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Ask Slashdot: Best Training To Rekindle a Long Tech Career?
New submitter SouthSeaDragon writes "I'm a computer professional who has performed most of the functions that could be expected over a 39 year career, including hardware maintenance and repair, sitting on a 800 support line, developing a help desk application from the ground up (terminal-based), writing a software manual, plus developing and teaching software courses. In recent years, I've worked for computer software vendors doing pre-sales support generally for infrastructure products including applications, app servers, integration with Java based messaging and ESB product and most recently a Business Rules product. I was laid off recently due to a restructuring and am now trying to figure out the next phase. With the WIA displaced worker grants now available I am attempting to figure out what training would be good to pursue. I am hearing that 'the Cloud' is the next big thing, but I'm also looking into increasing my development skills with a current language. I wonder what the readers might suggest for new directions."
Since you already know Java, give Android development a try. I know a few people who have rekindled their love of programming by doing some mobile apps.
Unless you're unusually gifted, you're probably learning new things, and thinking, a somewhat more slowly than you were when you were 25.
On the other hand, if you have good hygiene, nice manners, aren't creepy, and are efficient, people might welcome you into their homes.
So how about being self-employed, going to people's homes and small businesses to help them with configuration / purchase / maintenance of computers and simple networks?
It wouldn't pay great, but you may have to live with that anyway, given that you're competing with hungry recent-graduates in a depressed labor market.
I wouldn't recommend learning stuff with the hope of finding a job that uses it. I feel like you should spend some time, look around at various tech projects and languages and applications, etc etc. Find a job you want like "I'd like to work for Amazon S3, it seems really interesting." or something and then figure out what you need to do to get it, training or otherwise. I feel like that would be more fulfilling and have a better chance of success.
If you have a 39 year old career, that means you are likely just a few years from retirement.
A company that hires you will likely hire you for skills you have experience with - not any new skills you have no experience with. Those jobs will, unfortunately, go to young grads.
My recommendation is to take one of the skills you have plenty of experience with and get a formal training in it. Even if it bores you, it will likely boost your employment probabilities more than anything new and interesting like the cloud. Because it is new, companies will be looking for young people who (a) are cheap, and (b) hopefully will stay after gaining experience, so the company can take advantage of that experience down the road.
Sorry if this wasn't what you wanted to hear - I wish things were different, but we old timers aren't all that attractive for things we don't have experience with.
thats pretty damn obnoxious of you, douchebag.
From what I've been reading in the business press over the last couple of years, when folks lose their jobs in their 50s or later, they're screwed for the rest of their life. More than likely, he'll never work again as a professional or in any white collar job.
That is also a reason why disability claims with Social Security have been sky rocketing these last couple of years - older people unable to work so they go for early retirement or disability if they are too young.
It's a crying shame, too.
Java is still a very popular language - Could you get a job teaching the basics? You can't beat the perks of being a professor.
If development classes don't float your boat, how about teaching a Systems Analysis and Design course? You've got experience with requirements gathering, project management, System Design, etc.. you could make a great Professor with that experience.
One of the things that many companies struggle with is delivering on projects. A good PM helps with that. What makes a good PM? Someone that knows and follows all the stupid paperwork around PM, but also has a well refined BS meter, for all the worthless twits who will always say "I can get you that by Friday" when it's a 6 month task (in IT, I find many people have superhero complexes and will never say "I don't know" or anything like that). So, someone with a well rounded background who is interested in PM will make a better PM than all the people who decide it's the non-technical way to get into IT for all that lucrative IT cash, and can't ever deliver anything.
On the other hand, if you are wanting to just continue as an IT grunt, VMware is what most managers think of when "the cloud" is mentioned, so go take a VMware class, or SAN or something like that. Look at the jobs available in your region (or where you want to work) and see what's being listed now and what pays in your expectation range.
Learn to love Alaska
Cloud + "Big Data" are happening things these days. I am a 64yo professional and started a new career at the first of the year in telecom. Cloud + Hadoop + Big Data are serious issues these days. I'm gaining my chops in that area (main emphasis is performance engineering), and there is a LOT of interest in anyone with "Big Data" (Hadoop + MapReduce) type of experience.
If you have been steadily going up the pay scale during your career, you might have to take a significant pay cut - maybe 40% or more, to get another job. As I'm sure you've heard often enough, IT is not kind to those over 50. And nowadays 45 is the new 50. If you have specific niche skills, those are what you should try to market. There is still a considerable amount of legacy hardware and software out there, and it would be better to look there, and hopefully replace someone who is retiring, than live a pipe dream of "reinventing" yourself as a Java/Android/HTML5/Node.js/Hadoop expert.
I do not believe training will help much at this point in your career. Your age will work against you much more than any shiny new certification will work for you. All the twenty somethings are all over the hot new fads. But they will probably not be applying for jobs that involve AS/400 control language, or VAX/VMS.
Support microSD: in a post 9/11 world, it is unwise to carry your data on media that you cannot comfortably swallow.
Sounds like you've done a lot on making different pieces of the IT puzzle work together on the infrastructure side. Maybe there's something there?
Are you honestly looking for suggestions on training to take that will be good for the next 5 years?
First off, in this job market, don't expect to sail into an upper-level position, so you are likely looking at a grunt-level job.
