I'm older again so yeah +1
Career change?
- Thread starter -Mike-
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I'm older again so yeah +1
Hey mate,
Someone asked how old I was above so that's why I stated my age. I am however, starting to feel very old! Perhaps its just growing up but you know you just get to a point and you realise you're not young anymore!
Truth be told my temptation was to work my way through Microsoft certifications and then try and do some stuff inbetween the hours for where I work now to build up some clientele, but am unsure whether that is realistic. This last year has been a real struggle financially thanks to my hours at work being cut by 20 a week from may - September. I'm usually working 50 hours a week in those months but this year I was down to 30 average.
I don't feel valued anymore, and whilst there now am doing 40 hours a week - provide on demand IT support and get no recognition for it. Infact, I wasn't even invited to the xmas staff party as I am "not permanent staff" despite having been there six years. I also don't have a contract - though I'm unsure how legal this is / the issues relating to this.
I totally agree, and having worked for large corporates in the past where there have been designers, programme managers, project managers and delivery managers for the same project the lines were always too blurred and conference calls were just a complete mess. Having the buck stop definitively with someone does really work. That's why I liked the description of "CEO of a product" - it's someone's own responsibility at the end of the day.
The only problem I have found with some product owners/managers in the past is that they don't want to take into account the wider business objectives which can lead to them being very insular. For example having a product (an app for example) supporting a particular platform or service which the wider business wants to promote but that won't benefit the product manager's own area or KPIs much.
Anyway this is probably totally dull to everyone
, but to the OP I made this career change at the age of 38, so you're definitely not to old to branch out.Anyway this is probably totally dull to everyone
Out of interest, if you don't mind - what did you do / what do you do now?
Thanks
mate I am 43 and in the 1st year of a degree, so yep I would say if there is something you fancy go for it! I was in a similar dilemma and am loving it, I think its defiantly harder as you get older but leaning is always worthwhile.
Soldato
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Are any of the LinkedIn hottest skills of 2014 of interest to you?
http://blog.linkedin.com/2014/12/17/the-25-hottest-skills-that-got-people-hired-in-2014/
Rgds
http://blog.linkedin.com/2014/12/17/the-25-hottest-skills-that-got-people-hired-in-2014/
Rgds
Soldato
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Are you looking for a new career? You'll need to choose only one really.
Soldato
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Thanks for the reply! Numbers 3,4 and 25 interest me
OK, good start, can you get it down to just one?
As hinted at previously, if someone's changing career then it's incredibly unlikely that they are going to be able to focus on 'just' being a storage person, or a VM person. Specialising in networking is more likely than the other two, but I don't know anyone involved in virtualisation who doesn't also know quite a lot about storage and networking. Likewise storage admins tend to know a thing or two about networking and the virtualisation product they are supporting. Even if it's just to be able to tell the database guys that they are wrong .
Those are a list of skills, not a list of job titles.
.Those are a list of skills, not a list of job titles.
Soldato
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As hinted at previously, if someone's changing career then it's incredibly unlikely that they are going to be able to focus on 'just' being a storage person, or a VM person. Specialising in networking is more likely than the other two, but I don't know anyone involved in virtualisation who doesn't also know quite a lot about storage and networking. Likewise storage admins tend to know a thing or two about networking and the virtualisation product they are supporting. Even if it's just to be able to tell the database guys that they are wrong
Those are a list of skills, not a list of job titles.
Fair point, but I still think he needs to choose one to "major" in.
Rgds
Soldato
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*watches to see what people have said as this is something I'm looking into - in a similar vein but for slightly different reasons.
Personally probably 25. However, and this is very important... the path I choose must be available in Cornwall. I am not willing to move away. I have family that need looking after down here, and my three year old also lives here. (Must update my location!)
Network installs interested me, but I need to do more cisco certs for that, assuming I went down the cisco path.
Any input you have or thoughts would be interested! Don't just be a watcher I'd love to hear your opinion?
Unfortunately you're massively hampering yourself wanting to stay in Cornwall. Your best bet is going to be to try and attach yourself to an MSP for a couple of years and get involved with the projects that interest you / are helping you towards your chosen speciality. Then ditch it after a couple of years and move into an internal role.
Either that or see what BT are up to down that way.
Either that or see what BT are up to down that way.
I understand that
However, family first I'd never forgive myself not knowing I'd put 110% into them while they are still here - when they're gone.
Soldato
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Perhaps there would be remote employee roles that you could do? I'm not an expert in virtualisation, but it is certainly a sector with good employment prospects. I would imagine there would be some remote roles available in this space.
Rgds
Rgds
I'm very much thinking about making moves out of an IT career, it's a youngster persons game. I was recently at a national cert course where they was a few 'older' people there and they was really finding it hard. I can't see myself doing what I'm doing when I'm 50 (I'm 37 next year)
Back to the OP, specialisation is where then money is at. I've been lucky and fell into my specialisation and now work for a company which wanted my experience and skills and have been looking for them for a while. The issue with being a specialist, like with any job; is that you need experience; as a specialist you need more experience than anyone bidding for the role. You may need to find a generic IT role then hope they help you develop into a specialist, as getting a VMware cert doesn't make a person into a specialist.
Back to the OP, specialisation is where then money is at. I've been lucky and fell into my specialisation and now work for a company which wanted my experience and skills and have been looking for them for a while. The issue with being a specialist, like with any job; is that you need experience; as a specialist you need more experience than anyone bidding for the role. You may need to find a generic IT role then hope they help you develop into a specialist, as getting a VMware cert doesn't make a person into a specialist.
Maybe, but it isn't quite as vague as Product Owner, no? It is also referred to as a FAM in a few places I have worked so it can also be abbreviated.. Of course you also have your TAM (Technical Application Manager) guy(s) too.