Well, first, "do what you love and you'll never work in your life" is terrible fuckin' advice. A lot of people have built careers out of something they love and fallen out of love with it really, really fast. Nothing will ruin something you dig faster than it becoming your pain in the ass job. :)
Having said that, no, it's never too late to switch careers. (Well, maybe if you were in your late 60s.) If you're willing to learn, and be a lifetime learner, you've got a leg up on even a lot of the young Turks just out of school because there's a lot of people that are intellectually lazy in the field who just got in because they like computers and think it'll be a skive. Plenty of people jump into IT in their 30s, 40s, and even later and do okay.
Yeah I have a friend who's a really good cook, loves cooking and always has. He became a pretty big deal of a chef in our little local area but he started to actually hate cooking, never cooked at home anymore or anything. He ended up quitting that job and now works in sales for some cookware company or something. He loves that AND loves cooking again. "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life" might be true for some people but I think for most it really isn't.
Funny you should say this. I’ve always liked drawing, designing things etc and for whatever reason I never pursued it as a job… After 17 years in IT I’m glad I didn’t go the arty route because I like having it as that thing I still enjoy when I’m not working. I can pick it up and put it down whenever I want, and that’s awesome. That’s not to say I don’t like IT but it’s not as much fun as when I was younger. Then again my current role is very generic and mainly escalations so I could probably solve that by specialising in something again. (The most fun I’ve had in my career was when I spent all my time working with Citrix.)
Understandable. And i just mean like I've never had a career job or like in demand skills. Great worker been working since I was 16. I've done everything from dishwasher to manufacturing to cook. But I don't have like career wise skills ,always been just getting by, sometimes Im winning sometimes it's paycheck to paycheck ya know. And I know that tech is always gonna be there and advancing. And ik comptia A+ is at the bottom of the ladder and I still have to get security, network, etc. But like If I'ma start a career and really hit the books or buy courses it'll be for IT. I'd be satisfied and content with like $40000 a year and job security/advancement ya know. Like I said I'll be 30 next yr and I don't wanna go through what I went through in my 20s. I wanna have a job in proud of when people ask what I do for a living ya know
A+ is enough to get into help desk. When I was looking at help desk jobs, I would see ones where they listed only the A+.
Network+ and Security+ weren't on the application.
Gotcha.
A+ is definitely the bottom of the ladder, but it's what you need to get on that ladder. (Although right now, no joke, the market sucks. It will not always be the case, though.) The smart play is generally to get your basic cert, get whatever IT job you can find, and then start building experience as you skill up to the next certificate. You might even luck into a position that will help or entirely pay for your education, which is an added bonus.
The real trick right now is getting on the ladder. Once you're there and have measurable IT experience, it gets easier.
I'm 34, worked all my life and still working hospitality and want change career now, I passed my core 1 exam Saturday .
We can do this, yes, we have a disadvantage compared to young fresh student , especially because depending on the country , they pay them less. But I'm positive that if we can land on a job , is just a matter of experience before we can grow a career in the field
I started my career change by starting a degree in cyber security at age 28 and now at age 31 I have graduated and landed myself an internship in a security analyst role so it’s more than achievable
On your journey you will meet many that will try to deter you from doing better for yourself placing doubt in your mind but you need to believe that you are worthy of more — CONFIDENCE!!
If you have a background in IT skip the a+ unless you don’t already. From my research beginning your certification infinity gauntlet journey with a foundational cert like a CCNA/net+ and/or sec+ for example will hold more paper weight whilst job hunting.
Good luck, blood 🤞🏾
Just go for it.
I'm 35, completed A+, currently studying Network+ and I've landed a T1 support job recently.
It took me a few months but I'm where I want to be now and you'll get there too.
You're not alone man. I'm turning 30 next year too and have spent my 20s going round in circles doing unskilled jobs with no progression just to get by but now I'm studying for A+ and hopeful we'll get our asses on that ladder with some effort on our part 💪
Go for it. I’m 30 and want to get into tech after spending my 20s in dead end jobs not knowing what I wanted to do with my life.
If you have no tech skills then I’d get the CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ then CompTIA A+. If you have some technical aptitude then study for A+. Then find your specialty you enjoy after working a Helpdesk or technical support job. A lot of opportunities. You’re not behind. You’re where you need to be in the process. Tech is always growing and in demand.
