Is 49 Too Late for a Mechanical Engineering Career Change?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on a 49-year-old male with a background in IT and a degree in physics/computer science considering a return to college for mechanical engineering. Concerns about job prospects post-graduation are raised, particularly regarding potential age discrimination in technical fields. While age may pose challenges, there are opportunities in tech support roles, where interpersonal skills and organization are crucial. The technical background can facilitate effective communication with customers, suggesting that experience and soft skills can mitigate age-related biases in the job market.
njmech
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Hello, I am a 49 year old male, reside in the US, currently unemployed, previous work experience is in IT, have a B.S. in physics/computer science degree (interdisciplinary - not double major, w/minor in math) and am considering a return to college to study Mech. Engineering. Will I have difficulty finding a job afterwards? Any other advise/comments welcome.

Thanks!
 
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Anyone have any help for this person. I would be interested in the answer as well.
 
You may face age discrimination. This is a sad but real fact of life in most technical industries.
 
Tech Support might be a possibility. The technical background is useful to be able to talk the same language as customers, but the most important skills are social and being organized. A lot of the tech support people I work with aren't youngsters.
 

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