I’m confused as to what I want to aspire to become once I graduate high school (a couple years off, I will be a Junior this coming school year.) I was wondering if anyone might point me twords a career that would suit me, given my interests. Also, any information on your choice would be appreciated (average salary, college majors, job market, etc.)
Basically, I’m into computers. That poses a problem, however. I’m almost afraid to pick this as a major, because of how much the industry changes. What I major in today might not even be around 5 years after I graduate, let alone my entire career. So what’s a good ‘safe’ major? Computer Science?
Currently, I program web applications as a hobby (PHP/MySQL stuff), but I’m not sure if this would be a viable choice due to the market. Who knows where the web will be 10-20 years from now? Will it exist as we know it today? Probably not.
I do see myself as the type to work in a office in front of a computer all day, as boring as that sounds. So maybe something in business and computers? Information Technology Officer or something (What is that anyways?) Is a business major/computer minor better than a computer major?
I guess the realization of having to pick a career/major is pretty scary, and is starting to sink in, and I have a lot of questions and little answers.
Thank everyone for reading this, when I’m making $200k/year I shall be much obliged :D.
Moderators: I’m not sure what forum this should go in, either. So I’ll ask here. Please move it as you feel fit–thank you.
Talk with your guidance councillor. There are many types of “What type of work would suit me” tests around and your GC should have access to one or two floating around. These tests ask general questions about interests and abilities and point you towards possible vocations. Don’t take them as gospel, however. When I took one (oh so many years ago) it was suggested that I look into becoming a minister or a funeral home director. Now, I’m a statistics geek.
Don’t worry too much about the computer field changing. All fields change. I work in the education field and it changes all the time (believe it or not). Need proof? Think “Open Space Schools”.
The beauty of higher education is that it teaches you more than a canon of skills. You learn how to learn and thereby are able to keep up with your field as it changes.
My suggestion to you is to find a career field (not necessarily a job) that you enjoy. This way, if (and when) you changes jobs within that field you will still enjoy the work. There is no excuse for dreading work or hating your job. Ever.
Soon to be Scuba Diver/Fish Husbandry/Astronaut/Rock Star,
Spritle
K3v,
I work in a company that recruits people like you to come work for us (in boring computer jobs). Actually, there are boring jobs and there are cool jobs, but that is definitely personal perspective. If you get good grades, you can pretty much major in whatever you like in college/university, as long as you keep up your technical skills.
So, if you like poetry or literature, but don’t want to avoid a career that involves the phrase, “Would you like to SuperSize that?”, you could still major in literature, but minor in technology or gain work experience in your desired field. Then you can pursue your career as poet/novelist/author while actually earning a living. Granted then you might not have much life experience to write about.
However, if you really just get jazzed by the technology, then just dive into the water and try to keep up. You will enjoy yourself and probably have no problem finding employment straight out of school. In our case we look for balance (life, leadership, technology), other companies might focus more on technology, but since school technology very rarely reflects all technological trends in the real world, what most recruiters look for is the ability to learn and understand new technologies.
Also, please, please do what you love to do in school and life, IMO no amount of money can truly compensate for hating what you do. Use school to try and learn what it is you love to do, and this will put you way ahead of many other graduates. Don’t focus on technology and ignore all of the other things which school can offer only to find out too late you missed out on the many things which can make this such a fun time in your life.
Just my two cents. Also, just curious, do you play any musical instruments?
Well, I work with the Internet for a major ISP and let me tell you this. While the face of the 'net changes all the time the basics of the behind the sceens stuff just really isn’t changing that much. Sure, it’s getting faster…different people are making different equipment and new developements like wireless are coming out, but data still has to get from point A to point B. To achieve that you need a Network. People that understand networks, the TCP-IP stack, the Cisco IOS, and how switchs and routers work make very good money (I should know, it’s what I do).
If you want to get into the field this is what you should do:
1.)Go to the local mega-bookstore. Buy a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Study Guide (I would recomend the one by Todd Lammel <-sp?)
2.)Read it and learn it. - Some people will try to tell you that you need to take a class to learn it, but this is really not true.
3.)Go take the CCNA Test - it costs $100
Being a CCNA is a major thing to put on your resume, it’s like having your foot in the door. But don’t stop there! After you’ve Got your CCNA go get your CCDA, CCNP, CCDP, and finally the Coup de gras, a CCIE.