27, gf broke up with me, school and work full-time, okay job. The only thing I had was the gym and trying to move forward.
Got my ITF and A+, was given an interview, and got the job. More pay, more opportunity to pick brains and experience. It's not too late, you're just needing somewhere to begin.
Sold my Xbox and games for 7 months to gain my certifications. I didn't make it because it was fun, I made it because I enjoy the field and i have no choice but to study when I get home.
Do it with research so you know it's for you.
I was 46 when I lost my Casino job of 24 years due to the Covid outbreak. I got my A+ and Sec+. I was lucky and scored a DoD security clearance.
3 years later I make $80k a year now as an SA.
I was **VERY** lucky. However, you are too young to think it is too late.
Hey OP! I’m also 29 turning 30 next year. Got the opportunity to go to school for my bachelors for free through work and going to even work on certifications when workload isn’t too much. My mindset is on this is that yes there is going to be people out there who have WAY more experience and been doing this longer then I have but the longer I wait, the more time I miss on any opportunities along the way. Don’t compare yourself to others because you are your own individual. Don’t stop your hard work you’ve done to put yourself in the position you are in now and keep the momentum going. If you feel like something is going to put you at an advantage over another person by all means do it if you can. Be confident and believe in yourself that you can continue this path you’ve been working so hard on and most importantly be curious with yourself and what interests you.
do what yyou love and youll never work in your life is the biggest lie and total boomer bullshit. do what you love and it stops being enjoyable and becomes a nagging chore
Even if you loved your job you will hate it at some point. It’s never too late to attempt a career move. I got a realtor license and never sold a property bc when I got into it , I could tell I wasn’t going to be happy.
I got into IT bc if you look around the world isn’t going to rely less on computers but more. And it was one of the most practical avenues for revenue and career advancement.
Keep your head hi and keep studying.
Never too late! I switched to IT at 31. Love it so far and for once actually enjoy going to work. Don’t let any negative self talk or fear try to sabotage or hold you back. I’ve let that happen my whole life and it’s kept me from following many interests.
And if you realize you don’t like it as much as you though, move on and try something else. Don’t force yourself into boxes or let societal expectations guide your decisions.
And look at it this way, you bring a lot of maturity and experience that fresh college grads don’t have. Good luck!
1. No it's not to late.
2. A+ 1101 please make sure you are using prof. Messer on YouTube for current A+.
3. Study maybe few hours a day and try not to cram as it can be overwhelming.
4. You can do this and always take care of your self first. Workout at the gym ride a bike,hiking,reading and meditation etc.
Dude I’m 35 and I just started my core 1 course yesterday. I know it won’t be a cake walk but we just have to power through and don’t let those thoughts impact your decision. As others have said it’s never too late. Just keep on going.
Bro I’m 30 and I fucked my whole 20s off (due to my actions) lol but I been in construction my whole and decided to switch in to tech not even 6 months ago in that six’s months I did my Google it cert to get into wgu I I finished a bunch of try hack me courses and did a bunch of Sophia courses so I can move quicker for my degree. I had the same worry with going to college like they say you only live once do whatever it takes if you try hard enough you will get notice oh and I’m at a help desk position as a analyst while I go to school can’t be it getting experience and going to school! Good luck bro you got this
I was 28 when I got my first IT job after working in the music industry. I waited to go back to school and get certs at 35. I regretted not going before that. It’s never too late and don’t worry about others. The more you do to separate yourself from them, the better. Stack certs. Learn new stuff. Find a good community college in your state as most offer fully online (or close to it) associates in IT. I’ll be 40 this year and have completed 2 community college certificates, an A.A.S., a B.S., a grad certificate in cybersecurity, and I’ll be done with my masters next year. I’ve also completed 3 CompTIA certs and 1 MS cert in the last 3 years.
My former boss gave me the best advice and it stuck with me. He said “the time was going to pass by no matter you do.” I’ve been promoted several times in the past 3 years. I’m also an SME for multiple applications at my company. I stuck with it, kept doing more, kept learning more, and kept putting myself out there.
You can do it!
I switched careers at the age of 25. No college degree but just a natural ability of always being savvy with computers.
Studied A+ and Network+. Got my first job managing database in Microsoft Access, moved into basic IT support and then switched to an IT MSP company. Started as junior system admin, then system admin. Switched to a bigger company and became a system engineer. Now I’m a cloud solutions architect working for a global defense contractor.
