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How to successfully transition out of IT at age 40+? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 month ago by [email protected] to c/cs_career_questions

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As stated in the title. I've worked in IT for over 15 years despite having no related degree.

I've been closing tickets nonstop at my current company for almost 10 years. After several restructurings and shuffling of higher posts, it has become clear to me that while this employer isn't the worst out there, I will never be internally promoted or have my job duties changed if I don't leave.

Worse, ever since Covid I've started falling out of love with IT and computers in general. I used to be stoked to learn about all the new developments in tech, nowadays, not so much - the only "innovation" I've seen in the last 10 years was companies trying to make absolutely everything a fucking subscription model. Now I honestly don't know nor care what's in the newest tech stack, how security has evolved,... I just want my shit to work and not having to worry about everything under the hood.

So getting another helpdesk- or related job seems out of the question for mental health reasons.

What would be another niche or industry where someone with an analytical mind and a greatly developed loathing for corporate mooching could find their spot in the coming two decades or so?

I've long since accepted that I'll never be able to climb any ladders anywhere since I never had the right contacts or stayed long enough, so it would likewise have to be something I could mentally and physically endure being in the bottom rungs of for the aforementioned duration.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago (1 children)

My dad was in this exact same place in his fifties. He eventually found various odd jobs, a lot of them in construction, to pay for his hobbies. He eventually got hood enough at Tango that he's now a fairly accomplished tango teacher.

I feel like if you leave a job by lack of passion, your next job must be of passion, otherwise you'll just end up quitting again. I don't think us giving you fields that are hiring makes any sense, in my opinion it is up to you to find a thing you'd actually enjoy doing.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Well, the things I would like to do require new education to the tune of a full bachelor's or masters, which I have neither the funds nor time for.

If I somehow were to come into money, I would definitely do this. As is though, I'll have to make do with less lofty goals. Thanks for the insight though!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

If you do have interest in pursuing more education, many employers in the US offer some tuition reimbursement, usually about $5k per year. If your current employer does not, you could look for a similar role at a company that offers this, then sign up for a program that is offered online and asynchronous. I've heard some IT people are able to work multiple jobs simultaneously while meeting their metrics, so you could potentially knock out some of your school work when you have free time during the day.