#ITCareer #CareerChange #Cybersecurity #LateBloomer
Hey there, L! It’s never too late to pursue a career in IT, regardless of your age or experience level. In fact, many people find success in the tech industry after making a career change later in life. So, let’s dive into your question and explore the possibilities of getting into IT at 33 with little to no experience.
## Is 33 too late to transition into IT?
At 33 years old, you’re still relatively young and have plenty of time to carve out a successful career in the world of technology. With the demand for IT professionals continuing to grow, there are numerous opportunities available for individuals looking to break into the industry, even with limited prior experience.
### Advantages of starting an IT career at 33
1. **Life experience**: Your years as a BMW senior technician have likely equipped you with valuable problem-solving skills and a strong work ethic, which are highly transferable to the IT field.
2. **Maturity and focus**: Unlike younger professionals, you may have a better understanding of your career goals and a clear sense of direction, making it easier to chart a path towards success in IT.
3. **Financial stability**: Having a steady income and a family to support provides you with a level of financial security that can make it easier to invest in education or training for a career change.
### How to kickstart your IT journey
#### Research and self-assessment
Before diving into the world of IT, it’s important to conduct thorough research and self-assessment to identify the specific path within the industry that aligns with your interests and skills. Consider exploring different sectors of IT, such as cybersecurity, software development, networking, or data analysis, to determine where your passion lies.
#### Education and training options
Given your limited experience in IT, pursuing formal education or completing online courses can be a great way to build a solid foundation of knowledge and skills. Look into reputable educational institutions offering IT-related programs or consider enrolling in online platforms such as Coursera, Udemy, or Codecademy to gain practical expertise.
#### Networking and mentorship
Building a network of contacts within the IT community can provide valuable insights and opportunities for career growth. Consider reaching out to professionals in the field for mentorship and advice, attending industry events and meetups, and engaging with online tech communities to expand your connections.
### The potential for a successful IT career
With the rapid advancement of technology and the ever-increasing demand for skilled IT professionals, there’s immense potential for you to build a successful and rewarding career in this field. Here are a few reasons why pursuing a career in IT could lead to a better living:
1. **Lucrative earning potential**: Many roles in the IT industry offer competitive salaries and opportunities for career advancement, allowing you to increase your earning potential over time.
2. **Job security and demand**: The need for IT expertise spans across various industries, offering a level of stability and job security that may not be as prevalent in other fields.
3. **Continuous growth and learning**: IT is a dynamic and evolving industry, providing ample opportunities for continuous learning, skill development, and personal growth.
In conclusion, it’s never too late to transition into IT, and with dedication, persistence, and the right resources, you can certainly make a successful career change at 33. Embrace the challenge, stay open to learning, and pursue your passion for cybersecurity or any other area of IT that excites you. Remember, age is just a number, and it’s never a barrier to achieving your career aspirations in the tech world. Best of luck on your journey into IT! 🌟
If you found this information helpful and are interested in further guidance on pursuing a career in IT, feel free to explore our website for additional resources and insights. Join our community of career changers and tech enthusiasts as you embark on this exciting new chapter in your professional life. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any more questions – we’re here to support you every step of the way.
I’m older than you and trying to break in so I honestly can’t say. Sometimes it feels like it. That being said I’ve been studying for Comptia certs and did the Google It one which was alright. I’ve really enjoyed setting up a home lab/server and working with virtual machines and containers. I’m hosting my own music and concert dvd collection via Jellyfin and have learnt a lot along the way. Even if I’m too old and will never break in at least I’ve got that. I suggest you do some formal study through a guided program but also look into the home lab thing like I did. I’m just running everything on a refurbed HP elitedesk. Doesn’t have to be anything crazy.
I am the same age. I’d say that you’re never too old to start anything new. I would say figure what road you want to take, what interests you and go for it.
[Cyber Security Road Map]
(https://pauljerimy.com/security-certification-roadmap/)
I’m 30 and I have the same question. Married with 2 kids. I have always wanted to be in IT. Was going for my bachelors degree in Computer Science but my Dad having Stage 4 cancer so I had to make the sacrifice to drop school completely at that time at age 23 to find a higher paying job than minimum wage to support my family while my Dad went through Chemo.
I’m a Production Supervisor in production of making air compressors. It pays well. The stress is somewhat bearable but my interest and dream of getting into IT has always been in the back of my mind.
I’ve looked into CompTIA and figured this route might be my only way since going back to school and paying high tuition won’t be possible with my current work schedule. I’ve decided if taking online classes and learning that way might be my only way.