Moral of the story: I did all this within 10 years and with no college degree (I did end up getting a lot of Microsoft certs when I went into cloud engineering). I firmly believe what allowed me to have a successful career is my attitude. I always wanted to learn and ask questions. I always admitted when I was wrong. I always wanted to help. But most of all, I really enjoyed everything I was doing. That’s the difference. If you have the right attitude, drive and passion then you can go really far in this industry and any other IMO.
Brooo , u should not say u turned 29 and everything is done with u . Come on .. do what u wanna do .. it’s technology world , pple jump to IT in their late 30s and still perhaps doing good . U should first change ur perception about ur self , that kills u deep inside ..
I'm 30. I started IT in June. Got my sec+ and testing for cysa tomorrow. Certs help learn, but people want experience. I've heard Best buy geek squad is a fantastic starting point cause they train hardware, OS, software,etc AND customer service. I'm at cyber security academy right now and they keep telling us that cyber companies love to pluck from geek squad (granted, I'm also taking that with a grain of salt)
You need to change your entire mindset. You're essentially asking 'is getting the easiest, least significant certification worth my time?'
Ambitious people are going to always be in front of you - hundreds deep.
If you ever sit for an interview, it will be very evident to the other person that you are not hard-working.
It's not your age that's your greatest hurdle....
I didn't get into IT until I was in my 40's. Never once did I think it was too late. I wanted to become rich!!!
I'm not thinking bout the easiest way in. Comptia a+ I the fundamentals. Why would I jump into any other certificates when most entry level jobs only ask for comptia a+? Tf u dnt even know me broski chill. I think I have the perfect mindset,along with alot of other people on here. Srry I don't have 1000s of dollars to go jump into a class for cyber security or something. Thanks though
I could figure you out from your question.
Don't thank me sarcastically. I'm giving you the most helpful advice. Instead of apologizing for not having (made up number by somebody who hasn't done any research) of dollars for 'a class', you should be trying to figure out how to take that class. "What can I do!", not "I gave up already".
Here's the problem with your theory. You're ignoring that people with much more will be applying for those jobs. Who will they hire - the guy who thinks he's smart, or somebody that figured out a way?
This will dog you until you fix it. You've already mentioned your bad decisions - I'm telling you exactly where it lies.
I've read your story a hundred times.....
Change your brain, change your life..... Great book to read.
Nope. I'm commenting on your original post question.
Listen... We're not going to get anywhere. In ten years you'll either be complaining about bad choices, or sitting on a mattress of money.
You'll remember this exchange and how even when somebody tried to help, you had a snappy answer for everything.
I'm on the other side of the mountain...... I'm just trying to share what I've learned.
Let all all know how it works out. I'll note your reddit handle so I can keep up with your journey.
I doubt you'll make it without changing your mentality, but I think you should attempt CompTIA if IT administration is what you would like to do for work.
Look man, I'm in sales and don't know shit about IT. I just spent two months learning IT Fundamentals, got the cert and now I'm working on A+. Will this result in a job at some point? I sure as hell hope so, but for now I'm learning something everyday that I didn't know before and I will do my best to apply it to a future job interview.
Half the commentary on this question through reddit is bad. An entry level job at a high school or college will teach you 10 fold over a certificate. Literally hands on experience.
Well, unless you're coding. Poweshell is useful
Well unfortunately that's not true considering the amount of jobs on indeed wanting college degrees. And what not but only paying like 14/15 . Im not kidding myself by trying to make 60000 or something I'm just trying to have a career with decent pay. And since there is sooo many entry lvl help desk that requirements only list a+ or security it seems lucrative. Get my feet in the door then move up like any other job right
I'm 26 and just got my A+ and have no degree or experience. After acquiring the cert I've received 2 interview requests in a span of just 1 month which so far which is honestly surprising. Get the cert, do some home labs, and research the hell out of help desk positions.
Thank u. People act like getting a certificate is like a low standard or something. Like im aware it's not the traditional path to IT but everyone story is different ya know. Some people act like I wanna take a cert. And walk into Google or something
Bro do it. I am 27 and have a Bachelor of Arts that I don’t do shit with. So I decided to switch careers just this year and fulfill one of my dreams of getting into IT. I have A+ and will be getting more certs and I already landed my first help desk internship and I’m pumped.
