Entry level IT jobs for an old guy

scheming_gypsy

agrinnall wrote: »

Unfortunately I'm afraid that Errata's view is the one that summarises the position best. Entry level IT support really is a young person's game, and while I'm not saying you couldn't do it the chances of you even getting an interview are very low, let alone actually getting a job.

42 - perm
24 - perm
over 50 possibly 60 - perm
over 50 possibly 60 - perm
30 - temp
mid twenties - temp
early forties - temp
30 - temp
late twenties / early thirties - temp
late twenties / early thirties - temp

That's the rough ages of our first line / service desk team.

Croatoan

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

Its very hard to get a job in that line of work, if I were you I'd look towards something you can possibly get into. Not something where there's no hope at all.
Whats your current job?, is there anyway you can do some type of sidestep? or use your existing skills to get something your happier in?

Don't think there's any sidesteps I'd want, and believe me, I've looked.
Anyway, the whole point is to completely get away from what I'm doing now - mental health nursing - and anything whatsoever to do with caring, counseling, sick people and endless amounts of paperwork. Don't get me wrong, I'm not some misanthrope who hates people: I get on with most, know how to treat others respectfully and non-judgmentally, can deal with those from all backgrounds and am pretty good at what I do, it's just I've had enough of it all and want a complete change. I pick computers because technology interests me and I find the job the IT guys do where I'm working now, and previously, interesting. I also need to be earning something, even if it's not much, and IT seems to be a job where learning is often done as part of the job and while getting paid.
I don't have time to spend a lot of time training before I get a job. I could get basic, and even more than basic, certs in weeks or months online, meaning I could fire off CVs relatively quickly. Always remembering that any quals I do get are designed to show willingness to get that basic first position, and my competition is probably from the school leaver with a few GCSEs rather than the person with a degree in Computer Science or extensive network knowledge.

Croatoan

Laurajo wrote: »

Go for it...what have you got to lose?

Do you know anybody already working in the industry? Would they be willing to let you shadow them for a week, or even a day? It would give you a better insight into what the job entails.

Could you get more involved in IT in your current role? We have off site IT people, however even though I'm a tax accountant, through getting involved in new software implementation/new interfaces and server issues I have a better than lay person knowledge of how it all works and have been involved in maintAing the server, running updates and setting up virtual workstations. It all started because the staff were frustrated with never knowing what was going on re IT and wanted a go between, and it developed as it was useful to have someone on site with a bit more knowledge. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't feel I could apply for any job above entry level, but I should imagine it would look good on a cv that at least I've had exposure to it.

There is always reasons not to do something - if no one took a risk, where would we be?

Also, you really don't need to put your age on the cv. And employers are often impressed that people have chosen to change careers, particularly going for a lower wage because it's something they enjoy.

Not really, I do agency work hence the money being quite a bit better than regular work, but currently other than a quick chat with IT now and again it's not the kind of setup where I could have any role at all. Your last paragraph is kind of what I'm hoping for. As I've said, I'm not daft enough to walk out of a job with nothing to go to. I think I will get the odd certificate and then send some CVs out and see what happens. Just a matter of choosing the right ones.

Croatoan

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

For entry level IT, look at service desk jobs / contracts. You don't need whole lot of IT knowledge as it's mainly answering the phone and raising calls on the helpdesk software.
To be fair you don't actually need any IT knowledge for it as you're not doing any fixes. It gets your foot in the door, some IT on your CV and a grasp of what sort of area you should be looking to improve your IT knowledge in.
courses and degrees don't really do a lot for support jobs though, they look good on paper if the manager isn't technical but they don't actually help you in the job.

Thanks for this, it strikes me as good advice. I'll do some searching.

Laurajo_2

Dunroamin wrote: »

50% of his income and the resulting effect on his pension?

But that's his choice...I'm presuming he's done the sums and can actually live to the standard he wants to on the lower wage. A job can be about more than than the money brought in, particularly if the current, well paid job, is making him unhappy.

dandelionclock30

Sounds like your burned out. For many people in those type of jobs theres a time limit and then enough is enough. If your really hate it then your going to have to make a move really. I think that staying in a job you really hate can make you depressed and nothing is worth that.

Croatoan

Dunroamin wrote: »

50% of his income and the resulting effect on his pension?

That's not something I'm bothered about, though. We don't need much and can live perfectly well on less money. While I like earning a reasonable wage it doesn't make up for the fact that I'm doing a job I no longer enjoy, and at my time in life - married, kids grown up - I place far more emphasis on being content than I do on how much I earn. My wife supports this view as well as my constant bad moods make me no fun to be with

Croatoan

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

Sounds like your burned out. For many people in those type of jobs theres a time limit and then enough is enough. If your really hate it then your going to have to make a move really. I think that staying in a job you really hate can make you depressed and nothing is worth that.

I have to admit I'm beginning to see a lot of myself in some of the patients I look after. I think I'm fairly in tune with my own feelings and can recognize where I'm headed if I don't make a change.

gettingready

Croatoan - mental health? NHS? What about getting into clinical systems training? Most MHT use RIO, I see quite a few adverts for RIO trainers?


Or any other clinical systems training for that matter?

Or clinical systems support? Those often have separate helpdesks do general IT helpdesks...

agrinnall

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

42 - perm
24 - perm
over 50 possibly 60 - perm
over 50 possibly 60 - perm
30 - temp
mid twenties - temp
early forties - temp
30 - temp
late twenties / early thirties - temp
late twenties / early thirties - temp

That's the rough ages of our first line / service desk team.

Yes, but how many of the over 40s started the job at that age with zero IT experience?