So after working for a bartender for eight years (and having never worked outside of the service industry) I have finally decided to go to school and get some kind of degree and maybe move on to a better job that actually has some kind of advancement.
Well, what do I want to do? I look at what I like to do in life because the last thing I want is another job that I don’t like. I like fixing things. I’m kind of a do it your self kind of guy. I also like computers. I spend most of my free time on ether my laptop or my pocketPC (which is really just a small computer). I also like to cook and try new things out in the kitchen. Having worked in many restaurants though, I will never be a chef. I love to explain things and have been told by others that I would be a good teacher. After thinking through a few other options though I think I would like to get involved in the computer field. This leads me to my next question. What part of the computer field would I like to get into? This is where I need everyone’s help. Where do I need to begin? My local community (Delaware Technical & Community College ) has some courses to take. Some are credit courses some are not. And what about the advertisements I hear on the radio about getting Microsoft certified? They always seemed to set off my caution alarms, but since I don’t know that much about that they are selling or what it means, maybe I’m wrong.
Ultimately I like to work on computer systems and making them run better, faster and safer. Every time there is a thread in GQ on “my computer won’t work” or what ever I read through it and love using what I learn. I set up my family and friends computers and tell them not to spend money on Norton and how a firewall works and drawing analogies between a car and a computer in that you have to maintain it. Everyone thinks that I’m some kind of computer wizard, but in reality I’m probably only one or two steps above the average user.
So I know that this is a very broad question and I’m really not going to base my decision just on what everyone says here, but I’ve been reading this board for so long and know there are people here that will be able to help me. Please, ask me questions and give me your opinions. I really want to know what is out there so I don’t waist time and money going down a path I don’t want. Thanks.
Depending on your interest in programming or lack thereof, look into doing a full Computer Engineering degree. You can focus on the areas that interest (Networking, databases, etc.), though regardless I’m sure there will be programming involved. I can’t speak for your location, but I know that out here in Silicon Valley, Comp. Sci. and Comp. Engr. graduates are everywhere and make extremely good money even straight out of college.
If you aren’t interested in the programming end at all, any type of Information Systems degree sounds like it would be right down your alley. Any company of even medium size nowadays has an IT department, so the opportunities to put your knowledge to use are everywhere. Which also helps if you get a job with a company that you end up disliking. The knowledge needed to work IT isn’t as specialized as programming though, so competition will be worse and pay isn’t likely to be as great.
Based on what you’ve said, I’d recommend looking into a networking focus for your studies. It’s interesting stuff, and depending on how deep you get into it, a very “sellable” skillset. It also lends itself to positions that aren’t just “help desk”-style IT work.
Certifications are nice, at least for IT folks, but don’t be fooled into thinking they are amazingly useful. A relevant degree and relevant experience will mean a lot more to an employer than those sort of certifications.
You might want to look into medical technology. Health care is the huge upward growth arrow on the employment charts. Someone has to know how to repair the big expensive machines used in medical offices and hospitals. These machines are only getting more complicated and technical. Also, this has the advantage of being something not especially amenable to offshoring. There would also be related jobs in training people to use the machines and selling the machines.
I wouldn’t dare give anyone I don’t know but from an OP career advice, but I will recommend the bible of career searchers, What Color is Your Parachute?, and the Federal publication Occupational Outlook Handbook 2006-2007 which gives statistics on growth or lack of in a field and expected earnings/required education, etc…
Thanks everyone for your replies. I have a few questions. What’s the main difference between a Computer Engineering degree and a computer Science degree? At the community college I linked to there is a course listed as computer information systems. Is this the same as a information systems degree that Dunawake mentions? If Certifications are nice, should I pursue them first or a degree first? And if/when I do pursue Certificates, which ones are the most important?
I can only guess how big medical technologies are going to get. With the baby boomers getting older, I think over the next 20 years that anything related to that field will explode. But in my heart I know that it’s not the field for me. Maybe because I think it’s to specialized, maybe because anything medical just doesn’t interest me, I don’t know. In knowing the potential of the field though, it will always be on my radar, just in case.
No big ideas, but I’m finding teaching computers to high school kids very rewarding. It’s something that people can pick up relatively quickly, and can still make a very big difference in their lives. There are a lot of “watching their eyes light up” moments (though that might be different in the computer savy US.)
