"My interest in computers started about ten years ago. Like most, I used my first PC for some form of home entertainment. I have always had a fascination with old movies and I got it into my head to take a screen shot from an old movie and use it as wallpaper for my desktop. Well one thing led to another and before long I was editing videos on my computers. Networking and troubleshooting problems came easy to me and after several years of debating I decided to get certified.

Making the decision to enroll with ComputerTraining.com did not come easy, however. After all I was fifty-five years old and changing careers at my age was not an easy matter. Just the thought of going back to school scared me to no end. I also had a very good paying job. However I was not very happy. So I took on the challenge. It took a lot of flexibility on my part. Finding the time and the discipline to read and study was very difficult for me. But before I knew it six months had gone by and I had completed the course.

The most frustrating part of my career change was finding a job. I could not find any positions that did not require previous experience. And I could not afford to take too drastic a cut from my present salary. I'm sure that my age was a drawback, after all why hire a fifty-year plus applicant requesting a $50,000 plus salary when you can hire a much younger person for a lot less? I must have sent out about twenty resumes a day, everyday for five months. I went on over a dozen interviews from Philadelphia to New York City. There were times when I just wanted to quit. However, thanks to my Director of Placement from Career Services in Bensalem, I plowed on. She would call or write about everyday and ask how things were going, make suggestions or send me leads for me to follow up on.

Finally things started to come together. One of the leads she had sent followed up with me. After all my interview experience I knew what to say. I was up front and told them where my position was in the job market and what I wanted. They were fine with my needs and had me come down for an interview. Now I have a Network Administrator position for a trucking company in New Jersey. What I have learned from this whole experience is to never stop from going after what you want because there will always be someone out there willing to give you the chance."

Mario Del Sol
MCP
Network Administrator