Getting back into IT as a developer or programmer

fergiesarmy

Hi Folks. I graduated with a HDIP in IT in 2002 and at the time you couldnt pay someone to let you work for them. I took a job as an IT Trainer and did this for 2 years with 2 sperate companies. I have since been self employed working as a dj and running my own dj company but given the unsecured nature of bring self employed and working late nights and weekends continually, I really want to get back into the IT sector and in specific programming (Java) I realise that I have not been programing in 10 years but I've got an excellent memory and I've been studying up on JAVA and using eclipse and I've actually refreshed back to a level of where I was at when I did my HDip. I believed from what i had read that there was bnow a serious skills shortage of IT graduates given that little or nobody was doing IT realted courses when the IT crash happended. I have only started sending my CV out but am worried about how my self employment will look, especially as it is a dj company. Also the fact I have worked in an IT related role in 9 years and that my degree was 10 years ago. If anyone works in a senior IT role or in IT recruiment and could give me any advice it would be greatly appreciated. I really want to get something asap as I'm worried if i leave it much longer might never get back on the ladder.

I feel I have an awful lot of experience and skill I could bring to a position given that I currently manage my own business which has been extremely successful to date but wonder will this been seen as a plus by a recruiter?

T-K-O

Hi,

I was in a simliar position. Like you I had no experience and my degree was 6 years old. When I initially sent out my CV I got lots of interviews, they all went well but ended the same way. No experience.

As I was determined to get back into IT I decided to quit my job and take up an unpaid internship. To cut a long story short I secured a position 8 months into the internship.

Ray Palmer

I would say you are going to find it difficult to get into the field. You will pretty much have to start at the bottom and work your way up. Lots of college graduates are pretty much clueless when they get out of college so bringing yourself up to the level of that still puts you behind anybody with experience.

While there is a high demand for IT workers it is for experienced workers. Companies can't afford the time or resources to hold the hands of beginners. There aren't enough experienced people to help the inexperienced. Lots of companies don't take jobs bridge people as it actually slows things down as they need so much help.

Your best bet is to target companies that you want to work in and hope they will take you on. Maybe getting back into training would be your best route in and go for project management type roles that require technical knowledge. It would suit your age better and work with your existing experience. Running your own business means you know how to gather requirements and deal with people. Junior BA roles might be a good way to go.

pakb1ue

The graduate program I went through is open again. Good place to start off and I know guys in their mid 40s who went through the same program even though their degrees are from when I was born and not even related to IT.

The place has a high turn over but its a good place as any to start off.

http://www.nijobs.com/Citi-Technology-Academy-Job-971457.aspx

Closing date is this Friday.