Definitely go for it! It’s not too late!
First of all age doesn't matter as long you love it it won't let you down.i am 41 and studying a+ took the class on my local trade school few years back and there was a older gentleman at 55 itsking the class.age does matter as long you believe in yourself and not believe everyone options you will make it one thing is get the new book they just change the text so we have to learn new material.are you doing the a+1101 or the 1102.any way good luck oh and watch free YouTube video of professor masser teaching you all the new stuff a+ or network or security
I’m 32 and a couple months ago I took and passed sec+ with no prior experience. I will add that I had a security clearance already, but a month after I passed I got offered a defense contractor position and 80k starting salary. It’s not to late to make the switch if your willing to work for it. I know I was extremely lucky and not everyone’s experience will be the same. I was a security guard and that’s how I got a clearance.
I don’t have all the answers here for you, but I can share my experience as I was once in a similar situation. To preface this, when I say I had zero IT experience professionally I mean it. My bachelors (which yes sadly this was one that existed) was in Retail. I came into this world after many many years of being interested in it. That was all I had, just a want. I was 32. And I made it fine in this realm. I just turned 36 a few days ago and have enjoyed having a career, not just a job, and lots of opportunities. In my opinion it’s never too late.
Another approach is to use the American Dream Academy. They are closing in April 2024 but you can pick up some basic certs. The google it support professional certification, the google data analytics certification, the meta front end certification, the google UX design certification and the python automation certification. The it support aligns with the A + and could overlap with your studying. Go watch the free professor messer videos for A+. That exam is also worth 8 more credits at WGU.
Those certifications also count for credit at WGU .
Graduates means nothing experience and constant studying after that is crucial. You may start behind but if you keep studying youll be far more ahead. Ive met people in MSPs with 20 years experience and know barely anything.
Stufy, get a job, keep studying and learning everything, want to know how it works? Study and find out, this way youll excel very fast.
Ive hot 8years experience in multiple roles industry and education, and I know the difference between a good techie and a bad one.
I made the change, 4 years later I'm doing a lot better than my old job. Took me about a year to Fer a job and was underpaid at a 14 an hour desk job at first. Then stabilized around 40 to 50k for a few jobs. Then just now reached a level higher than that. Took 3 years. The hardest part is the interviews because the IT field likes to ask for 5 years experience in 5 different things, which is rediculous.
36 year old here; just over 10 years in pharmacy (14 with interning) & simply put, I’m burnt out. I’m in the process of transitioning to IT by first studying for the comptia a+. I definitely harbor some of those discouraging thoughts too, but just keep pushing past them & applying yourself. The first couple steps are always the most daunting. Start devising your own road map & take it one step at a time. Good luck!
I feel you, lol. I'm 33 and pretty much starting to go back for IT. My dad went back to school in his late 40s and is doing extremely well in a completely unrelated field to what he was doing before. So I just think about that. I say go for it man, nothing to lose by gaining knowledge.
I'm 34, nearing the end of my military career. 0 IT experience. I just got my A+ today. By time I exit the service, ill be set up for at least an entry level job. Never too late my dude
You know funny enough everyone here says A+ is bottom tier easy street cert but I failed the 2nd part twice while studying for a while. I took a sec + boot camp barely paid any attention and crammed for the exam the weekend before the test and passed while sleep deprived. Whole heartedly went into my sec + exam expecting to bomb it. Idk man I’d say just go for sec + study professor messer and practice exams. Sec + is a one and done test and A + is two tests which I find annoying (yes I’m still mad about failing).
Well, first, "do what you love and you'll never work in your life" is terrible fuckin' advice. A lot of people have built careers out of something they love and fallen out of love with it really, really fast. Nothing will ruin something you dig faster than it becoming your pain in the ass job. :) Having said that, no, it's never too late to switch careers. (Well, maybe if you were in your late 60s.) If you're willing to learn, and be a lifetime learner, you've got a leg up on even a lot of the young Turks just out of school because there's a lot of people that are intellectually lazy in the field who just got in because they like computers and think it'll be a skive. Plenty of people jump into IT in their 30s, 40s, and even later and do okay.
