Post mid career and looking at steps to nowhere ! Hello. I am an IT professional having had all my time in hands-on-Tech roles. But I have come to realize that without getting into management the money does not grow. Having hands-on-tech role does not mean no responsibility, there are technical decisions to be made which impacts cash and budgets, but usually it is not visible to top management directly. I am also 52 yrs old. Not seeing any great growth in current company / role and slightly not updated to current tech. Lost and need advise and help on what can be done. Since I am doing good currently, also my salary expectations are high ( 7 digits ), but that is fair in current market. Every company looking to hire at this range looks for management roles and less of actually technical capabilities.. Starting a business sounds too risky at this stage. Any advise? Thank you so much.

Ans: Hi, upgrade yourself and remain relevant. Changing industry at this stage is not advisable

Ans: Unfortunately, nobody can answer that question for you.. you have to find your own areas of expertise and interest and develop a business there. Start the business where there is minimum capital expenditure. Keep working till the proof of concept of your business is done and you truly believe that there is a future in the business you want to do.

Ans: Sumit Sir,
54-year-old with a strong background in the IT field, high-stakes projects, and an Executive MBA from XLRI can still stay relevant and look for opportunities. You can try for freelance consulting, work from home, coach, mentor, and train businesses in Agile methods, stakeholder handling, and team leadership.

To stay current, you can move into academic or research roles as an adjunct professor, work on research projects with universities or think tanks, or start your own business as a niche consultant.

To look for opportunities, make your LinkedIn profile stand out, share stories or insights, actively network, upskill strategically, and build a portfolio. Being old is an asset, but it's important to use it as a unique selling point and be flexible to stay competitive. By carefully using your skills and experience, you can open up many good opportunities and continue to thrive in the ever-changing tech world. All The Best for Your Prosperous Future.

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