Ask Slashdot: How Do I Change Tech Careers At 30? 451
First time accepted submitter possiblybored writes "I'm 30, and I am a technology teacher and the school's technology coordinator. I like my job, but I have been having thoughts about switching careers and focusing more on technology in the private sector. I like Microsoft products and would head in that direction, probably. Is it too late for me to think about this? What is the best way to get started on this path? I'm not so much interested in programming (though I'd like to learn a language some day) as much as I am intrigued by topics like setting up e-mail servers, reading about cloud stuff like Office 365, and looking at information on collaborative technology. I'm a good teacher and excel at explaining things as well. Any advice the community could offer would be greatly appreciated!"
Troll (Score:3, Insightful)
Submission is very clearly a troll. Please don't post this kind of crap.
Follow your fascination (Score:5, Insightful)
Apply to jobs (Score:5, Insightful)
Start applying for help desk jobs. Yes, it really is that simple.
Too late at 30!?!? (Score:5, Insightful)
Bwha ha ha ha ha!!!
Just how old do you think you *are*, sonny boy? 30 is just barely dry behind the ears! Truth is that there is lots of room for anybody in the tech field who is *competent*. So be competent!
It does help to be somewhat charismatic and hygienic.
Microsoft is on decline (Score:5, Insightful)
Think about the fate of dinosaurs that were replaced by smaller more agile mammals when difficult times came...
you describe a "teacher" (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Troll (Score:2, Insightful)
I was thinking the same thing... "This cannot be for real"
First off, how the hell do you get a job teaching even gradeschool computer science without knowing a single programming language? There are people I know who will pick up VBA or PHP over a couple of weekends who are working as technical writers or assembling O&Ms because the high level IT landscape is so competitive. This guy likes Microsoft products and wants to set up email servers? You know who can set up an Exchange server? Any functional human with a few hours and access to google.
Somewhere in Oklahoma there is a school district that needs to review its hiring practices.
Those who can do, those who can't teach. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Troll (Score:3, Insightful)
He did clearly mentioned that he is a technology teacher. So I presume he is already somewhat "in the field" already. I don't think it's an unreasonable dream for him to change careers within the sector. I've done it several times myself.
Re:Apply to jobs (Score:5, Insightful)
It was cool when I was 14. It was still doable when I was 23. Now it's soul-crushing.
I wish I was a farmer or a carpenter.
Re:is it too late for Microsoft products? (Score:2, Insightful)
Has the hatred of MS on /. become so acidic that even the *mention* of MS now must elicit a barrage of hateful responses?
I suspect I would see less venom wearing a "Barack 2012" t-shirt at a Tea Party rally.
Career advice from Yoda (Score:5, Insightful)
If once you start down the Microsoft path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will...
Seriously, Microsoft is in decline, and already has a bunch of people trained up in it. You should consider learning mobile development for Android, iOS, or both. If you want to learn server-side stuff I would learn the open stack: Linux, MySQL and/or Postgres, maybe Hadoop.
Re:Troll (Score:4, Insightful)
He's 30 and he doesn't know a single programming language. No scripting, no Javascript...
He is where he belongs.
Re:Ok (Score:5, Insightful)
I haven't had a boss for 15 years and I'm more successful now than I ever was in a corporate job.
I also can't be fired. Know why? Because firing me requires my approval.
I'm also intelligent enough to see reality even in the face of being heckled by those who don't know any better.
You keep punching that clock, Jim.
Re:Apply to jobs (Score:5, Insightful)
Ironically, I used to do menial electrical work after high school. At the time, I thought it was horrible. The grass is always greener...
Re:Ok (Score:4, Insightful)
So you talk about "the only option in 2014 America", but you haven't tried any other options in this century.
You complain about employers who "maximize your hardship", yet by being self-employed, if you screw up, you get absolutely every bit of hardship possible.
You put down those who "don't know any better" and "ignore [your] advice", to the point of stating as a foregone fact that they will be fired, and you say that your opinion is "reality".
Yeah, I'd fire you, too.
The original quote (Score:4, Insightful)
Those who know, do. Those who understand, teach.
- Aristotle
Re:Ok (Score:4, Insightful)
Rule of 3s. If you've had 3 bosses (or clients or girlfriends etc) with the same or very similar problems, the problem is yours.
Work for yourself is good advice, for someone with a reasonably complete skill set. If you don't, you need to learn from someone.
Uh oh... (Score:4, Insightful)
There goes your odds of getting much in the way of help from this crowd...