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I’ve spent the last 23 years in telecommunications. I’ve worked repair, install and splicing (copper and fiber)from the CO to customer demarc. I’m not a spring chicken anymore. Aerial and manhole work is getting to be too much. IT has always interested me, but i dont know what I’d like to do. First off, I don’t want to sit behind a desk all day, so I wonder if there is a happy median between hardware and software work. Second, I dont have time to take college courses so i will probably just have certifications. With so many schools to choose from its overwhelming. I appreciate any advice

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  1. Device Management

If you want to deal with hardware and software perhaps you want to work in the MDM route of things. There are some Microsoft certifications such as Endpoint Administrator:

  1. Networking

Networking such as Cisco might interest you. What seems to be up and coming is Cisco Meraki, which has a really rich GUI. If you aren’t into learning vast amounts of CLI then this might be the router for you to get into if you like physical implementation of IT infrastructure.

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For entry level, A+, Network+ and Security+ (in order) are good certifications start with. You can study for these using books, courses, or both depending on you learning preferences.

There probably be a large pay discrepancy, from where you came from to a starting IT position, until you get some experience under your belt.

Considering you background in telco, you may find networking a little easier to get in to than the rest of the disciplines.

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My advice is that it is pretty important to figure out what you would like to do within IT before you can really focus and go for your goal. Make friends with IT people and check out what they do. Getting an A+ and Net+ certifications may help you narrow down your path. Maybe ask to be mentored by someone who is already successful in some IT field. Once you determine where you are going, then you can go for your goal. The people in this community seem very helpful. I am sure if you ask more questions they will help you. I will share the bit i know.

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Hi Fiberguy.

The A+ certification and Network+ is a really good start. It will teach you the basics and give you a clear indication if being a “techie” is for you. I would also follow the advice of Netcacique and shadow a technician for a day or 2.

Once you have been through the above you will be able to decide if you want to specialize in a certain field, Networking, Security and/or Infrastructure. Courses like CCNA (Certified Cisco Network Associate) or MCSA (Microsoft Certified System Administrator) would then be next on your list.

Good Luck!

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have you considered becoming a trainer? There are lots of tech schools that would benefit from your experience

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Best advice in this thread, IMO.

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I came to say, that I’m no spring chicken either, but if you don’t want to sit behind a desk, you may be racking servers lugging UPS from time to time, the part of IT I’m hoping to leave behind in my search for new work.

IT is such a wide field, my cousin is in IT and he works for one of the big ISPs he was doing installations of modems in the beginning, now he’s the guy the installers call when there’s trouble with the line. He talks about spectrum analysis and I just give dumb looks. I talk about adding nodes and storage to VCenter, adding new Domain Controllers to a domain and he glazes over. One of my former colleagues was all about hardware, if he didn’t have the knowledge ingrained in his memory, he knew exactly where to look and could read the specs like a Dick and Jane book.

I will say, the guy who came to weld the pigtails on the fiber in our network was in high demand. So I’m guessing so is his knowledge and experience, like @wcrorlando ​ said training the next generation might be exactly the bill for you!

Best of luck in your search!

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Training new cable installers seems like a good call to me!

Since most work is done remotely these days there is a lot of sitting behind a desk. Your best bet would be desktop support in a large call centre, although in the UK those that haven’t gone off-shore are tending to work from home these days so that may be hard to find.

Although it officially doesn’t exist you may find age discrimination to be a problem as well.

Good luck!

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Trainer or Desk Side support sound like solid options for you. Desk Side gets you out of your chair often - you have to go to the problem many times. Yes, there is some remote, especially in this day of WFH. You will go to the stock room, and you can work around your work area getting up and moving. It will depend on the company size and exactly what your desires are.

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I definitely agree with everyone who said become a trainer. Another option I did not see mentioned that might keep you from being at a desk all day (as far as IT is concerned) is looking into becoming a repair tech for companies like DELL, HP, Lenovo, etc.

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Trainer?? That never crossed my mind. I was hired and taught everything in house. I assumed that’s how everyone else learned. I definitely don’t want to lug equipment around and install it. JOHNS5152 thanks for calling me old🤣. Trainer or help desk. I’ll check those out

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Repair tech as in printers and other equipment? How would I get into that, since that’s not something I’ve done before?

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A+, Net+ are good certs to start out with. There should be a lot of Telcomm IT jobs available. Implementing VoIP systems could be a possibility?

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@fiberguy76

IT support / IT Field Technician​ - Go “job hunt” on indeed and look at the duties listed, then google search how to do those duties.

I would get calls/tickets in the queue to go out to stores, paid drive time and mileage, fix registers or office computers printers phones on site. There was desk days and travel days, depends on the workload and projects.

You may be looking at a significant pay cut… (The Fiber Trainer route may keep you interested AND paid…)

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I suggest you consider working the problem in reverse as you would for any design project. Define your goals, identify and procure any deficiencies that impede those goals, and get going.

  • Define goals: Not just what you want to do, but also what job opportunities exist in your locale which are reasonable to obtain. Asking the open-ended question of where do I start is better served by where do I want to end up. Check job listings and imagine yourself in each role to narrow your search. You probably want to get paid and a certain amount of desperation will guide you toward expanding your search criteria.

  • Deficiencies: This is the question you asked. Let the first answer help you decide which certs, if any, are appropriate. Many employers will pay for them or at least partially subsidize the expense. Many also offer degrees, especially if you work for a university or government.

  • Get going: IT is a wide field. Much of it is desk work, and plenty involves crawling under smelly desks and lugging heavy equipment even in software development. I got my start in IT doing firmware development on a large rack which required moving equipment constantly as we swapped out new versions. Consider your age and how much time you have until retirement to refine your choices. If you are US-based consider usajobs.gov. Even if you choose private sector, the site offers detailed job descriptions and salaries. When I retired from civil service at VA I worked with Monster.com who is the primary contractor for that site to integrate job opportunities for disabled Veterans, and I worked in IT contracting.

Good luck.

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I moved from my dad’s company doing that same line of work. Doing installation and termination on Coax, copper, to fiber. I moved into IT with the help of one of our customers. The company was doing a big install for a school and I started to help out.

The advantage of doing infrastructure installations can be one of your biggest assets. Get some general certs on networking and leverage your 20-plus years of experience. You can look in categories such as infrastructure design, project management, or foreman for companies that specialize in infastructre. This will also help with the not being stuck behind a desk.

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I think a home lab would be your best friend. Can you get some cheap used/recycled servers/routers and get some experience with them?

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Several free in-depth videos for ITF+ on YouTube. They are a decent primer to get into A+.

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Look for an enterprise IT department such as a university that has their own telecom group with an opening.