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A Guide for Adults Going to College

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Re: A Guide for Adults Going to College

#11

Post by zigzaggy »

mrfusion wrote: post #2

I’ve always wondered how employers treat an older person changing careers? Do you get an internship along with the young people? Is that wierd? Will they be uncomfortable asking a 45 year old professional to do low status jobs? And then are entry level jobs open to older adults? How would you design your resume? Leave your past career off?

All very good questions. I’m at the Senior Manager level in my profession, trying to switch to entry / junior level in IT security. I have solid experience and great references, and I get calls from clients and recruiters constantly for work in my current field. But I get practically no responses when I submit myself for positions in the new field.

I tracked one recruiter down recently and she basically told me she’s convinced I will not stick around once I feel the pinch of the salary reduction. She said she didn’t want to be hiring for the same job again in 6 months.

I’m not sure that’s the whole truth, or if the others would say the same thing.

Now I’m trying a hybrid solution, of freelancing gigs in grants and proposals part time and doing technical work part time. I’m also focusing my work on tech-centric topics whenever possible. But I usually can’t conteol that.

I’m also considering supplementing my current education with CS classes, and picking up a few more certs. But I’m not sure those will have a good return on investment.

Meanwhile I think persistence in bidding on jobs will be the ultimate solution.

Re: A Guide for Adults Going to College

#12

Post by twoquestions »

owlninja wrote: post #8
twoquestions wrote: post #6

How does this fare in cultures where there are no second chances, like many places in the US? My gut says this is a scam.

What exactly are you referring to?

Going to college after the appointed time, that is right after high school.

If someone does so and makes it work, that's wonderful, but at least around here I can't see a business owner tolerating someone with age but not experience, especially with legions of twentysomethings beating down the doors begging for a job before the rent savings run out.

Re: A Guide for Adults Going to College

#13

Post by chrisseaton »

mrfusion wrote: post #10
chrisseaton wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Will they be uncomfortable asking a 45 year old professional to bring them coffee? This isn't what interns do at any reputable technology company.

Noted. I’ve edited it to be more clear what I was trying to express.

Do interns in technology jobs do low status jobs either?

My experience is interns usually try the big cool new ideas, because it frees up the regular people to bring work to production and it doesn't matter so much if the interns try something and it doesn't work?

Re: A Guide for Adults Going to College

#14

Post by chrisseaton »

twoquestions wrote: post #12
owlninja wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What exactly are you referring to?

Going to college after the appointed time, that is right after high school. If someone does so and makes it work, that's wonderful, but at least around here I can't see a business owner tolerating someone with age but not experience, especially with legions of twentysomethings beating down the doors begging for a job before the rent savings run out.

> I can't see a business owner tolerating someone with age but not experience

But why would they care if two people have the same experience but one is older? What difference does it make that they wouldn't tolerate?

Re: A Guide for Adults Going to College

#16

Post by fooker »

chrisseaton wrote: post #13
mrfusion wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Noted. I’ve edited it to be more clear what I was trying to express.

Do interns in technology jobs do low status jobs either? My experience is interns usually try the big cool new ideas, because it frees up the regular people to bring work to production and it doesn't matter so much if the interns try something and it doesn't work?

>big cool new ideas

Can confirm, have interned at 3 of the big $N.

Re: A Guide for Adults Going to College

#18

Post by twoquestions »

chrisseaton wrote: post #9
twoquestions wrote: post #6

How does this fare in cultures where there are no second chances, like many places in the US? My gut says this is a scam.

What do you think their scam is? Step 1 - provide free advice. Step 2 - ?

The interviewee is selling a book, which doesn't appear to be free.

Re: A Guide for Adults Going to College

#19

Post by twoquestions »

chrisseaton wrote: post #14
twoquestions wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Going to college after the appointed time, that is right after high school. If someone does so and makes it work, that's wonderful, but at least around here I can't see a business owner tolerating someone with age but not experience, especially with legions of twentysomethings beating down the doors begging for a job before the rent savings run out.

> I can't see a business owner tolerating someone with age but not experience But why would they care if two people have the same experience but one is older? What difference does it make that they wouldn't tolerate?

From what I've read here on HN (and other places), even with experience, ageist bigotry is a significant impact on people's careers, I can only imagine it's worse sans experience.
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