Feeling stuck and moving career forward

[CleverBalls]

With permanent Infrastructure role (contracting not so much), by the time you're 45-50 you need to be a manager or something like a solutions architect. As IMO most `normal` people will loose interest, as its a 4 or 5 year cycle of the same thing over and over again for years and years. Desktop refreshes, Server refreshers, new versions of Windows, new versions of VMware and so on. Occasionally you might get an interesting big project like a new datacentre fit-out or green field site to get stuck into, but the majority is dull. It gets a bit depressing when you've migrated the same departments file store from Win2000, to 2003, onto 2008 and now 2012 - It's like "didn't I already do this?" then you realise 5 yrs have passed... makes you really feel your age!

Oh course this is all my personal opinion, but everyone I talk to over the age of 40 has the same feelings... Most are just taking the good money, but really aren't interested anymore and wishing they were postmen, park wardens or lumberjacks - anything to be out in the fresh air.

It's not too late to retrain!

 

[Yamahahahahaha]

If you want big money you ought to be aiming for CCNP + VCP (Or equivalent 'professional' level certifications, JNCIS etc.). Then you're into Infrastructure Architect territory which is easily £70k+ salaried doon sooth. Any of the Red Hat certs will boost your employability too. The Windows certs are actually pretty common and because of the nature of Windows each company will want you to be extremely good at one specific thing usually (IIS, SQL, Exchange, Hyper-V etc.) the kind of experience you simply won't get outside of a specific range of roles. The pay isn't so good with Windows but if you get and keep current an MCSA you'll be a-ok with all the new features.

If you're financially stable and own your own place, start contracting ASAP. The rates are at least twice as good as permanent positions, are very stable if you're good, and you can pay an accountant to significantly reduce the amount of tax you pay.

Getting any piece of paper will really ramp up your monies.

It's not too late to retrain!

Definitely not! One of the contractors I was working with a few months ago is in his mid 50s and pulling in six figures contracting with a fairly limited practical skill set. He was telling me about how he was studying for a CCNA for the first time and that picking up new things just takes longer. The difference is that he has a ton of experience managing projects and everything else is just icing on the cake. It's about selling yourself properly and having confidence in your abilities. I have no idea why he hasn't retired but I guess we all enjoy different things.

 

[CleverBalls]

If you have the know how and you know how to sell yourself and your skill set why don't you move towards the self employed/contract work?


EDIT:

Couldn't agree with you more on the selling yourself bit - that's essential if you want to become successful in any business; if you master it your actual practical skills become almost irrelevant.