Changing careers from aviation to IT. Looking for advice

[gizbug]

I've been an airline pilot for 9 years now. Due to the instability or the career, being away from home a lot during the week, and the current low pay, I am looking at getting out of flying, and finding a career in IT. I have a BS degree in Aviation Science. I am looking at working on my Major in something business or IT related to add to my resume.

My computer background, well, not much to show on a resume or paper, as most is freelance work. Building PC's for people, setting up and maintaining their systems and software. I have beginner knowledge with networking. So my question is, how do I get started in this business? My wife can get me a pretty good deal on a cisco certification through her work. So that is a start, and something to have on a resume. I know that where ever I find a job (in Chicago) it will probably be entry level with possibilities to move on up given my lack of "real world" experience.

Any tips, readings, websites, or real world advice would greatly be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Mai72]

My sister was a lab technician for 8 years. She was working at Boston University when funding dried up, and she got laid off. She took some time off, went back to Boston U. and took a few programming courses. With the computer classes she took while as a lab technician, and the classes she took at Boston U. she had a lot of offers. She's currently working with a startup company as a temp. and makes $26 an hour. She has had other job offers in the last month.

The one thing she talks about is the age of boss and coworkers. It seems that everyone is under 30. Ageism seems to be a huge factor in IT today. Maybe someone else can shed some light on this issue.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

There are old people in IT. You never see them because they're high up enough on the rung that they don't require human contact.

There's a lot of churn in the first ten years as you get your career track and specializations sorted out.

 

[Mai72]

There are old people in IT. You never see them because they're high up enough on the rung that they don't require human contact.

There's a lot of churn in the first ten years as you get your career track and specializations sorted out.

Could someone late 30s, early 40s get an entry level job in IT, or is that impossible?

Just curious.

 

[ultimatebob]

Funny, I'd think that Aviation would be a more stable career than IT. It's tougher to outsource those kind of "hands on" jobs overseas.

Computers can be remote managed from anywhere nowadays, and it's cheaper to have an IT staff of 10 people in India or Mexico (with one guy left to run cables and swap parts in the US) than it is to have a staff of 4 or 5 people in the US.

 

[OutHouse]

I've been an airline pilot for 9 years now. Due to the instability or the career, being away from home a lot during the week, and the current low pay, I am looking at getting out of flying, and finding a career in IT. I have a BS degree in Aviation Science. I am looking at working on my Major in something business or IT related to add to my resume.

last year we had a few consultants working with us for a product enhancement project. I used to fly cessna 152's and had a picture of a 152 cockpit i got from sportys in my office. one of the consultants saw it and it opened up a conversation about flying. He was exactly like you, loved flying but sick of the politics. he was a United airlines pilot and rated for 737's and got out of it and learned .net and Java development really really well.

yea you can make the switch from aviation to IT.

 

[Chapbass]

Gizbug, reach out to me via PM and we'll chat. I'm in the Chicago area and know some firms that may be interested in someone like you.

 

[OutHouse]

Could someone late 30s, early 40s get an entry level job in IT, or is that impossible?

Just curious.

yes, i just hired a guy in his mid 50's for our helpdesk. he loves the work and helping end users.

 

[ultimatebob]

Anyway, my advice would be to get certified in a "hot" skill like VMWare vCenter and then try to get a consulting gig that way.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Funny, I'd think that Aviation would be a more stable career than IT. It's tougher to outsource those kind of "hands on" jobs overseas.

Computers can be remote managed from anywhere nowadays, and it's cheaper to have an IT staff of 10 people in India or Mexico (with one guy left to run cables and swap parts in the US) than it is to have a staff of 4 or 5 people in the US.

Meh, truthfully with computer systems going to way they are, within 10 years we will have airplanes that can fly themselves with 0 pilot intervention required or even wanted.

 

[slatr]

I've been an airline pilot for 9 years now. Due to the instability or the career, being away from home a lot during the week, and the current low pay, I am looking at getting out of flying, and finding a career in IT. I have a BS degree in Aviation Science. I am looking at working on my Major in something business or IT related to add to my resume.

