this post was submitted on 06 Oct 2024
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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/[email protected]
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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] 16 points 1 month ago

You may already know this, but it sounds like you’ve burned out. It happens. It doesn’t have to be debilitating. Getting away from what’s burning you out is a step in the right direction, so good for you for recognizing it before things got really bad for you.

You could make a list of skills you feel would make you marketable (don’t worry about what kind of job you’re looking for; just make your list of skills). Things like “able to multitask”, “organization skills, “analytical”, “problem solver”, etc come to mind. Make your list as long as you want. This will be your reference when you start trying to determine which job you want to go to next.

Look up open jobs in your area that match any of your skills. Don’t worry about whether you’re “qualified” or not. If the skills being asked for match any of the skills you have, list it. Once you have your list, sort it by how interesting the job sounds to you (again, ignore any doubt of qualification).

Rewrite your resume/cv so that you highlight your matching skills with their requirements, and then apply for the job. Create folders/labels in your email client and keep everything filed away neatly.

I know that’s pretty specific, but the idea is to a) help you look for another job, and 2) give yourself something structured to do while it’s healing from the burnout.

I’d also strongly recommend, if you can, try to take a week or two off between jobs so you can tend yourself both physically and mentally.

Good luck op! Keep us posted.