I’ve also found plenty of oppertunity for learning new stuff myself, and the freedom to apply that improving the computer lab. I’m a tech geek whos not a technie- the ins and outs of programming and whatever don’t stick with me. But I love using technology and understand it pretty well even if I skip over some of the nitty-gritty details.
Another quick question. At another local school (Wilmington University ) there is a course for Web Information Systems. how good is this degree in real life. It looks like it’s a degree on how to make web pages. Is there still a market for people in this field?
Looks like a decent enough course of study but everyone I know that does that entire range of stuff is a freelancer. People that I know, personally, that get hired by a firm to do Web design have more of a background in art and graphic design. Very hard to train someone to do both good-looking and highly-functional sites.
And in this field you will do very little of “making computer safer and faster.”
Plus, they only teach PHP, Java, JavaScript and Visual Basic…that’s kinda weak by today’s standards (using .net).
The main difference between Comp. Engr. and Comp. Sci. is that Science tends to lean more towards the “theoretical,” with an emphasis on a lot of the math behind programming. Things like optimizing the run time of a sorting algorithm are standard fare for a CS class. Comp. Engr. tends to be more “practical,” with an emphasis on building actual applications and learning common software engineering practices.
Ultimately, though, both degrees are equally “sellable” from a job standpoint. They overlap a lot in terms of material, so a company looking for those kind of skills will be happy with someone from either degree.
In regards to the “information systems” degree, I found a bit more detail at curriculum, and it’s as I expected. It primarily focuses on the maintenance and management of computers and networks, with a minor focus on programming. Depending on your current skill level with computers though, some of the classes in that degree might be a bit too basic for you. I’m sure the class on “Windows based Operating Systems” would probably have you bored out of your skull. The other thing that concerns me is that the programming experience they give you in the IS degree is in COBOL or RPG, both ancient languages that are only really used now when maintaining legacy computer hardware for large companies. Depending on the job market in your area, these might be in high demand right now, but I don’t see them as really a “growth” market for skills. Over time they are only going to be less and less in demand as people move to newer systems.
The Computer Network Engineering degree looks like a good program if you’re already comfortable with computers in general. A good number of classes that cover all the aspects of computer networking, as well as a couple classes on UNIX and C/C++ programming, which are always good skills to have.
I’d wait until completing a degree program before going for the certifications programs, mostly because the majority of those are specialized courses for particular products, vendors, etc. A general degree can be applied in more places, more easily.
Anyway, take all this with a grain of salt, I’m speaking as a relatively recent grad with a BS in Comp.Sci. and a Master’s in Comp.Engr. and I’ve only been out and about in the workforce for 2 years. I can’t really speak from experience on the value of an Associate’s degree in these subjects.
Have you considered technical writing? There’s a huge need for people who write clear in “Tell Me Like I’m 4” terms for the millions of people (like me) who know how to use a computer but couldn’t tell you how they work or how to fix them to save their lives. Also, for some cash you could also pitch an idea to Dummies or Complete Idiots as they’re always releasing new titles and there’s always new software or gadgets that need explaining by people who can speak and write in plain English.
When I was reading your OP, I thought that you were my boss’s doppleganger (even including the predilection for cooking). I work at a small computer shop in a small town in Ireland. My boss started out fixing people’s PCs in his spare time, then it grew into a business (and employees, thankfully).
Obviously, you can’t compete with CompUSA, Best Buy, etc. on prices, so you make service your niche. Word-of-mouth referrals, over a few years, can make a huge difference. You have to be in the right kind of location, of course. Relatively isolated, like in a rural or ex-urban setting, would probably be your best bet.
The good thing is, to start out, you don’t even necessarily need a shop. You work out of your home until you have too much equipment clogging your living space. Take it from there.
The advice others have given about education/credentialing is not bad, either. It all depends on your temperament. I encourage you to at least give it some consideration. Good luck whatever you choose.
The other thing that concerns me is that the programming experience they give you in the IS degree is in COBOL or RPG, both ancient languages that are only really used now when maintaining legacy computer hardware for large companies. Depending on the job market in your area, these might be in high demand right now, but I don’t see them as really a “growth” market for skills. Over time they are only going to be less and less in demand as people move to newer systems.