After a lot of soul searching, I’ve decided to throw in the towel on the insurance industry (in which I’m currently employed) and pursue a career in IT. Computers and I get along, and I think it’s time to take our relationship to the next level.
I know I’m going to need some edumacation, and I’m entering a competitive field, but so be it. What I don’t know is exactly what I want to do with computers. I suspect my path will lead me towards programming, but I’d like to narrow it down.
Does anyone know of any sites that describe in detail job duties and educational requirements for various IT jobs? I’ve been looking online and while there’s a wealth of material out there, it’s a job in itself to sift through. Any links are appreciated.
If any IT people would like to weigh in on future job prospects for various IT fields, that would be nice too.
I don’t mean to discourage you, but if you go after a programming career, most of the people you’re competing against will have a bachelor’s in computer science. If you don’t have one, you’re going to be at a considerable disadvantage to those who do.
It doesn’t sound like you’re looking to do that straight away, so you’re probably on the right track.
Not discouraging at all, I appreciate the insight. What about so called “career colleges”, and the programs they offer? Do employers consider them valid, in an educational sense?
I’m not really sure. It seems reasonable that most employers would honor a degree from an accredited program, but that’s something you’d need to discuss with the career placement office at that school.
The problem in getting a job in IT is that your main qualification is experience.
My way in was through a vocational training course in a fairly specialised subject that led to a placement and subsequently a job. It didn’t hurt that I had also done evening classes and learned C. The specialised course (which was only a few months, nothing like a degree) gave me just enough ability to do the job. Which is where you do all the real learning Is this the sort of course that the career colleges you mention offer?
Of the programmers I know very few have degrees in anything to do with computing, they’ve mostly strayed into programming from something else.
Do a Google on something like computer programming vocational training and see if it turns up anything near you.
You say “computers and you get along.” Does that mean you already do computer things at work? For example, are you the go-to guy in your insurance office for computer questions? Do you do any minor programming in your spare time? Have you done a web site for yourself or anyone else?
If any of these are yes, then you already have some experience that could go a long way in your resume.
To get in the door, you need to have education, preferably a degree. Once you’ve been in the industry for a couple years, it’s all about experience and noone cares about your education.
I’m on a computer all day at work, mostly working in Office apps. However, all of the forms and calculation sheets now in use are my creations. This is outside my “real” job as a broker. I re-did everything so that calculations were automatic. Did it in Excel since that’s what everyone here works with.
And how. I’m in charge of everything that my boss doesn’t want to call in our “real” IT person for. Basically, if it has to do with anything other than the server, I’m it. Includes a lot of trouble shooting.
I have done programming in C and Java, but very minor.
I have done websites, but only using HTML, and it was a while ago.
Thanks for the advice everyone. I think getting in the door will be the hard part. That, and the pay drop.
Developers (i.e. programmers): Mostly coding. You’ll likely be responsible for keeping your skills up which can be challenging.
DBA (database analyst): tune and manage database tables - usually Oracle
Systems administrator: At a low level this can be adding users. But more often its everything from unboxing the hardware, installing the OS, patchings - plus user administration and support.
Network administration: see above, but skip the users and focus on the routers, switches, firewalls, etc. In smaller companies these two functions (systems and network) are usually combined.
Business analyst: Take the business request for “a new tool for doing expense reports” and turn it into the specifications for the developers to work from.
Helpdesk/desktop analyst: Help end users. Install PCs.
Almost everyone I work with except those on the helpdesk/desktop have four year college degrees - and a few with MBAs. I can’t say you won’t get hired without one, but its going to be challenging. They sometimes aren’t in Computer Science, but they aren’t tech school grads. The ones that don’t (self included) have been in the industry for a long time and/or have a specialized skill set and were hired when the the job market was tougher for employers.
Software QA is another option, and probably the easiest to break into without a specific background in IT. You’d basically be repsonsible for making sure that what the developers do works properly.
It sounds like you’ve done a lot of desktop support and that’s good. On your next resume, I would immediately change your title to “IT Specialist/Broker” (or similar) or even just “IT Specialist” if you’re bold. While you’re at the current company, you may want to spend more time with the IT person and learn the server side of things. That could give you some quick experience that could further your options in your first “real” IT job. And that’s key because if you can avoid the entry level job and get into your “first job” with your current experience as your credentials, you’re way ahead of things. As I say, the first job they look at your education (you have none); the second, they look at your experience (and you have that).
Dangerosa gave a good list of IT jobs. IT jobs are where you keep the computers going in a company who’s work is in something non-computer, like in your case, insurance. But there are also companies who build computer products, where programming and other technical skills are needed. Unfortunately, there’s a bit of a chasm between these two types of companies and jobs, but you may want to investigate. I say this because where you pick your first job will define what sorts of skills you build for your second job, etc. So, if you think a product company is more to your calling, it may be wise to spend some serious after hours time getting formal or self education, and try to start there. And as ultrafilter pointed out, QA is an easier path in there.
You might want to see if the insurance company you work for has any IT openings available. If you have experience on the ‘field side’ of things, that knowledge can be invaluble in a ‘home office’ role. After all, you’ve worked with some of their software, you know what works and what doesn’t work from an end-user perspective.
The old catch-22 of needing experience will always be there. I have no degree but have worked for years as an Oracle developer and DBA until about a year and a half ago. I moved into data warehousing with a different product. After a rough learning curve and a most unpleasant experience I am not working for the vendor as a professional services consultant. Perhaps the best move I have ever made in my career.
The problem is that you can’t just force fit yourself into an IT career. What are you good at? It sounds bizarre but I realize my brain was hard wired for normalizing databases from the time I was a child so dba and modeling work comes natually to me.
Thanks for the input everyone. Dangerosa, that list is especially helpful.
jweb, the insurance company I work for has a total of six employees, myself included. There isn’t a IT department. We outsource.
Padeye, I’m more of a problem solver, for both hardware and software. I have a knack for it. Right away that makes me think of helpdesk, but what I’d like to do is bypass that (the money makes it impractical) by virtue of an education. I realize that the problems I can solve are only limited by my knowledge. So, with minimal knowledge, I can do the helpdesk “flip-book” problem solving. With a great deal of knowledge, I can do more.
Is this the sort of course that the career colleges you mention offer?