Too Old to Enter the Workforce?

You wouldn't be a "new grad". Work on showing this as a continued growth of your present situation. On day one, you'd already have a wealth of experience, just unbalanced experience (heavy on mechanical, light on electronics). You won't get the jobs where a company is looking for "potential" - whatever the heck that is - but you'd be ahead of the game for the jobs where they want somebody to be productive as quickly as possible. And, you might be able to use your present employment (sounds like you'll continue working and go to school part-time) as an opportunity for networking. Good luck.

It's never to late to go back to school. If fact, you have to go back to school to fulfill your dream. Once you graduate, you'll have a degree backed up with real world experience. That will be attractive to any employer.

And 36 is not too old. In most cases, I prefer to hire a guy in his thirty's than a 22 yr old. I think it's a maturity thing.

36 is definitely not to old to be considered a valuable employee. In my opinion at that age many technical people are nearing their peak abilities and productivity. When you look for another job with different responsibilities you will have another degree AND experience.

You asked "is there allot of discrimination out there regarding age". Unfortunately the answer is: YES VERY MUCH SO, but it happens later than at age 36.

That is my perspective from Ohio, USA. What area of the world are you from?

go to school , of cause. if possible.

If I hve chance. I shall go to school for education as well. even dream I wish to back to there.

but britain teachers have a strick now, we may not allowed to enrolll into theirs.

Is there age discrimination? Darn tootin', but it usually doesnt kick in until your in your 40's. The questions you need to ask are (1.) what is preventing you from going back to school (ie: family considerations, finances, etc.) and (2.) will the offset in salary make it worthwhile in the long term?
If you are considering going back to school because you want to learn more and be more effective as a scientist, go for it.

Look at it this way-you plan to become thirty-six anyway, so why not do what you want to do? I would not say there is definitely age discrimination out there, but you will face this scenario: You will very likely be interviewed by a young engineer who; even though he has a graduate-level degree will be very intimidated by your life experiences. Been there a few times. You will be much better received by someone who is nearly the same age or a bit older-no doubt there.

Personally, I would much rather hire someone who is more mature and gained their improved education on their own; rather than hire a youngster fresh from the engineering university whose mom and pop paid for his diplomas. The willingness to improve oneself says a lot, in my opinion.

Good Luck!

Ing. Robert Forbus

With or without a degree, in Australia, you will be highly sort after if you have experience.

Huge skills shortage means that Technicians or Engineers are promoted way beyond their natural levels. Promoted to their highest level of incompetence, I suppose!

If you want the degree for your own personal satisfaction, go for it, time and money allowing! I'm sure you can make a buck without it though!

Hard choice but "Good Luck"!

Did the same thing when i was 45; had to 'drop-out' (just before SR year) because i was offered 'dream job'. The quandry then was: take job, or, stay in? Am still happy i took it.

Am no longer there; am now at another 'cool job'; still more plusses than minuses.

Word to the wise: if a joint offers opportunities based merely on degrees attained, futures for 'the rabble' WILL be LIMITED. Search for an establishment that seeks aptitude, drive, & commitmentment. They are out there! An old school type of philosophy; seems to be rarely found @ startups. Folk w/ newly minted masters degrees seem to think that to be the be-all, end-all...

Follow your dream, find an organisation w/ goals sympatico

I say the education is a plus. I'm 46 and have a 2 year degree in Design Engineering. I was 30 when I went to school. I have 14 years experience at tool design. All of those are mostly in the robotic welding environment designing weld fixtures. I have done work for major companies like John Deere, GMC, Honda, Yamaha, etc... We have 24 Robot cells where I am now. I worked for a Robot Integrator before. With all this experience, it was hard to find a job when my last company closed down and I came here. Going thru employment services like Monster, Career builder, etc... require 4 yr degrees. If you don't have that 4 yrs, you can't even get a resume to the company. I would have liked to continue my education, and still do, but due to a lot of medical issues with my wife, it has been hard, so I'm happy at this time with where I am.