My computer background, well, not much to show on a resume or paper, as most is freelance work. Building PC's for people, setting up and maintaining their systems and software. I have beginner knowledge with networking. So my question is, how do I get started in this business? My wife can get me a pretty good deal on a cisco certification through her work. So that is a start, and something to have on a resume. I know that where ever I find a job (in Chicago) it will probably be entry level with possibilities to move on up given my lack of "real world" experience.

Any tips, readings, websites, or real world advice would greatly be appreciated. Thanks.

A company I used to work for has an office in Naperville. Might want to check them out.
http://www.trizetto.com/

 

[Apple Of Sodom]

Learn how to manage projects and multitask. Above all work on improving people skills and customer service. It is easy to find someone to fix a computer; it is a lot harder to find someone who is likeable and doesn't treat the customer like an idiot while fixing their issues.

 

[slatr]

Learn how to manage projects and multitask. Above all work on improving people skills and customer service. It is easy to find someone to fix a computer; it is a lot harder to find someone who is likeable and doesn't treat the customer like an idiot while fixing their issues.

My boss says that a lot. That a lot of potentials lack empathy and common sense.

 

[brianmanahan]

weird, i always though aviation would be better than my IT job

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Could someone late 30s, early 40s get an entry level job in IT, or is that impossible?

Just curious.

Absolutely. If they interview well and convince the interviewers that they're a good cultural fit, etc.

Nobody wants a n00b fresh out of community college who thinks he knows everything because he hung drywall for 20 years and built his son a computer.

But in the classes I've taken at the local CC, I've definitely seen some older folks coming through who are getting hired irl too.

It just depends on the personality. Or, to paraphrase James Carville, "it's the interview and references, stupid." :awe:

 

[dave_the_nerd]

My boss says that a lot. That a lot of potentials lack empathy and common sense.

Yup.

https://screen.yahoo.com/nick-burns-companys-computer-guy-000000899.html

Customer service, beeotch. :thumbsup:

 

[slatr]

weird, i always though aviation would be better than my IT job

I know of 3 people where I work that left Aviation.

I used to think the same thing you did.

The gist of it is that if you aren't flying international, you aren't doing well.

Especially for smaller regional pilots.. they don't make squat.

(that is my picture of the situation)

 

[Fritzo]

Your resume should have one sentence:

"If I can keep a plane from crashing, I sure as hell can keep a server from crashing."

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I wish you luck -- it isn't a move that I would personally make, but more power to you. I've been looking for ways out of IT for a number of years and just haven't managed to find the right path for me. At my age (44 in a month), I'll probably just stick it out.

 

[cabri]

While you may wish to get out of flying; try to stay with aviation/avionics and slip into IT knowledge/work using such as leverage.

Many companies can utilize the knowledge of experienced pilots in some form or another. Aspen, Jeppesen, Boeing, Curtis Wright, etc.

Browse through Avionics Weekly, Military and Aerospace, Intelligent Aerospace etc.

 

[jlee]

Could someone late 30s, early 40s get an entry level job in IT, or is that impossible?

Just curious.

Sure.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Your resume should have one sentence:

"If I can keep a plane from crashing, I sure as hell can keep a server from crashing."

:awe:

 

[FelixDeCat]

Get an A+ cert, make $9 an hour.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

While you may wish to get out of flying; try to stay with aviation/avionics and slip into IT knowledge/work using such as leverage.

Many companies can utilize the knowledge of experienced pilots in some form or another. Aspen, Jeppesen, Boeing, Curtis Wright, etc.

Browse through Avionics Weekly, Military and Aerospace, Intelligent Aerospace etc.

Avionics was the first thing I thought when reading this. Seems like a better fit than moving completely out of the aviation industry. At least some of the KSA's could transfer and you already speak "pilot".

 

[gizbug]

While you may wish to get out of flying; try to stay with aviation/avionics and slip into IT knowledge/work using such as leverage.

Many companies can utilize the knowledge of experienced pilots in some form or another. Aspen, Jeppesen, Boeing, Curtis Wright, etc.

Browse through Avionics Weekly, Military and Aerospace, Intelligent Aerospace etc.

That is some good advice. Thank you. I know Boeing has a HQ downtown Chicago. I will take a look at the links you provided. Appreciate all the feedback thus far from everyone.