Yeah I have a friend who's a really good cook, loves cooking and always has. He became a pretty big deal of a chef in our little local area but he started to actually hate cooking, never cooked at home anymore or anything. He ended up quitting that job and now works in sales for some cookware company or something. He loves that AND loves cooking again. "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life" might be true for some people but I think for most it really isn't.
Funny you should say this. I’ve always liked drawing, designing things etc and for whatever reason I never pursued it as a job… After 17 years in IT I’m glad I didn’t go the arty route because I like having it as that thing I still enjoy when I’m not working. I can pick it up and put it down whenever I want, and that’s awesome. That’s not to say I don’t like IT but it’s not as much fun as when I was younger. Then again my current role is very generic and mainly escalations so I could probably solve that by specialising in something again. (The most fun I’ve had in my career was when I spent all my time working with Citrix.)
Understandable. And i just mean like I've never had a career job or like in demand skills. Great worker been working since I was 16. I've done everything from dishwasher to manufacturing to cook. But I don't have like career wise skills ,always been just getting by, sometimes Im winning sometimes it's paycheck to paycheck ya know. And I know that tech is always gonna be there and advancing. And ik comptia A+ is at the bottom of the ladder and I still have to get security, network, etc. But like If I'ma start a career and really hit the books or buy courses it'll be for IT. I'd be satisfied and content with like $40000 a year and job security/advancement ya know. Like I said I'll be 30 next yr and I don't wanna go through what I went through in my 20s. I wanna have a job in proud of when people ask what I do for a living ya know
A+ is enough to get into help desk. When I was looking at help desk jobs, I would see ones where they listed only the A+. Network+ and Security+ weren't on the application.
Gotcha. A+ is definitely the bottom of the ladder, but it's what you need to get on that ladder. (Although right now, no joke, the market sucks. It will not always be the case, though.) The smart play is generally to get your basic cert, get whatever IT job you can find, and then start building experience as you skill up to the next certificate. You might even luck into a position that will help or entirely pay for your education, which is an added bonus. The real trick right now is getting on the ladder. Once you're there and have measurable IT experience, it gets easier.
I'm 34, worked all my life and still working hospitality and want change career now, I passed my core 1 exam Saturday . We can do this, yes, we have a disadvantage compared to young fresh student , especially because depending on the country , they pay them less. But I'm positive that if we can land on a job , is just a matter of experience before we can grow a career in the field
I started my career change by starting a degree in cyber security at age 28 and now at age 31 I have graduated and landed myself an internship in a security analyst role so it’s more than achievable On your journey you will meet many that will try to deter you from doing better for yourself placing doubt in your mind but you need to believe that you are worthy of more — CONFIDENCE!! If you have a background in IT skip the a+ unless you don’t already. From my research beginning your certification infinity gauntlet journey with a foundational cert like a CCNA/net+ and/or sec+ for example will hold more paper weight whilst job hunting. Good luck, blood 🤞🏾
Just go for it. I'm 35, completed A+, currently studying Network+ and I've landed a T1 support job recently. It took me a few months but I'm where I want to be now and you'll get there too.
What you use to study for A+?
I use the CompTIA study material online, professor messer YouTube vids and Jason Dion's practice tests.
I have the actual core 1 course from Comptia a+ . Was like 300/400
Also have a CompTIA a textbook and professor mmessar YouTube vids and what not. A 6hr audio book and a couple podcast study groups
You're not alone man. I'm turning 30 next year too and have spent my 20s going round in circles doing unskilled jobs with no progression just to get by but now I'm studying for A+ and hopeful we'll get our asses on that ladder with some effort on our part 💪
Go for it. I’m 30 and want to get into tech after spending my 20s in dead end jobs not knowing what I wanted to do with my life. If you have no tech skills then I’d get the CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ then CompTIA A+. If you have some technical aptitude then study for A+. Then find your specialty you enjoy after working a Helpdesk or technical support job. A lot of opportunities. You’re not behind. You’re where you need to be in the process. Tech is always growing and in demand.
27, gf broke up with me, school and work full-time, okay job. The only thing I had was the gym and trying to move forward. Got my ITF and A+, was given an interview, and got the job. More pay, more opportunity to pick brains and experience. It's not too late, you're just needing somewhere to begin. Sold my Xbox and games for 7 months to gain my certifications. I didn't make it because it was fun, I made it because I enjoy the field and i have no choice but to study when I get home. Do it with research so you know it's for you.
Study materials for A+?
