Please give me some Career Direction (all you csci/A+ Cert/MCSE/Programmers!!!!

[Overman]

Hey guys/girls...well, I've been doing some thinking and I'm going to be making a major career change.

To begin at the beginning....I started at the Institute of Technology (U of Minnesota)in Mechanical Engineering....after being in that for 2 years (and after doing a 6 month Co-Op program)...I found out that I really didn't like it at all. So I switched to CBS(college of biological sciences)and got B.S. in Biology, with a Psych Minor.

I applied to medical school after graduating (and working full time in various places), and I'm currently a first year Medical Student at the U of MN.

I've come to the conclusion that my heart is not in medicine...(wife is really pleased with the current $18,000.00 debt I've racked up figuring this out and I'm looking into a career change.

I've always loved working with computers...tinkering/building systems/reading about them, optimizing....and I'm considered the "guy that everyone calls" whenever they have a computer/software/internet/...basically anything to do with computer....type question.

I've had most pre-req's for CSCI degree (calc 1,2,3,5,..circuits, phsyics etc)...but don't really feel like going to get another damn degree. I've also had some experience in programming...though not a lot.

Anyway, I was wondering if all you people with CSCI/Tech/MCSE/Programming/SysAdmin type careers would let me know what you're doing...and how you like it?!

Positives and Negatives about how satisfied you are with what you do (be sure to include what you do)...and any tips, advice you have.

Please try to keep it serious (hey...I just saw that Peter Pan thread and almost crapped myself

Well, thanks in advance!!!

 

[Whitedog]

If you're a Math Wiz, I'd go for the Engineering Degree.. er umm, CS? After a few years Exp (4 or 5), you can easily get a 6 figure income...

 

[Whitedog]

My suggestion is to Aim for what you will LIKE doing.. don't just look at what's "easiest" or "best paying"... You're making a decision on what you're going to do the rest of your life... Make it something you will enjoy!

If you like screwing with Hardware, then get into networks...
if you like Programming, same....
...etc...

 

[SVTPower]

STAY with Programming.. your job is in high demand.. MCSE market is FLOODED with Test takers that have about 3 years of home PC exp and they call their 3 PC home LAN an Enterprise. Also due to this flooding they will latch on to the jobs they have and totally trash the network for the company they are working for by improper implementation. So it's a pain to follow them in as they then set all the dependancy's for the systems.

Every company I worked for the Programmers had the ability to WALK OUT of the job and have work ASAP, The MCSE in high demand is Schools on the Radio wanting to sell $8000 worth of classes. The market is not in that high of demand for MCSE's as there are TON's of them.

I wish I had the Patience to learn programming, but if you have it STAY with it, there is a BIG need for good ones out there and trust me there are so many slop jobs it's not even funny.. the place I'm in now has NO seriously NO Documentation of the current in house software we own.. So it's REALLY nice to trouble shoot and the new people who come in have no clue whats going on. And besides that it's JUNK code.

 

[poop]

Also realize that it is pretty easy to get an MCSE, but becomming a good programmer is a lot harder. Don't go for the microserf track, become good with computers. Once you understand how computers work, and exactly what they are on a basic level, you can work with any OS/platform. If you are into high level stuff, a good working knowledge of OS design is a plus.

Have you done any low level programming? There is always a high demand for good embedded/firmware programmers. I, personally, really enjoy writing code on such a basic level. Talking directly with hardware, and learning about new designs and specs is fun for me. Specifically, my last coop involved writing test code in C for a new ASIC design. I got to learn ATA, SDRAM, and a few serial comm. specs. It was cool to find out how these things work on a fundamental level, and implement control software for prototype hardware. I also got to wire some of the components myself, thereby designing and coding for the same subsystem. I am looking into a permanent career track in that direction now. I am still a student, but am finishing my BS in CECS this semester, and will have a masters in EE in another year.

 

[Overman]

Thank you guys for replying so quickly (kinda feel like I'm going thru a midlife crisis...a little early (I'm 28)...heh heh)

Well, I've done some Basic programming (but who hasn't and some Fortran programming...and I really liked it (standard stuff like figuring out how to find the derivative/integral of functions...stuff like that).

Anyway, I'm looking into a program offered at the U of MN...."Unix System and C/C++ Certificate Program"

Please look here

Do you think this looks like something that if I had...."I'd be able to walk" if needed?

I've just started looking into this stuff....is C/C+ a commonly used language? I've also heard Java type languages are big....true?

I'm also going to talk to the couple down the street from my home...they are both programmers that work from home and have 2 little kids....something that will be happening soon (if my wife has her way ...I want to have a family too though...gotta pass on those genes ya know!

Is a Computer Science degree really needed to get into programming (and make a decent living....middle - middle class?

I've taken all the calcs and phsyics etc...but only a few circuits classes (something I did not appreciate btw).

Thanks again for the replies guys...you're saving me from myself!!!

