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What can a senior desktop support tech do who is burned out? (lemmy.goblackcat.com)

submitted 1 year ago by ablackcatstail@lemmy.goblackcat.com to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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I am wondering what kind of career moves I have available to me because I am over the bullshit of desktop support. I have been brushing up on my Linux skills, learning docker, and doing a whole bunch of networking-related things. At this point, I am 46 years old. Would it benefit me to go back to school to learn a skill to help me advance beyond this role? I just don't know what to do. There are many options, none of them truly low cost and all of them involving a significant amount of risk.

I get that there is no avoiding risk when making a career change so late in life. I was looking at training for Java or Oracle and it isn't cheap. Maybe given my experience I could teach A+ or Network+? I don't know. I'll welcome any ideas right now.

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[–] secret_ninja@feddit.nl 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

There’s a lot of good advice here. I just want to add that you absolutely do not need to go back to school. It’s a waste of money! I’m 100% self-taught, work in “DevOps” and not a single employer in the last 6 years has asked me about my education or credentials. I enjoy it and it pays well. You don’t have to do DevOps though. Lots of jobs in IT and employers are competing for skills.

[–] dream_weasel@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

How many employers have you gone through in 6 years?

[–] secret_ninja@feddit.nl 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

3 (all contracts and by choice). But I did at least a dozen interviews in the same period and no one ever asked about any diplomas.

[–] dream_weasel@sh.itjust.works 0 points 1 year ago

Ah the interview number makes sense with your post. At first glance it read like you had had a seriously large amount of jobs in that time which didn't seem very desirable.

[–] ablackcatstail@lemmy.goblackcat.com 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't know why I am languishing as senior desktop support then. It seems I lack the ability to even get my resume in front of anyone, let alone an interview.

[–] secret_ninja@feddit.nl 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Believe it or not, with the right skill set (ie if you have skills that employers are looking for) you won’t even need to apply. Headhunters WILL find your linkedin. Right now the market is noticeably slow and thousands of IT professionals got laid off in the last few months alone. The economy will recover soon though so maybe get ready for when that happens by learning new skills. AI, big data, IaC, etc are all in demand.

[–] ablackcatstail@lemmy.goblackcat.com 1 points 1 year ago

This is why now it is a good time for me to hunker down and simply learn and get through this tough time. Much as I hate dealing with the over-privileged assholes in state government, I'll do what I have to whilst learning.