My advice would be to learn either network security OR virtualization - your diverse skill set will augment either of those two areas, and in security you may have an advantage not being a twenty-something with dubious credentials (AKA self-taught). I think you are honestly at the end of your career, or at least, you can see it from where you are - your greatest strengths are your previous experiences, look for a way to build on them in a growing segment of the industry.
Ken
A lot of companies are complaining that they just can't find good tech folks ...
... for $10/hr no benefits, or mandatory 80 hour per week overtime, or intern unpaid jobs, or "pay you in shares" startups, or ridiculously over specified.
Pay in peanuts, you get monkeys.
I see no evidence of an actual shortage.
I know its discouraging, but just trying to keep it real. Its not 1999 all over again. Or even 2004.
"Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
I am 68, probably older than you. IOW, my age-related observations come from living them, not from seeing them portrayed on TV.
I have gone into business for myself and have a cloud-based service I wrote at http://www.TelephoneMessagePad.com
It is not a major money maker ... yet. However, it is growing and churn is low. With expected age of death in early 90's (!) for those in their 60's now, what you need/want is a long-term solution. I don't think hanging on for a few years until social security kicks in and then sitting around the house is that solution. I think if you want a job, you have to create one of your own.
You say you wrote a help desk application form the ground up. Hmmm ... we may have some mutual interests. I am writing a sales/help chat application right now.
You can find some good resources on starting up at http://isvcon.com and http://www.asp-software.org Neither are free.
At least you will never have to worry about getting old. At some point you will mouth off to the wrong guy and get shot.
. . . .you obviously know IT, can code, and like being productive. You've got both experience and maturity, and likely a good work ethic.
Might I suggest a different tack ? Get into CNC Machining. Consider it the industrial end of the Maker movement, industrial-style. People are needed, it pays well, and if they need you to work overtime. . . .you get paid for it. Plus, at the end of the day, you'll have a tangible result of your work.
And, with the depth and breadth of experience you already have, picking up CAD/CAM shouldn't be a problem, and you'll likely become a floor lead or shop chief in a relatively short time after attaining mastery of your new skills. . . .
"C'mon fellas, it's all ball bearings these days!"
I've had a swarm of recruiters offering $40-$60 an hour for manual testers lately. Hardly peanuts. A lot of that is contract work, in which you actually get paid for any overtime worked (1040 work through a contracting company.) Even at rates like that they seem to be having trouble finding qualified people. From my network of software engineers, no one's actually looking for work right now. That's hardly a scientific sample size, but from my perspective there is a shortage of qualified people and the economy must be doing great!
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
Your skill list is probably good enough. What you need placement help. Check with local technical placement agencies.
Still, if you feel like learning something new check online resources like careerbuilder, craigslist, monster and the like. Look at the jobs that interest you and see what the requirements are. You'll find the holes in your resume pretty quick that way.
Weaselmancer
rediculous.
or you want to say renook?
...if you know you couldn't fail?
I've been doing computer-related stuff for 47 years. I've rotated between hardware, software, sales, and just about anything in between. The bigest kick I get is making something work. Tech work worked for me for a long time because I was continuously getting called on to make things work. The longer I've been in the field, the more complicated the problems and, until about 6 years ago, the more I got paid to solve them.
My income has dropped 80% in the last 8 years. Part of it was due to an illness I contracted, but most of it was due to the economic situation. I have a small advantage over most techs, but the truth is that any fairly competent tech with a couple of year's experience could do 80% of what I do, and those techs are selling their services for $35/hr instead of the $110/hr I usually charged my corporate customers. It makes sense; It is usually cheaper to hire the cheaper fella and only call me in if he screws it up. That's OK with me, too, because I love being the hero. But it is getting harder and harder to make a living this way.
I'm 64 now, and I'm not ready to retire. (I spent all my money on wine, women and song, and I wasted the rest.) If my business doen't pick up by October I think I will see if can get into an Electrician's apprentice program. There is always a need for electricians, it is solid work, and lots of the low-voltage work in security, home automation, solar electric, etc. is fascinating. Plus, you don't have to re-train yourself every 4 years to keep up with your field. Cause and effect are pretty clear (most complex systems have failure built into the design) and the requirements analysis is pretty straight forward.
Another question might be, "What would you do with your life if you had so much money that you never had to work for a living again?" My hobby is robotics and I do some serious stuff. If I could make a living doing that I would probably be as happy as if I had good sense.
I would suggest reading, "The E-Myth" by Michael Gerber before making a decision. http://www.amazon.com/The-E-Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses/dp/0887307280/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1339362079&sr=1-1&keywords=e-myth
Even if you are not interested in having your own business, the first three chapters on figuring out how you want to live your life are very useful.
Good luck.
"The mind works quicker than you think!"
No, I've been offered that in E-Mails from contractors. I just updated my address on my resume on monster and they've been calling and E-Mailing non-stop since then.
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
You meant "renook a long tech career", i guess
First answer that question. What do *you* really want to do? The proceed from there. Don't just chase after the latest fad, they come and go and have the shelf life of fresh fruit. And fads can often end up as dead ends. Find out what you would be happiest doing. Even if it means a career change. Get career counseling if you have to but explore that question first.
putting the 'B' in LGBTQ+