 

[UnderScore]

At the school I attend, RIT, I am an Information Technology major. I just finshed (like last week) a quarter ( this school is on the 10 week quarter system whereby 3 quarters equal one normal academic year, 2 semesters, at other schools) of OS Scripting. I had previous UNIX command line knowledge but this course really gets into the guts of it. I have taken a semester of Visual Basic prgramming 101( at a community college), 2 quarters of C++ ( C++ 101 and CC++ 102), a quarter of Visual Basic 102, and a quarter of Java 101.

Last Summer I had an internship with a company whereby I worked along side with a Unix SysAdmin and an Oracle DBA. The Unix SysAdmin (even after taking this Unix scripting course) is like a god entity. I must assess myself and look inside myself to see if I could so what they did ( some of the stuff then and now still goes over my head). Not to knock your school's program, but I wonder if an 8 week accelerated course would be the best solution to your problems.

Even after getting a 4 year degree, I know that I will still have plenty to learn and understand upon entering the workforce ( I too wan to be a SysAdmin.) i must know my craft. And that is what I can tell you, "Know your craft." If you choose to be a Unix SysAdmin, know the ins and outs of the command line, the OS, Unix networking, services, and even Windows2000 (I doubt that there won't be a time where you will need system interoperability. If you choose to be a NetworkAdmin, know the ins and outs of the OSI model, the TCP/IP stack, IP addressing and subnetting, routing & switching, network design & management, etc. If you choose to be a programmer, know object oriented programming, C/C++, Java, Java script, Visual Basic ( even though I hate that language), proper software design techniques, proper coding styles with comments, know the platform you will be designing on ( Win2000, Linux, Unix, Web).

If you can make yourself multifacted & platform independent you increase your value as compared to the guy who only knows Visual Basic, VB script and Internet Explorer.

If you don't want to get another degree, I would recommend that you make your own degree (along the lines of rolling your own cigarettes. I would suggest that you take networking courses, programming courses, and system administration courses at the same time. Knowing (and getting good grades) in a wide breadth of subjects at a good depth may turn out to be better than that of a 8 week accelerated course.

 

[bigshooter]

You should go back to school on a part time basis and go for a CS degree. I haven't heard too many good things about programming certs, but a computer science degree is pure proof to an employer you can start as entry level programmer. My school is all c++, they finally trashed cobol as a requirement for MIS and CS people. With a biology degree, you should have no problems at all getting another degree, employers will see dual degrees and be pleased as well. I'm a junior in CS and have no problem with my actual degree related courses, but I hate having to take all the liberal arts bs, you already have yours done. I would love to have mine done.

If you want to do networking MCSE is still good. It's still a Microsoft world, contrary to popular belief on this forum, and I don't know any other career paths that have the same earning potential in a short amount of time for someone who really knows what they are doing. To everyone who bashes MCSE's still. An MCSE is not going to turn someone into a great network admin overnight. It is to show that you have a basic understanding about a broad range of concepts related to Windows 2k or NT 4, whatever you took. I don't know any companies that will unleash an MCSE without experience on their networks. Also, imo NT 4 was a lot easier than Win2k. I think when NT4 MCSE's expire you will find that the herd will be thinned a little and the cert may mean something again. Plus, I am just doing mine to help get more consulting jobs, and have something neat to put on my business card. I really am learning a lot though, especially wehn I took a class for active directory.

 

[Overman]

Thanks again for all the great replies guys...this is helping a LOT!

UnderScore...why was the Unix Admin considered a "God"?

BigShooter...are you an MCSE? Did you take the test? How much for that baby


I'm thinking going back to school is going to happen...just don't know about the Cert program or the full fledged CSCI degree.

Still might study up to take the MCSE though...

Thanks for the info guys....anyone have any other opinions?

 

[Overman]

bump

 

[Descartes]

Overman: I work as a sr. programmer for an engineering/software firm, and I love it. I've always enjoyed programming, so having to opportunity to make good money while doing it, is a dream.

There are other benefits as well. In the development world, you actually get to see your ideas implemented and brought to fruition. You get the feeling of "creation" everytime you release a deliverable, and it's quite rewarding.

Benefits:
- excellent pay (in most areas, it seems)
- respect (depending on company)
- constant learning. I advance myself every single day.
- job security (if you lose your job, there are plenty of people out there looking for you)
- fun!

Good luck!

 

[Overman]

Hey guys....well, just wanted to thank you all for the opinions and advice. I've finaly got a plan!

I'm going to take the A+ Certification test in the next week or so and get a job in a 'mom and pop' type store/service center.

I'm also going to go back to school (sigh...more debts)...and get a B.S. in Computer Science from the U of MN.

I'm really psych'd...I've picked up a couple of books on programming, and cannot wait to finaly start to do something I love!!!!

Thanks again all!

 

[Deicide]

MCSE is easy to get? Damn, mines been a pain in the ass to get, there must be some other MCSE cert that everyone is going for. I know that those stupid bootcamps really drag the name down, I hope my win2k MCSE that I plan to have before next year will be a bit more valuable. I'm really only doing it to set goals for myself, and hopefully get my foot in the door for an interview, so hopefully it will be worth it, for only that reason.