I need advice as well. Idk what to do with myself at this age but I know my dream of going into IT still stands.
My younger brother I guided him towards Computer science and IT and he finished with his bachelors degree. I’m happy for him. He’s got a decent job now after $20k in tuition to get his degree. I wished I was able to work in IT too. But I can’t get my degree with the time and money to invest in schooling. Let alone having to go back and finish my core classes alongside my major classes.
Any advice is highly appreciated and I’m forever grateful for your advice and help.
33 isn’t too late, but it isn’t easy on the junior end. Even many good CS grads are finding it hard to land their first IT job.
I was 33 when I started. No experience at all and no certificates. in the Uk. Been doing it for 2 years now.
You start with helpdesk like everybody else. You work your way up to cybersecurity.
I broke in at 38. You’re fine.
You are not their ideal candidate but you should be fine your life experience will be usefull
It’s never too late if you get the training necessary
I’m 33 just finishing my bachelor’s in IT this year, going for a 2 year master’s after. It’s not too late, i have at least 35 more years of work ahead.
Here’s what I tell everyone that ask how to enter I.T. If you are okay spending the rest of your career learning and studying, and you enjoy sitting on a computer for countless hours. Do it. Otherwise, stick to what you are doing and be the best at it.
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I have a wife and children, mortgage, the usual husband responsibilities, and can tell you that I wake up at 4am to study until 8am which then my work shift begins. If you can handle that, welcome.
The significant challenge with age is learning a new skill on top of your adult and financial responsibilities. You’re starting over in a new career near the bottom, which can mean a pay cut for several years.
The advantage of being older is experience and perspective. You’re more likely to be tapped on the shoulder for leadership roles. You’ll probably have an easier time adapting to the work culture. You’ll likely be easier to work with. You’ll probably have a greater appreciation for the education process.
I didn’t even own my first computer until I was 30. 8 years later I decided to stop procrastinating and was running my own web design and IT services company,,,for 12 (mostly) successful years. Today I work for an MSP, and while being one of the older guys on the team, I’m also the highest rated.
So, no. It’s not too old, but you will need to get serious about learning, and certs.
However, I don’t recommend quitting whatever you’re doing now. Also understand that starting out in IT you will likely not make what you’re making now as a BMW senior technician… I would stay in the same industry, just upskill to move into more of a IT role. No way in hell I’d throw away being a BMW tech to start over and work in help desk.
Doesn’t BMW make self-driving and autonomous things? They’re always testing security, right? May be a direction to go.
it is only too late when you’re in the casket
Oh for f*cks sake. There is no age limitation or requirement for any job. Your age doesn’t matter if you want to change direction in your career. What you need to weigh out is whether or not you can absorb/weather the money changes while you learn. Can you and your family handle the relationship changes while you spend your time studying? This is the same with any job career change. With that said, build a home lab, tinker play, read, watch, etc on whatever topic you like. Find the bone you want to chew on and go at it. If you want ebooks to study, hit me up and I can point you in the right direction. YouTube has a wealth of training. Now for the bad news. Don’t drop the old job until you have a new job. Beginning tech isn’t the easiest to break into, you have to find someone to take a chance on you. But again, age doesn’t matter.
If you’re smart enough to use google to find the answers to why things are broken and can read documentation created by the rest of the team, you’ll be fine.
Getting into IT right now with the current job market might be difficult, but work on your skills and keep applying, you’ll find something. I highly recommend building a small home lab to break and fix, learn to put rj45 ends on cat cable.(ymmv, but I have had to do this constantly in service desk)
If you know anyone in the local IT scene they might be able to help you land something faster.
You should look into the long game though, what do you want to move into post service desk?
33 is not late at all. I started at exactly the same age in late 2020 when I got hired by a managed service provider. I had no IT experience outside of troubleshooting computers for family members and myself. I did Help Desk for 3 months but my employer paid me to take the A+ exam at that point and I started doing Desktop Support right away. The pay wasn’t great but I learned a lot in a year.
I then applied for a Desktop Support role at a local hospital and doubled my salary. Been there a little over 2 years but left my job there due to my fiancé getting a wonderful Cybersecurity role in another city. I was finally hit up by a recruiter for Support Specialist role after a few months of relocating and started right away with a small bump in pay. I am 36 about to turn 37 this year and look forward to continue my growth in this field. I have complete faith in you. You’ve got this!
