To think that older people can be molded at work?

[malificent7]

Retraining atm. Have got excellent grades (99% in one exam 88% etc) on course and am conscientious on placement. The only thing i find harder is learning computer skills. Not awful at it but not as quick as my colleagues who are 20 years younger.
In this sense it is harder to teach me but im concerned that when i qualify i will be overlooked/ perceived as harder to mold.
My job involves an element of computer skills but i feel that some of the younger ones think that i will get the hang of it after being told once gow to do it and at speed.

So two things really...how can i convince future emplyers that i am as keen to learn as younger people and also how can i brush up my computing skills?

@NewYearsRevolution2020 java or .net backend with angular or react front end. The current trend is microservices so I'm learning docker and kubernetes as well.

I’m 58, I didn’t own a computer until I was 40 and wasn’t using one at work. My current job revolves round using a database and Windows applications. I get annoyed when people younger than me say that they ‘can’t use email’. You are using a computer to access Mumsnet, of course you can do it!

@SparklingUnderpants are they learnable on their own or do you need a course? I’ve looked at JavaScript and c++ in the past (without much luck!).

Thanks for reply

You are 41. You are not old. I am 53 and didn't grow up in the digital age at all. My parents are in their mid eighties and don't "do" or have computers at all. No WiFi or anything like that. They talk like you. They also talk as though computers are totally unnecessary and should disappear because it was all done with pen and paper in their day.

I'm not saying that this is actually the way you think, it is more likely to be a lack of confidence than a denial of the need for computers.

Computers are not going anywhere and are here to stay. Play around with them whenever you get the chance. The world with not self-destruct if you press a wrong button.

Are there any training or demo systems that you could experiment with to build your confidence?

What is the worst that could happen in x-ray if you do press a wrong button? I'm no expert there, but I've had a number of x-rays in the past myself where just occasionally things have had to be realigned or repositioned and the shot re-done.

You aren't old. I really thought you were going to say that you were 80+.

I'm 57 started a new job last year, new industry and accounts software I havent used before.

My first job was in 1979 bought in a computer in 1981. They ran it in parallel to me for the first year

Honestly considering X-Ray machinery required a lot of computer use, you need to consider whether you’re in the right job/

What a depressing post. 41 is not ‘older people.’ If you need help, ask for it. With respect, it’s not your age OP - it’s you. It’s up to everyone to remain current and relevant in their jobs especially regarding tech.

NewYearsRevolution2020 If you want to learn JavaScript and c++, depending where you are in the country there might be groups on Meetup. I know where I live there are a few - the idea is people can meet up and with the help of experts support each other in learning.

@NewYearsRevolution2020 they are totally learnable on your own. I learn a lot from YouTube. There are so many great resource there, some from official channels by Microsoft themselves. And yes, attend meetups to hear about the latest and greatest. And dont give up! Where I live it is a very well paid job in high demand. We cannot fill the roles fast enough.

@Sparkling I’ve been doing some research! I now know what object oriented programming is! And the 4 major concepts!!!!

I start off strong and then take a dip and can usually get myself back on track but a lot of the online courses haven’t worked for me. I need a textbook, I think. Some are great, others not so much and it’s all a bit trial and error.

If you don’t mind, I ‘d like to ask what salary, roughly, you think a mature graduate could go on on if they had say, Java and python and c++

In London!

@NewYearsRevolution2020 if you are a fresh grad with very basic programming skills where I live up north you'd get around 25k in a good company. But the thing with this career is the salary jumps very fast if you are willing to learn, I would focus on backend side first because it seems to pay more. From 25k it is easy to jump to 35-40 once you know your stuff. When you are a senior if you are up North you can expect 45-65k, I have hired people who were not quite a senior for 50k. Find a good company that is willing to invest in you, and learn as much as you can in your spare time.

@NewYearsRevolution2020 - I am hiring junior python / machine language programmers on £50-60k as we are desperate for the expertise. Based in London and have already hired a mix of new comp sci grads and experienced professionals - but we usually pay a bit extra and add a bit of project management to the job descriptions of the latter.

@SparklingUnderpants thanks, great to hear.

@GrumpyHoonMain
Give me three months and I’ll send you my CV!!!

I’m writing up a thesis on machine learning /large semantic data/ visualisations at the moment. Using python.

Thanks, guys - I am doing this whilst I wait for surgery and the plan is to work full time in this field ice I have recovered. In the meantime I am working on as many projects as possible that are as closely related as I can get.

I am part of a BCS group and we run meet-ups but it is not programmed based, more theoretical and I have joined a few meet-up groups related to ml/python, etc.

Just trying to get a realistic view of how I position myself to prospective employers but if you say that it is a case of once you are in, you move up the pay scale quickly then that is great. Masters is in information science from European university.

@SaskiaRembrandt - just saw your post, thank you. Meet-ups are great - I try and go to the ones I can.

Gosh Thought you were going to say 60s .
I'm 41 and I hope I've a lot more to learn progress in my job .
I really don't think it's age , yes some people that are close to retirement don't want to learn more than can't but I've worked with all ages and some younger people struggle to learn . I hope I'm just as good as a 20 year old in fact I know I am more so as I have the skills and experience.

I want to learn but i don't do it as instantaneously as some would like me to. With xray if you put in a wrong exposure ot can result in higher patient dose which has biological effects on a patient.

Op- you just need a system- the trick to radiography whether you are using digital or as when I trained old fashioned film is to check and then check everything again before you make an exposure. It’s not that computers are scary but the actual responsibility of getting it right first time. Just develop your own system- you could write and laminate yourself your own check list- then place the checklist across the exposure button so that you can only make an exposure once you have used the list to check that all is okay before you push the button.

You will definitely get a job and managers would rather you were a bit slow and got it right than you rush and make mistakes.
What year are you?

I want to learn but i don't do it as instantaneously as some would like me to.

Who is this mystical "some" though?
Is it actually someone or just you holding yourself to an arbitrary standard?

Forgive me OP, but every post you have made, you have been negative - either in terms of your own ability or suggestions from people. You need to take some responsibility and action for helping yourself move on from this, not just saying "I can't" all the time.

OMG I nearly fell about laughing when you said 41!

I agree with others familiarity is the key so keep plugging at it and you will be a young hand before you know it - I also agree that younger digital grow ups have a different mindset with computers - I am lucky I am 52 and very computer literate and as others have said this has come about through work but also hobbies and using social media, selling on line, fb page admin, I started out modding yahoo email groups at least 20 yrs ago.... so yes I am lucky pick up and go - but still slower than a 20 yrs old learning unfortunately. Its all about mindset...