Is there any point in retraining?

[thunderlizard]

You should be retraining all the time - in fact so frequently that you don't think of it as retraining. I've gone from Access 97 through SQL Server and VB6 to Oracle and C# and most of those odd APIs that infuriate people when 5 of them pop up on the same job spec - and barely noticed it. That's an IT thing, not a 48 years old thing. I've worked with many IT folk, perm and contract at all levels in their 40s, 50s and even 60s. At least with contracts, it's the last 5 years of the CV that really matters, regardless of when in your life they happened.

[JimBobTwoTeeth]

I am a 48yo contractor and my background is on IBM Mainframes. However the number of jobs in this area have almost dried up and the jobs now are for Java, SQL, .NET etc but I have none of these skills. I am aware that "age discrimination" exists in the IT industry and that most companies want young graduates in their 20's with 2-5 years experience. I have worked as a contractor in IT departments where the average age is about 28 and the Managers are all in their 30's.

Am I too old to start retraining in another programming language and competing against Graduates trying to get work experience in that area, not to mention starting on a salary of £20k.

I would appreciate some opinions / advice.

The brutal truth is yes. You need to move UP not sideways where your age will be less of a barrier.

I'm not saying its right by the way.

[northernladuk]

I dont want to piss on anyones bonfire but have you actually thought about the re-training process and it's value to your career. If you mean reading some books and taking some test to get some certificates do you really think this will help you get another role when there are so many benched people with years of experience.

Before you start worrying about age think about your training methods and will they actually end in getting you a role.

If a couple of certificates is your goal then maybe re-training isn't worth it.

[gingerjedi]

Funny thing is all the retired people I know "work".

They do have long holidays between their "work" though.

Bloody hell I've retired and I didn't even notice.

[SueEllen]

Bloody hell I've retired and I didn't even notice.

I met up with one of them the other day and realised contractors are similar to him.

Oh and if you have a brain you will be bored by not doing anything - in fact there is medical evidence to suggest if you don't use your brain as you get older you are more likely to suffer from dementia.

[nomadd]

I am a 48yo contractor and my background is on IBM Mainframes. However the number of jobs in this area have almost dried up and the jobs now are for Java, SQL, .NET etc but I have none of these skills. I am aware that "age discrimination" exists in the IT industry and that most companies want young graduates in their 20's with 2-5 years experience. I have worked as a contractor in IT departments where the average age is about 28 and the Managers are all in their 30's.

Am I too old to start retraining in another programming language and competing against Graduates trying to get work experience in that area, not to mention starting on a salary of £20k.

I would appreciate some opinions / advice.

Daft question, but how on earth as a contractor did you get in such a mess - skillwise - in the first place? Surely you could see the writing on the wall for the mainframe decline? You should have started retraining years ago.

Still, I'm 46 and have spent the last 3 years completely revamping my programming skills, as they'd got a little bit out-of-date. I'd say as long as you are prepared to work at it, it's well worth it. You'd be surprised how many Java jobs want people with some mainframe experience - integration, and all that.

I'd say go for it. What have you got to loose?

[Pirate]

I guess I just fell into the trap of taking contracts as they came up and putting off the upskilling option for as long as possible. I have been looking into where I could apply my RDBMS experience and Oracle / SQL server seem the most obvious. There are places that offer intensive training + certification but I guess the prob is that I would still be reentering the job market at the lowest end ie trainee / junior level. So its not the retraining that is the problem really it is finding work at the end of it and into my 50's.

[RichardCranium]

Re-skill into something you enjoy, it's impossible to guess where the money is. It's usually just luck that you have the right skill at the right time in contracting.

WHS

[SueEllen]

I guess I just fell into the trap of taking contracts as they came up and putting off the upskilling option for as long as possible. I have been looking into where I could apply my RDBMS experience and Oracle / SQL server seem the most obvious. There are places that offer intensive training + certification but I guess the prob is that I would still be reentering the job market at the lowest end ie trainee / junior level. So its not the retraining that is the problem really it is finding work at the end of it and into my 50's.

You haven't read what nomadd wrote - there are places that want your mainframe skills plus your new skills. That's the type of contracts you want and will get.

Then you won't be competing with the younger people who just have newer skills.

[norrahe]

I dont want to piss on anyones bonfire but have you actually thought about the re-training process and it's value to your career. If you mean reading some books and taking some test to get some certificates do you really think this will help you get another role when there are so many benched people with years of experience.

Who are not getting roles as they seem to be going to graduates who will work for peanuts.

These days experience is nothing and money is king.