I've been working in retail for 15 years and honestly, I'm not making enough. With inflation, things are getting tighter and tighter. Now I'm wondering if I should still do a retraining program to become a specialist IT technician. But I don't know anyone who did that at my age and I'd really like to know if it's realistic or if I'd be too old for the job market by then.
Training typically takes 3 years, so you'd be 38 by the time you finish - completely normal working life and no problem at all. In IT, age concerns really don't matter much as long as you have the technical skills. And the other point is true: your retail experience is actually a plus because you know how to communicate with customers and work under pressure.
The more realistic question is whether you can stick it out during training and whether the finances work out. If you have a family or debts, it'll be tight. Some chambers offer subsidized retraining programs that are significantly shorter (sometimes 2 years), so it's worth looking into that. After training you'll earn way more than in retail - it pays for itself.
What I'd recommend: Check out whether your local employment office or the Chamber of Commerce offers retraining programs in your area. And maybe start learning some basic programming or Linux beforehand so you don't go in completely cold. That makes the retraining itself much easier.
Forget about the age thing - 35 is nowhere near too old, and especially in IT, employers will hire you as long as you've got the skills. It's not like other industries. Your advantage is actually that you bring work experience and maturity to the table, while a lot of fresh graduates have zero practical sense. People start retraining programs like this way later and still land good jobs.
The real question is honestly whether you can stick it out for the next 2-3 years. A retraining program or apprenticeship is demanding - school, maybe lower pay in between, your brain has to get back in shape. But if you really push through it and actually get practical experience at the end (some programs have internships, make sure to check), then you'll have better prospects afterward than a lot of people. Demand for IT specialists is still strong, so even if the job market gets tougher down the line, you don't need to worry about your age.
What helps: Talk to the employment agency or career counseling services about publicly-funded retraining programs - some of them can get partial funding. Also chat with current IT specialists or check out forums to see what the process is actually like. If you notice that it genuinely appeals to you and isn't just an escape from retail, then it makes sense.
I'd focus more on the financial side - during retraining you'll probably earn significantly less or nothing at all, depending on whether you get a retraining allowance. That's the real sticking point, not your age. If you can tough it out for three years and then earn decent money afterward, it can absolutely pay off, especially since IT specialists are just in demand. Look into it with the employment agency - see what support you could get - that's what makes the difference between doable and impossible.
You definitely have realistic chances, but look into the specific retraining programs available first - some are part-time or offered alongside work, others are full-time with internship phases in companies. That makes a huge difference for your wallet and your mental health. And if you've already spent 15 years in retail, you've got customer interaction and organizational skills - that gets underestimated in a lot of IT jobs, especially if you later move toward support or project management.
Don't do a retraining program if you haven't talked to potential employers first - that's the most common mistake. Just call a few smaller IT companies in your area and ask whether they'd hire people retraining from a retail background and what matters to them. That way you get a realistic picture instead of just speculating. It might save you three years and financial strain if the market just isn't that strong where you are locally - but honestly, it'll probably work out for you because IT is in demand everywhere. Age really isn't the problem, the financial transition period is the real crux of it.
35 is really not a hindrance - quite the opposite. You bring life experience with you, you're more structured and reliable than someone who's 20, and that's exactly what employers value. In IT, nobody cares how old you are as long as you meet the requirements. The problem is more the financial strain during the retraining, like another answer already pointed out correctly.
My tip: Look into the actual financing before you sign up. There are different models - some retraining programs are funded by the employment agency, others by the pension insurance, depending on where you do it. If you've worked long enough, you might get allowances or there are options that don't completely cut off your income. And honestly, with 15 years of retail experience you know how to deal with customers, stress management, and how to organize your time - that helps you in any retraining, even when it gets technical. The question isn't whether you can do it, but whether you can afford the time.
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