many jobs out there so maybe guys in their mid 30`s working in call centres are in a similar position to me.........

I`m 35 and about to start a job in a call centre, i`ve no expeirence working in one, most of my career has been in logistics\stock control but i was made redundent over 18mths ago so decided to try a career change.
As it is I`m not looking forward to it and now it looks like i`m going to be seen as sad old man bailey who was actually born in the `70s!

I`ve done some i.t. courses through fas and i`m hoping that with those qualifications(basic stuff CompTIA A+) and call centre expierence that it will eventually lead to career as field technician or something along those lines..............

starlit

I cannot speak for many people of that age group but the number of technical support roles isn't as abundant as it once was. I've applied to countless technical support roles despite work experience still can't get into these type of few roles without a foreign language which seems to be a factor for a general level 1 role. Anything beyond level 1 I wouldn't have enough work experience in technical support to go any further than a level 1 position.

So tricky to find the right job from that point of view but I am looking into other avenues in IT not just technical support.

Gmol

I do technical support and am in my late 30's tis more application support for our own products as it is a smallish company. Our company favour hiring older people I think(youngist is 35), as they are generally more inclined to stay which is important as there is a long lead time to be up and running(about 1 yr),

It seems to be working as shortist amount of time someone has been here is 3 years