I am in the middle of a career change. I am currently working in my family's telecom business as financial mgr/network admin. The business is about to go bye bye, and I am looking at a career in the computer/IT field. I have been checking out DL programs and have found a wide range of options - CS, MIS, IT, CIS, etc. What is the demand for these areas of study. Should I focus on programming, networking, web design, database admin.....? And do I need a BS, MS or just certs. I have a BS in education, and have management experience. I also have networking experience with MS NT/2000. I think I need a program that is more technical in nature. My ultimate goal is to be self-employed in this field. Where is the future going? What do I need to know? Any crystal balls out there? Any information is greatly appreciated.
First off, the area that you work in (database, programming, networking, etc) should be based purely on which area you enjoy more. If you really haven't done much with computers so you have no idea what area you would enjoy, then find out before you commit to any specific program. There's no use spending a lot of time and effort to learn programming, for example, if ultimately you decide it's not enjoyable. To get a job in the IT world, you need experience more than anything else. Actual work experience is the best. A college degree is second best, and certifications will in some cases work as a substitute for experience. To get real experience, consider volunteering somewhere. Non-profit organizations may have need for IT skills and you can gain some experience and references for some part-time work. A degree makes a lot of sense as well, particularly if you want a degree for reasons other than just to get a job. Certifications are ok, particularly if you already have a degree in another field or if you don't have the time or money to get a degree. Biggest thing is find out what area you want to do before you commit. I've seen people spend thousands on training and discover that they simply don't have the aptitude for IT or it just isn't any fin for them.
If I had to choose, I suppose I would pick networking. I have experience in that area and enjoy the work. However, I wouldn't have a problem sitting at a computer all day writing code or designing web pages either. What I don't want to do is obtain training/degree in an area that is not in demand. I guess I need guidance on what people want, and will pay the most for. I want to get the most out of my investment in formal training.
Networking is a fine field. Nothing in IT is in great demand right now (programming may be the worst), but quality people will still get jobs. Cisco certifications were all the rage 2 years ago and my impression is that these have held their value more than Microsoft certifications (and certainly more than Novell). Network security may be the most in-demand IT field right now. If you do go the degree route, some IT/IS degree programs have certifications as part of the curriculum. Essentially you take classes that are worth credit and prepare you for specific certification exams. It's an option worth considering.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news. However...IT is experiencing extreme cyclical demand, and the trend is now downward. Many IT publications and people "in the know" are guessing that there is about 15-20% unemployment in IT right now, including bona fide, MSCS-having software engineers. You will be competing in a job market where thousands upon thousands (guesstimates are in the range of 500,000 plus jobs lost since the dot-bomb) of people with tons of relevant experience. You must love IT if you are to suffer the down cycles. I happen to be employed in IT, and I am not a doom and gloom type personality. In fact, I joined IT in late 1998 after 4 years in software sales. My first job was network support, then software development for internet applications, then on to Java coding for a distributed voice over IP web application. My sales background gives me a leg up on traditional IT geniuses because I can relate to non-IT types well. I am currently working for a small company that does HR outsourcing. I provide a web app for our "employees" so they can view their paycheck, benefits, and related data. What this means is: I build a front-end to an archaic, DOS based accounting system that happens to have a huge, efficient database behind it. No one can predict the market for jobs, stocks, etc. If I were you I would stick to what I love, and for goodness sake, DO NOT invest money in an education if you are expecting a return on the investment via a job. There are no guarantees. I am not living in fear of losing my job. But...if I lost my job today, I have a feeling that I would have a very hard time finding a new one. Be sure to interview REAL LIVE people who are working and those who are not working so you get a feel for things. Jobs are being outsourced like crazy to India. Major banks are shutting down their US-based data centers and moving them to India. Read any IT rag for info. It took a year for the IT community to figure out what was happening, but now we know. India has cheap, well-educated IT experts that are taking over IT. Forewarned is fore-armed. I am experiencing EXTREME discord because I love what I do, but I must prepare for my career's demise, even if there is an upturn, I have to have a fallback. It is difficult to have discipline with regard to developing a second career. I first came to this board to check out distance learning programs for law. But I'm currently in an accounting program, trying to diversify. Right now, I'm drooling over the chance to get an MSCS from some of the schools mentioned here. But I'm having a hard time moving in that direction. I simply don't know how to reconcile the death of one career so that I can live on in another. I really don't want to do anything else. Thanks for listening.