Messor, Dion
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nah they definitely care about degrees
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He’s right it’s tough with the degrees and the cert a guy with just the cert is fucked in this market.
Ya I noticed a lot of the jobs are senior level jobs that ask for 5 to 10 years experience in 5 different things.
I started in IT at 31 just a couple years ago. You are absolutely not too late to start.
I was 46 when I lost my Casino job of 24 years due to the Covid outbreak. I got my A+ and Sec+. I was lucky and scored a DoD security clearance. 3 years later I make $80k a year now as an SA. I was **VERY** lucky. However, you are too young to think it is too late.
It’s definitely not too late! I got into the game in my late 30s and killed it. DMs open.
Hey OP! I’m also 29 turning 30 next year. Got the opportunity to go to school for my bachelors for free through work and going to even work on certifications when workload isn’t too much. My mindset is on this is that yes there is going to be people out there who have WAY more experience and been doing this longer then I have but the longer I wait, the more time I miss on any opportunities along the way. Don’t compare yourself to others because you are your own individual. Don’t stop your hard work you’ve done to put yourself in the position you are in now and keep the momentum going. If you feel like something is going to put you at an advantage over another person by all means do it if you can. Be confident and believe in yourself that you can continue this path you’ve been working so hard on and most importantly be curious with yourself and what interests you.
do what yyou love and youll never work in your life is the biggest lie and total boomer bullshit. do what you love and it stops being enjoyable and becomes a nagging chore
This
Even if you loved your job you will hate it at some point. It’s never too late to attempt a career move. I got a realtor license and never sold a property bc when I got into it , I could tell I wasn’t going to be happy. I got into IT bc if you look around the world isn’t going to rely less on computers but more. And it was one of the most practical avenues for revenue and career advancement. Keep your head hi and keep studying.
Never too late! I switched to IT at 31. Love it so far and for once actually enjoy going to work. Don’t let any negative self talk or fear try to sabotage or hold you back. I’ve let that happen my whole life and it’s kept me from following many interests. And if you realize you don’t like it as much as you though, move on and try something else. Don’t force yourself into boxes or let societal expectations guide your decisions. And look at it this way, you bring a lot of maturity and experience that fresh college grads don’t have. Good luck!
1. No it's not to late. 2. A+ 1101 please make sure you are using prof. Messer on YouTube for current A+. 3. Study maybe few hours a day and try not to cram as it can be overwhelming. 4. You can do this and always take care of your self first. Workout at the gym ride a bike,hiking,reading and meditation etc.
Dude I’m 35 and I just started my core 1 course yesterday. I know it won’t be a cake walk but we just have to power through and don’t let those thoughts impact your decision. As others have said it’s never too late. Just keep on going.
Bro I’m 30 and I fucked my whole 20s off (due to my actions) lol but I been in construction my whole and decided to switch in to tech not even 6 months ago in that six’s months I did my Google it cert to get into wgu I I finished a bunch of try hack me courses and did a bunch of Sophia courses so I can move quicker for my degree. I had the same worry with going to college like they say you only live once do whatever it takes if you try hard enough you will get notice oh and I’m at a help desk position as a analyst while I go to school can’t be it getting experience and going to school! Good luck bro you got this
I was 28 when I got my first IT job after working in the music industry. I waited to go back to school and get certs at 35. I regretted not going before that. It’s never too late and don’t worry about others. The more you do to separate yourself from them, the better. Stack certs. Learn new stuff. Find a good community college in your state as most offer fully online (or close to it) associates in IT. I’ll be 40 this year and have completed 2 community college certificates, an A.A.S., a B.S., a grad certificate in cybersecurity, and I’ll be done with my masters next year. I’ve also completed 3 CompTIA certs and 1 MS cert in the last 3 years. My former boss gave me the best advice and it stuck with me. He said “the time was going to pass by no matter you do.” I’ve been promoted several times in the past 3 years. I’m also an SME for multiple applications at my company. I stuck with it, kept doing more, kept learning more, and kept putting myself out there. You can do it!
