A few years ago, tired of low-wage work, I decided to try to start over, and went back to school; on the strength of a community college training program in system administration, I managed to get an entry-level job in IT. I’d expected that I’d develop skills, build up my resume, and move on, either with that employer or another. But, that’s not how it’s played out; my job has gradually been de-skilled, and anything new technical skills I’ve learned, I studied on my own and practiced on my own equipment, disconnected from workplace experience.
At this point, I’m 43, and I’m starting to believe that when this job ends, I’ll have to get out of IT entirely. How I can start my working career over a third time, I can’t imagine; I’m worried I won’t even be able to find a minimum wage service job at my age.