The IT field is a fine field. As any career, there will be ups and downs. MAny say that the IT field is flooded but as I tell my students, (I teach A+ and N+ classes part-time) think out side the box. I work for a medical equipment manufacturer that has computer networks attached to medical equipment used to capture digital images of surgical procedures. Not your typical IT job. We are hiring an additional 24 field service engineers in the next 6-8 months. I have a friend that is the IS guy for a football staduim. He takes care of the computers and AV equipment. It is a great field that goes far beyond your typical IT views.
How much do these jobs pay? I'm guessing no more than $45K (I've been wrong before though). That is decent money, but I make about $70K (I live beneath my means, and I am by no means one of those people who believe I'm supposed to get a high salary just for showing up). If the market keeps tightening up, the salaries slide, and it is harder to pay off student loans. The jobs you are talking about wouldn't be offshored, as well.
They pay about 45K, your right. There is also an annual bonus, about 10%, and a company car. You work from your home and set your own schedule. I guess I work about 35-40 hours per week.
let me correct myself - the starting pay is about 45K. The top end for a field service engineer is about 70K.
Make sure any DL accounting program you pick is regionally accredited, or else you may not be able to sit for your state's CPA exam, if that is your goal. Check your state CPA requirements. I am in a local state school, attending a brick and mortar. It is a very inexpensive program, and they accept people in every semester, so stopping in and out is okay while I figure out where my head is at. I don't care for sitting in classes, and I get worn down after about 6 weeks of class, I find, so distance learning is a better format for me. I don't love accounting, so I'm not following my own advice (love what you do/study). I have a deep need to build my own business and be independent, so I figure finance/accounting will be a necessity, whether or not I pursue it as a career. I'm struggling with choosing to study law, continue/discontinue study of accounting/finance, or just take my chances and do the MSCS. Exploring and searching gets expensive! One day I want to be a lawyer, the next , a CPA, and everyday, I want the MSCS. My BA is in Psychology (Univ of NY/Regents). Go figure. I need a shrink of my own. I have to remember that the journey is the key, not the destination. Cheers!
Be very careful with statistics. This particular link refers mostly to repair jobs that cannot be offshored, but like healthcare, these positions are very sensitive to political manipulation of immigration laws. Instead of H1-B, L-1 visas are being given to nurses, for example. The moment an occupational group announces a shortage, the politicians increase the number of visas allowed, which reduces the wages, just like corporations like it. Again, my goal isn't to forecast gloom and doom, but to remind people that our traditional middle class jobs are being eroded by bit by bit and no one is noticing because "it hasn't happened to me". Links on the same site reflect a cheery outlook for computer science folks, too.
I'm 35. Aging and IT don't seem to go together 1998-02-04 04:00PST "Six years after finishing a computer science degree, only 57% of computer science graduates are working as programmers. After 15 years, only 34% remain. At 20 years, a mere 19% are still working as programmers. Nobody knows for certain why the turn-over rate is so high, but here's one clue: Programmers over the age of 50 suffer an astounding 17% rate of unemployment, according to one estimate... older workers, especially women, are finding their skills to be a hard sell, a recent _Computerworld_ column reported. And many of the 20K engineers laid off in the early 1990s because of military contractor down-sizing and base closings still haven't found work in technical fields... As late as 1987, 60K graduates were competing for about 25K open positions, according to Janet Ruhl, author of _The Programmers Survival Guide_..." --- Margie Wylie "Signal 2 Noise" _CNET_ The skills shortage that isn't: When the rising tide floats employees' boats, employers proclaim disaster. http://news.com.com/2010-1077-281060.html