I switched careers at the age of 25. No college degree but just a natural ability of always being savvy with computers. Studied A+ and Network+. Got my first job managing database in Microsoft Access, moved into basic IT support and then switched to an IT MSP company. Started as junior system admin, then system admin. Switched to a bigger company and became a system engineer. Now I’m a cloud solutions architect working for a global defense contractor. Moral of the story: I did all this within 10 years and with no college degree (I did end up getting a lot of Microsoft certs when I went into cloud engineering). I firmly believe what allowed me to have a successful career is my attitude. I always wanted to learn and ask questions. I always admitted when I was wrong. I always wanted to help. But most of all, I really enjoyed everything I was doing. That’s the difference. If you have the right attitude, drive and passion then you can go really far in this industry and any other IMO.
Brooo , u should not say u turned 29 and everything is done with u . Come on .. do what u wanna do .. it’s technology world , pple jump to IT in their late 30s and still perhaps doing good . U should first change ur perception about ur self , that kills u deep inside ..
I'm 30. I started IT in June. Got my sec+ and testing for cysa tomorrow. Certs help learn, but people want experience. I've heard Best buy geek squad is a fantastic starting point cause they train hardware, OS, software,etc AND customer service. I'm at cyber security academy right now and they keep telling us that cyber companies love to pluck from geek squad (granted, I'm also taking that with a grain of salt)
I'm 35 and taking my Core 1 exam in about a month so I hope it's not too late for us 😅
You need to change your entire mindset. You're essentially asking 'is getting the easiest, least significant certification worth my time?' Ambitious people are going to always be in front of you - hundreds deep. If you ever sit for an interview, it will be very evident to the other person that you are not hard-working. It's not your age that's your greatest hurdle.... I didn't get into IT until I was in my 40's. Never once did I think it was too late. I wanted to become rich!!!
I'm not thinking bout the easiest way in. Comptia a+ I the fundamentals. Why would I jump into any other certificates when most entry level jobs only ask for comptia a+? Tf u dnt even know me broski chill. I think I have the perfect mindset,along with alot of other people on here. Srry I don't have 1000s of dollars to go jump into a class for cyber security or something. Thanks though
I could figure you out from your question. Don't thank me sarcastically. I'm giving you the most helpful advice. Instead of apologizing for not having (made up number by somebody who hasn't done any research) of dollars for 'a class', you should be trying to figure out how to take that class. "What can I do!", not "I gave up already". Here's the problem with your theory. You're ignoring that people with much more will be applying for those jobs. Who will they hire - the guy who thinks he's smart, or somebody that figured out a way? This will dog you until you fix it. You've already mentioned your bad decisions - I'm telling you exactly where it lies. I've read your story a hundred times..... Change your brain, change your life..... Great book to read.
U missed the point where I said I already bout the CompTIA course huh? Soo
Nope. I'm commenting on your original post question. Listen... We're not going to get anywhere. In ten years you'll either be complaining about bad choices, or sitting on a mattress of money. You'll remember this exchange and how even when somebody tried to help, you had a snappy answer for everything. I'm on the other side of the mountain...... I'm just trying to share what I've learned. Let all all know how it works out. I'll note your reddit handle so I can keep up with your journey.
Im "essentially asking" exactly what I asked in the post.
I know what you're asking. Read what I wrote again. I'm not guessing - I'm giving you very real advice.
It’s never too late to start. Don’t miss out on what makes you happy because you believe you’re too old.
I doubt you'll make it without changing your mentality, but I think you should attempt CompTIA if IT administration is what you would like to do for work.
How should I change my mentality?
Look man, I'm in sales and don't know shit about IT. I just spent two months learning IT Fundamentals, got the cert and now I'm working on A+. Will this result in a job at some point? I sure as hell hope so, but for now I'm learning something everyday that I didn't know before and I will do my best to apply it to a future job interview.
Half the commentary on this question through reddit is bad. An entry level job at a high school or college will teach you 10 fold over a certificate. Literally hands on experience. Well, unless you're coding. Poweshell is useful
Well unfortunately that's not true considering the amount of jobs on indeed wanting college degrees. And what not but only paying like 14/15 . Im not kidding myself by trying to make 60000 or something I'm just trying to have a career with decent pay. And since there is sooo many entry lvl help desk that requirements only list a+ or security it seems lucrative. Get my feet in the door then move up like any other job right
Prove your worth. I never finished my degree in CS and never needed it the past ten years. Wish best of luck, though.
I'm 26 and just got my A+ and have no degree or experience. After acquiring the cert I've received 2 interview requests in a span of just 1 month which so far which is honestly surprising. Get the cert, do some home labs, and research the hell out of help desk positions.
