Work experience vital to break into IT career

Wanted: Mature IT graduate with life experience and business skills for software development position. Attractive starting salary.

Older IT graduates know such an advertisement is the stuff dreams are made of, and anyway, it's illegal to discriminate against applicants on the basis of age.

But, contrary to popular belief, it is possible to break into an IT career later in life.

Case in point is 39-year-old Pierre Maghzal, who worked for 18 weeks for Koorb Consultants as part of his IT qualification. Koorb paid Maghzal, who already held a commerce degree and engineering qualification, $10 an hour while he completed his course, then hired him permanently.

Maghzal, who came to New Zealand 15 years ago, spent the past four with the Civil Aviation Authority. He says he was bored and looking for a new challenge.

"I decided combining IT with my business skills would give me an edge in the job market.

"I didn't even consider that my age should be a problem. But I was aware IT employers require people with experience."

He says employers tend to "box" job applicants according to their background.

"Recruitment agencies say, 'Oh that's what you do', and then don't consider whether you are capable of doing anything else. So I chose a course that combined practical IT experience and theory within a year."

He says one of the barriers to older entrants is employers can start young people on lower salaries and mould them into the company culture.

"But older people have life experience and I think that counts for some employers too."

Mark Seavill, in his late 20s, also got off the starting block when IT employer Synergetix hired him after a similar student work project.

Tony Scott, director of Synergetix, says he has permanently employed three students who initially worked voluntarily for Synergetix as part of an IT course.

Chris Mitchell, managing director of the education firm Information Technology Institute (ITI), says around 75 per cent of the institute's 80 students last year were employed by their work project sponsor.

"Some employers pay students $10 an hour, some pay them nothing," he says. "But these projects work because the employer likes to get a look at the student without the risk of hiring them."

So are lowly paid work projects or voluntary positions the key for late starters looking for a career in the industry? It appears so.

Laurel Gillan, director of the recruitment firm IT maniacs, says her firm once placed an IT graduate in his 30s who had previously worked as a truckie.

"After his course he went out and worked for someone for a few months voluntarily, and suddenly became highly employable. Even a few hours a day of work experience makes a difference."

Older people wanting to break into the industry will find it tough, she says, but an applicant's career background makes a difference.

"If they have a business background such as accounting, manufacturing, or retail, that can be very helpful."

Gillan agrees with Maghzal that some employers are looking for maturity in applicants.

Scott McKee, senior consultant for Candle ICT Recruitment, says his firm regularly sees older IT graduates. However, prospects for those lacking work experience are limited.



Like Gillan, McKee says some of his clients quietly request to see more mature applicants. "Some teams have a lot of younger staff members and see an older person as a steadying influence."

And ITI's Mitchell agrees that experience is vital.

"If people haven't the qualifications and experience that employers are looking for, it will be hard for them to break into an IT career regardless of their age."

Course providers with older students need to work closely with employers, he says, and know which employers are looking for graduates with life and business skills as well as computer science skills.

Tips for late starters:

* IT qualifications are expensive. Enrol in courses that result in a recognised and marketable qualification. IT recruitment websites have valuable guidelines, as do IT companies' websites.

* If you have little IT knowledge, obtain career advice and possibly cognitive testing before you begin to determine whether you have an aptitude.

* If you are over the age of 45 and have no previous IT experience, keep your options open. Starting your own IT-based business may provide a more secure future than seeking salaried positions.

* Be prepared to work for low rates, or for free, to build up the work experience employers demand.

* Realise that teamwork, people skills and problem-solving ability are as important to employers as formal IT qualifications.