No way. I went to a bootcamp at 32 a little less than 10 years ago. My first job out was making 35k on the helpdesk and now I’m well into 6 figures a little less than ten years later (I pushed hard with certs and upskilling the whole way)
I realize 2015 isn’t quite the same as now, but 33 is NOT too late!
Yes, your life is over as soon as you get married and have crotch gremlins.
Nah. This weekend I was at an event and a dude that recently broke 6 figures was telling me he started at 35.
IT is still a meritocracy so once you land your first job demonstrate a good work ethic, apply yourself, and revel in the IT journey of having decades of stuff to learn.
I started at 37 and am well into six figures, at this point. It’s never too late.
Market is currently volatile even for a CS graduate, I’d suggest to upskill and get certifications in free time and apply without quitting the current job, some companies may not move forward with the age thing for entry level but majority of them don’t care, if your resume is more impressive than an average CS graduate ones then that’s more than sufficient.Â
I was 38 when I went to college and just under 40 when I started my first job in IT with a UK based company.
no. most definitely not.
Yes you’re almost dead so no point.
/s
I’m 37 and just making the switch. We have a long way to go still. We’ll be fine.
Age is irrelevant if you have the right aptitude. If you enjoy reading technical manuals and figuring out why things don’t work, you’ll probably like it.
I’m 34 and looking to switch into IT as well. I’m currently a therapist and I feel like I’m hitting my wall in this field. I asked a similar question a few days ago in the group and checking these responses as well. These answers and the answers to mine have been really helpful. I’m leaning towards doing an online accelerated program, someone mentioned the BS and Master’s program in IT/management information systems at WGU and going to seriously look into that. Going to look into the certs with CompTIA as well
It’s never too late. Just create a schedule around your family/financial responsibilities to do your training and courses. Setup a basic home lab to practice IT skills on using some virtual machines (lots of tutorials on how to do this). With anything, focus on building a foundation in IT first (CompTIA A+ is a good place to start, or a basic IT certificate/diploma at an institution). From there, you can start honing in on Cyber Security (coursework, doing cyber security labs etc.) You’ve got this man!
I switched at 40 years old with no degree. Got two basic certs and have been at a remote help desk role for years. (Have upskilled and gained more certs on that time.)
Heres a quick summary from my experience within IT that might help you build a quick map of the landscape and the various levels.
Ive broken these down into 3 stages.
1) Helpdesk/support: your role is very user focused, your primary goal is to service end users machines and technology that enable them to fulfil their roles. Youre a walking, talking google.
Skills: 70% softskills 30% technical.
Goals: absorb as much core troubleshooting and core technology understanding as possible.
2)sysadmin / network admin: role typically maintains the status quo.
You will begin working on all the hardware and technology that are the foundations that run business applications, move data between places, learn about authentication and authorisation, redundancies etc.
This is more systems focused and how they all interconnect to form business solutions for various problems and to some extent the history for “why”.
Skills: 30% softskills 70% technology.
Goals: learn about systems that fuel businesses, build base line awareness of how they play a part and interconnect, maintain these systems and slowly replace them.
This area of IT runs the broadest and has the most potential to go deep down various disciplines.
Stage 3) pivoting back toward people.
This is either through management, project management, consulting, pre sales or sales.
This is the zone where the culmination of your skills and people skills begin to really shape what you can earn in IT.
This is the area where its time to niche or specialise because it has the greatest yields. Hopefully by this stage, you have tried your hand in many of the other domains within IT and have a clearer direction on where to go.
Skills: 60% people-softskills 20% technology 10% management
Goals: learn how to communicate effectively, learn how to present data, learn the best places and people to go for specific information, and solve more complex problems for people and businesses.
Hope this brain dump helped. My Dms are open if you or anyone else wants to chat
Stick to your trade. You will regret it
I started at 32. It’s never too late
I will be following this closely. I’m 37 and want to jump in as well. I went to school and was working at one place and just never landed a role. I’ve got office and very light help desk experience. I’m currently in sales and its just not my style/vibe. Always been tech savvy so I’ll be trying this year to break in as well. Here’s hoping for us both!
I’m 33 and been in IT for 8 years now. Seeing as how you have little to no experience, and likely no degree in IT, I’d strongly recommend pursuing some basic IT certifications to start (A+,N+,S+,ITF+,etc) as they’re your best bet at getting noticed let alone your foot in the door for an IT position. Because I won’t lie, the market is saturated and pretty competitive, so you’ll have to do your best to stand out and make yourself relevant. All that said and out of the way though, definitely not to late to change careers, especially to IT. Give it your all and best of luck.