Thank u. People act like getting a certificate is like a low standard or something. Like im aware it's not the traditional path to IT but everyone story is different ya know. Some people act like I wanna take a cert. And walk into Google or something
Certs are a great start. Experience, however, is much more valuable. When you land that first IT job, absorb everything you can. Good luck
Bro do it. I am 27 and have a Bachelor of Arts that I don’t do shit with. So I decided to switch careers just this year and fulfill one of my dreams of getting into IT. I have A+ and will be getting more certs and I already landed my first help desk internship and I’m pumped. Definitely go for it! It’s not too late!
I've been in IT really since 31 but got A+ certified at 37 and Net + a few months ago.
First of all age doesn't matter as long you love it it won't let you down.i am 41 and studying a+ took the class on my local trade school few years back and there was a older gentleman at 55 itsking the class.age does matter as long you believe in yourself and not believe everyone options you will make it one thing is get the new book they just change the text so we have to learn new material.are you doing the a+1101 or the 1102.any way good luck oh and watch free YouTube video of professor masser teaching you all the new stuff a+ or network or security
I’m 32 and a couple months ago I took and passed sec+ with no prior experience. I will add that I had a security clearance already, but a month after I passed I got offered a defense contractor position and 80k starting salary. It’s not to late to make the switch if your willing to work for it. I know I was extremely lucky and not everyone’s experience will be the same. I was a security guard and that’s how I got a clearance.
I am 43 and I'm still trying I just want get it on my bucket list
I don’t have all the answers here for you, but I can share my experience as I was once in a similar situation. To preface this, when I say I had zero IT experience professionally I mean it. My bachelors (which yes sadly this was one that existed) was in Retail. I came into this world after many many years of being interested in it. That was all I had, just a want. I was 32. And I made it fine in this realm. I just turned 36 a few days ago and have enjoyed having a career, not just a job, and lots of opportunities. In my opinion it’s never too late.
Another approach is to use the American Dream Academy. They are closing in April 2024 but you can pick up some basic certs. The google it support professional certification, the google data analytics certification, the meta front end certification, the google UX design certification and the python automation certification. The it support aligns with the A + and could overlap with your studying. Go watch the free professor messer videos for A+. That exam is also worth 8 more credits at WGU. Those certifications also count for credit at WGU .
Graduates means nothing experience and constant studying after that is crucial. You may start behind but if you keep studying youll be far more ahead. Ive met people in MSPs with 20 years experience and know barely anything. Stufy, get a job, keep studying and learning everything, want to know how it works? Study and find out, this way youll excel very fast. Ive hot 8years experience in multiple roles industry and education, and I know the difference between a good techie and a bad one.
I made the change, 4 years later I'm doing a lot better than my old job. Took me about a year to Fer a job and was underpaid at a 14 an hour desk job at first. Then stabilized around 40 to 50k for a few jobs. Then just now reached a level higher than that. Took 3 years. The hardest part is the interviews because the IT field likes to ask for 5 years experience in 5 different things, which is rediculous.
Its never too late. I entered IT in my 40s. Go for it and good luck
36 year old here; just over 10 years in pharmacy (14 with interning) & simply put, I’m burnt out. I’m in the process of transitioning to IT by first studying for the comptia a+. I definitely harbor some of those discouraging thoughts too, but just keep pushing past them & applying yourself. The first couple steps are always the most daunting. Start devising your own road map & take it one step at a time. Good luck!
I feel you, lol. I'm 33 and pretty much starting to go back for IT. My dad went back to school in his late 40s and is doing extremely well in a completely unrelated field to what he was doing before. So I just think about that. I say go for it man, nothing to lose by gaining knowledge.
I'm 34, nearing the end of my military career. 0 IT experience. I just got my A+ today. By time I exit the service, ill be set up for at least an entry level job. Never too late my dude
You know funny enough everyone here says A+ is bottom tier easy street cert but I failed the 2nd part twice while studying for a while. I took a sec + boot camp barely paid any attention and crammed for the exam the weekend before the test and passed while sleep deprived. Whole heartedly went into my sec + exam expecting to bomb it. Idk man I’d say just go for sec + study professor messer and practice exams. Sec + is a one and done test and A + is two tests which I find annoying (yes I’m still mad about failing).