So you are the same age I was when I went into college. It was fun and a great experience. Go for it, when you are 46 you will be glad you did.

It has been my experience that, if you are passionate about a particular field or topic, you will excel in that field or topic.

This passion is reflected: in the quality of your work, in the absorption of knowledge, in the confidence in your abilities, and in how you present yourself to customers or to interviewers.

As the owner of a technical company, I look for that passion when talking with new prospects. For me, age is not a concern. Firstly, you must love what you are doing.

Of course, you must have some abilities. Love for something, will not in itself get you any prizes (jobs, wife, bonuses, etc..).

Good luck.

I like your general scope of the issue. You have the benefit of seeing it from a macroscopic distance and put it in perspective. Besides, who's to say that getting a job should be the be all and end all. If you're interested in my perspective, revolving my life around what employers want barely seems like a life at all. The truth is that I'm not really interested in that shiny diploma hanging on my wall, collecting dust. I'm more interested in the science then the reward and what doors the diploma can open.

Thanks for your comments, they're greatly appreciated.

One thing though, what happened to "I'm going to take up bird watching" or "I'm going to retire to the rocker"? You obviously like engineering a great deal.

The truth is that I'm not really interested in that shiny diploma hanging on my wall, collecting dust.

I had that same kind of perspective once myself. Eventually, a friend of mine convinced me to go to school if I wanted to get where I wanted. I started college when I should have graduated, and a mere 15 years later, I did. I went to work as an engineer for the university I attended well before I graduated, and I got to do some of the most interesting work that an engineer could hope for: Engineering Research Support -- otherwise interpreted as "inventing stuff."

One thing though, what happened to "I'm going to take up bird watching[?]"

I like hunting, fishing and playing golf. The only bird watching I plan to do is while I'm crouched down in a duck blind, turkey blind or dove blind.

You're never to old! I was a mechanic and machinist for years and decided that I wanted to be an engineer. Well, so far I have earned two engineering degrees, work as an engineer at present and will earn my third engineering degree in two years at age 53. NEXT? I'm going for my doctorate in a few years. You're never too old, if you really want it!

Gads..........I was born in 1925...........and still turn down work.......Am I thaT good.........I don't know but I have a vast amount of experience.........and have signed my oiwn paycheck for 60+ years.

START EVERY WOIRK DAY AT 6:30 AM.... IN MY OFFICE

High school education, and belief in my self worked wonders for me.

MR. GUY

"Where can I go with a degree at 36?" You're joking, right? Most techies are just learning their trade at 35 - 40. Many businesses would rather hire an older person who has shown the desire to go back to school to improve himself, than to hire a 21 y.o. engineer or mechanic, etc right out of college, with a degree but essentially no practical knowledge. I know people in their mid-70s who have been chased down and offered a very nice job, primarily on recommendations and their knowledge.

Two of the above responses mentioned that age discrimination doesn't really start till 40. I find this surprising. I'm over 40 and have neither felt anything close to any age discrimination at this age, nor have I or my peers ever considered anyone in their 40's to be anything but at their prime when hiring.

Certainly there is a point where a person's age will prove to be a detriment in the eyes of an employer (unfortunately), but I can't imagine that that age is anything close to the 40's.

"...I can't imagine that that age is anything close to the 40's..."

Correct - it IS however, pretty close to the 50's. There are some companies that are honest and prefer experience - they value the work ethic that age usually brings. They receive all the benefits of those workers' experience.

There are some companies (I used to work for one) that think 'older' (50+) workers are a burden because they might have health problems, or aren't as agile as the 20-year-olds. And they are cagey! They find ways to terminate guys (and gals) without it ever looking like ageism. They flounder with training (sometimes) the young and inexperienced. With any luck at all, they go out of business...

In six years you will be 36, with or without the degree. I think you'd be better off WITH it than without. And if you think 36 is OLD, son well, we need to talk...