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Career Choice?

dyeLucky

dyeLucky

Member
So I have a degree in computer science and I'm a certified computer programmer with 2 years actual job experience in the computer repair and networking side of the IT job field. I'm wanting to make a big choice on the side of the IT field and I'm in between network, sys admin, and programming. Even though I'm certified in programming, I have little experience on the programming side (other than web design) and am very rusty in programming in any language at the moment. My question is...what side should I take? I have a successful side business in computer repair, but I'm looking into a permanent move on any IT side, so which side?
 
I have a CS degree and have been a developer for 7 years. Unless I were making over 95k for network or admin (which, by the way, is substantially more than I make now), I would feel bored and under utilized. I got my degree to make computers solve problems, not to solve problems with the computers themselves. I made some side bucks when I was a kid fixing computers, but now the idea of "could you come over and fix my computer?" makes me want to vomit (like this guy and this guy). The only people I can't say no to are close family and friends-for-so-long-they-might-as-well-be-close-family.

But if fixing broken computers is what you want to do, and it pays your bills, you don't need some anonymous guy on the internet telling you what to do.
 
So first off big_z, I agree with everything you say so kudos, my problem is im better at computer repair right now because i've been doing it for years, but i love networking and want to get better in it and just as well with the programming side, especially since i went to school for it. But problem with the developing side is that im really weak in it where i have not done it for so long, so thats one of my problems. I just want to go further in my career with a job I love and make a decent amount of money in...and with my knowledge and the love for the whole entire IT field i dont know where to go.
 
Honestly, the best way I learn is by screwing up. Making mistakes and getting myself out of them has singlehandedly taught me more, in computers, and in life, than all my school put together. Sometimes I get so worked up about trying to make something perfect, or making the perfect decision, that I don't even try at all.

How does that fit in here? Throw caution to the wind. I can't speak much to networking; I can set up a home network and know the basics of IP, but that's about it. For development, pick a language, any language. You interested in startup-type web applications? Learn Ruby (and then learn Javascript). You interested in enterprise applications? Learn C# or Java. You interested in embedded components? Go buy an Arduino and work on that. Mobile apps? I hope you have a Mac so you can learn the iOS platform, otherwise, learn Java and then learn Android. If you're a book person (I am), get on Amazon, search for the language you want to learn, and read the reviews on the books. Then buy them and work through them. Don't forget to be bold. Sometimes I find that one (that's 1, uno, ein) glass of wine or one (1, une, odeen, quis) beer helps in that department.

Find out what's hot in your area. With some employers, sometimes a certification can make up for a lack of professional experience in a language. Other employers don't care at all about certifications. Have some hobby programming projects. Contribute to an open source project (I've read that some employers really like that stuff). When you get stuck, ask Google. When you get really stuck, ask on forums. Keep on fighting.
 
I have a degree in CS and have been in Technology for 30 years now. I started as a code slinger and then moved to System Management (I happily admit being an old DEC VAX guy). From there I moved to IT Management and then to Networking. Nowadays I design networks for a Cisco Gold partner.

To remain competitive in this marketplace, and to keep from burning out, I highly recommend "re-inventing" yourself now and again...
 
big_z in college I was in a program called the fast track program where I was supposed to get a bachelors in computer science and a guaranteed job doing programming with a major company called CGI-AMS. They hosted the program for computer science majors who were interested in 'finding their way' in the IT industry. I found this opportunity as my sign in life for good things to come. Also they were getting funding from a tobacco company, which was funny enough that i'm against tobacco products, to have the program paid for all students that signed up with the program. in the fast track program, I had a different class every 2 - 3 weeks for around a year and some of those classes included intro to object oriented programming, sql, web design, java, c++, java scripting, and so on. I worked really hard to make a's and b's and towards the middle of the program the president of that section resigned, so when the new president emerged he said that he was going to still try to get all of us hired, where the old president guaranteed all of us jobs. Towards the end of the program, the president came back and said that only a few of us would get the job in the end, which in the end they only chose 2, and was very heart breaking. I went through the interview and thought it went almost perfect and then received the call saying I was not hired due to experience. I went to the dean of business, who was over the whole program, and told her about my let down and she explained to me that the reason they told her I wasn't hired was because of my age! Also to make things worst, at the end the dean of business told us we would be falling a few credit hours short to having our bachelors, so now i'm left with just certifications and an associates degree. Well instead of getting into any pressing matters with that issue, I went my separate ways and felt like I had wasted my time in the program and should have went to the university I was going to go to. So what do I do now you may ask yourself? I work for a cellular phone company full time as a service technician and also run my own computer repair and sales business on the side...I've been trying to find the direction I need to go in so I can get my life back on track, so I can get my career back on hyper drive. The reason I haven't really got back into programming is because the whole LONG situation I described to you, left me with a really bad taste in my mouth (come on guys no jokes!), but I really feel like if I put down what I was the best at in descending order it would go like this...Computer Repair...Networking...Programming. It sucks to feel like you have had all the schooling for programming and now, 3 years later, are weaker than water in the whole subject. I will definitely take what you say into consideration, I just hope that I jump on the band wagon sooner or later before I feel like a total loser... :(
 
I, too, have been in the industry for over 30 years. To take what Martimus said a step further, when looking to reinvent yourself, see what companies in your area (or the area you want to move to) are looking for, then re-tool yourself for that niche.

After all, you can devote all your time getting X between your ears, but if people are paying for Y, X won't buy you a can of beans...
 
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