Ask Slashdot: Best Training To Rekindle a Long Tech Career? 162
New submitter SouthSeaDragon writes "I'm a computer professional who has performed most of the functions that could be expected over a 39 year career, including hardware maintenance and repair, sitting on a 800 support line, developing a help desk application from the ground up (terminal-based), writing a software manual, plus developing and teaching software courses. In recent years, I've worked for computer software vendors doing pre-sales support generally for infrastructure products including applications, app servers, integration with Java based messaging and ESB product and most recently a Business Rules product. I was laid off recently due to a restructuring and am now trying to figure out the next phase. With the WIA displaced worker grants now available I am attempting to figure out what training would be good to pursue. I am hearing that 'the Cloud' is the next big thing, but I'm also looking into increasing my development skills with a current language. I wonder what the readers might suggest for new directions."
In the "Cloud" (Score:4, Informative)
Cloud + "Big Data" are happening things these days. I am a 64yo professional and started a new career at the first of the year in telecom. Cloud + Hadoop + Big Data are serious issues these days. I'm gaining my chops in that area (main emphasis is performance engineering), and there is a LOT of interest in anyone with "Big Data" (Hadoop + MapReduce) type of experience.
Been there, done that. (Score:2, Informative)
I am 68, probably older than you. IOW, my age-related observations come from living them, not from seeing them portrayed on TV.
I have gone into business for myself and have a cloud-based service I wrote at http://www.TelephoneMessagePad.com
It is not a major money maker ... yet. However, it is growing and churn is low. With expected age of death in early 90's (!) for those in their 60's now, what you need/want is a long-term solution. I don't think hanging on for a few years until social security kicks in and then sitting around the house is that solution. I think if you want a job, you have to create one of your own.
You say you wrote a help desk application form the ground up. Hmmm ... we may have some mutual interests. I am writing a sales/help chat application right now.
You can find some good resources on starting up at http://isvcon.com and http://www.asp-software.org Neither are free.
Re:Home-calling consumer services? (Score:5, Informative)
Or he could, you know, find work in a position befitting his experience? Catering to home users is generally bottom of the barrel in terms of pay and probably getting the same PITA phone calls about their network not working because little Timmy downloaded too much pronz.
There are some companies around that actually value an older guy who's a little humble and knows the ropes. Hotshot 25 y/os may have the cool factor and are in touch with what's hot, but at the same time make a lot of mistakes their older peers no longer make nor have the same perspective.
IMO, if the guy has any legacy knowledge of systems still in use but no longer sexy, he should leverage that.