Getting your CCIE is a very daunting task. It takes many people many years to achieve it. Currently there are only 5400 active CCIE’s in the World and only about 7000 have passed the tests altogether.
If you get your CCIE you can command salary starting at about $120K
Good Luck!!!
Well, when I was at that tender age of 15, I contemplated my future as well. I remember it as though it were only yesterday.
I was sitting on the couch at my buddy’s house.
He asked me, “What do you want to do for money after school.”
I told him, “I want to move to Jamaica, and start my own fishing charter, and then out on an excursion I could find a deserted island, and I could claim it for myself and make myself king. And I could have, like, supermodels and shit shipped in and they’d all be my loyal subjects. And we could grow all the kick-ass kind-bud we wanted 'cause it would be our country and we could put it in the constitution so the pigs couldn’t bust us, and we could sell it to other guys with their own islands for, like food and stuff, 'cause I can’t really cook or anything, exept for Raviolis, but you don’t even really have to cook those. They are totally kick-ass right out of the can. Oh, man, tell me you have Raviolis. We have to eat Ravilolis!! We can crumble up some Doritos in them and mash it all up like a stew. Oh, man, that sounds so cool.”
Computer science would probably be an excellent major for you. At least at my school (and in many others, I’m sure), the curriculum is geared not towards the technology, but rather towards the principles behind the technology. Once you learn those, you won’t have a hard time picking up new technologies. And that is what employers want.
I don’t know where you’re from, and where you think you might end up wanting to go to school, but if you’re from Canada, or can afford a Canadian university, McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario has a program called Engineering and Marketing. You could take Software Engineering, with a Marketing background (lots of commerce and business classes). It’s a five-year program that includes an internship. Your OP made me think that maybe you’d be suited for that, since you seemed interested in both the computer and business side of a future job. So it’s just a suggestion. AFAIK Mac is the only school to offer this program, but there might be similar ones elsewhere (or others might start up, who knows?). The engineering website is at http://www.eng.mcmaster.ca .
Disclaimer: I am not an engineer, nor a McMaster student - I just date one! And if you choose Mac, be prepared to deal with stupid parking regulations!
In light of mnemosyne’s suggestion, you might want to look into MIS programs. That (I believe) is the more common name for business-related computer degrees.
The University of Virginia’s School of Commerce has an excellent MIS program. If that’s near where you are (or within your price range), you might want to look at it. Note that those entering the program have two years undergraduate experience.
Oh, and standard advice for those looking at college:
Try new things. Take classes that sound interesting from departments that are not like what you’re majoring in. Since you’re interested in computers, and lots of other people are too, learn something else to give yourself an edge. Look for applications in other areas you’re interested in.
[abusive father mode] . . . Can’t you do a damn thing right? It’s not even that hard of a song and you still screwed it up! Jesus, you’re stupid![/abusive father mode]
A tale from the other side of the fence. Back when I was in college in the early '80’s, I wanted to learn more about computers, figuring that the industry was going to be big. Unfortunately, at the time there was no such thing as a Computer Science major at my school (although some other schools did have them). I ended up majoring in Government, and eventually went to work for a number of different governments where, surprise, surprise, I gravitated toward computers. I joined my current employer twelve years ago as a Wang word processing expert, and after my career took a number of interesting twists and turns, I am now a webmaster, working in a field and with software that didn’t exist when I was in college.
ShibbOleth is right – if you’re doing something you love, you will find a way to make it work for you. Pick a major that interests you, something that you like to study. There is no “safe” major, but learning more about a field that you enjoy can only help you. I’m very happy that I majored in Government, and I think it’s great that I’m now working in a field that didn’t exist back when I was choosing a major.
Do what feels right for you now, and let the future take care of itself. Who knows, you might end up being a Transporter Chief, or a Clone Counselor.
Here’s where I am right now. I’m starting my second year of college at a science & engineering school. My major is computer science. Right now, I’m thinking of specializing in network security, as several people have advised me that this field is badly in need of personnel. However, my decision isn’t set in stone yet, I can still switch majors until the end of this year.
I think that CS would be a good major for you. When you’re looking at colleges, be sure to pick one that offers a wide range of courses and keep your options open for as long as possible. I’ve known several students who felt absolutely certain that they wanted to pursue a career in a certain field, only to change their minds overnight (literally).