Careers in Tech

[techchic]

I am currently attending college to obtain a degree in IT...I would like to see a show on different career paths people have taken and what tech jobs one can get with a IT, MIS, CS or other degree. The field changes so much, what it once meant to be in IT or MIS is not always the same today.

[njshadow]

It's kinda funny because i think I got a little confused when I was talking to my counselor yesterday. I THINK I walked out majoring in Computer Science. All I really know is that a C++ class is on my schedule. I was trying to take a major that was transferable to a 4 year college.

[phatlip12]

I'm in college now working towards a degree in Computer Information Systems. My goal is to become a Software Engineer/Programmer.

[fred]

I have a degree in CIS and I am a programmer. It's ok. The money is pretty good. It can be boring and stressfull, but I guess it's better than being a janitor.

[crumbles]

I'm nothing specific on that poll. My "official" title with my company is Sr. Network Engineer.

I started off to become a programmer, and got mixed up in Networking.

Very happy with where I am though. Make good money, and always learning new technologies.

win/win

[phatlip12]

It's kinda funny because i think I got a little confused when I was talking to my counselor yesterday. I THINK I walked out majoring in Computer Science. All I really know is that a C++ class is on my schedule. I was trying to take a major that was transferable to a 4 year college.

If your going to a community college and plan on transferring MAKE SURE the credits you earn will transfer. I'm doing this, however my school is really good at transferring credits. My school really is more of a hybrid between a community college and a 4 year school. Credits earned their transfer to almost every school in Maryland along with schools in other states near the school (it's close to Delaware and Pennsylvania so some credits transfer to schools in those states). Many colleges in Maryland are going to offer bachelors degrees at my school now so its only a matter of transferring credits and remaining at the same school.

Will this be your freshman year? I just finished up my freshman year and had an intro to C++. It's a really fun language, I'm planning on learning more of the language on my own sometime this summer. I'm signed up for C in the fall which I'm pretty excited about.

[njshadow]

Yeah Phatlip, this is my freshman year. I'm trying to make sure that my credits are transferable, that's one of the number one things that I was talking about with my counselor. I'm really looking forward to the C++. Visual Basic was pretty fun my Senior year in High School.

[phatlip12]

Yeah Phatlip, this is my freshman year. I'm trying to make sure that my credits are transferable, that's one of the number one things that I was talking about with my counselor. I'm really looking forward to the C++. Visual Basic was pretty fun my Senior year in High School.

I liked Visual Basic as well. It was one of those things I thought was boring at first but grew to like.

[scoobydiesel]

It's kinda funny because i think I got a little confused when I was talking to my counselor yesterday. I THINK I walked out majoring in Computer Science. All I really know is that a C++ class is on my schedule. I was trying to take a major that was transferable to a 4 year college.

Haha some thing like that happen to me, i walked in thinking of one major came out with another, So many classes i must take tho 0_0; 3 down 20+ to go....

[ariastar]

I start school on the 2nd of July in CIS on a path to transfer to UC Santa Cruz for a B.A. in a program that also works partly toward a Masters. So it takes a year past the BA for the MA, which is what I'm looking at doing. I'm 26 and feel so damned old.

Kinda funny that I'm only now going to get a degree in the field I've been working in for the past year and a half. But it should help advance me in my field.

I'm working both software engineering and e-mail security (lots of anti-phishing/anti-spam). How I get here was kind of stroke of luck. A major one. An ex and I were starting an online bond company for things like eBay, small businesses, etc., and after three years of work, I found out he sent in a different set of articles of incorporation than the set I filled out listing both of us. He sent in a set in his name only, essentially stealing the company from me. I'd put every penny I had into that company, a lot of money. (He's lucky that I still talk to him.) Anyway, I got an inside look at fraud online, but nothing really of much to put on a resume. The company folded when John and I broke up. But I saw an ad for a part-time job that allowed telecommuting, very important at the time as I didn't have a running car, though the position listed a BA, MA preferred, with five years experience, and I didn't have that. So after about a week, I decided the worst case scenario is I wouldn't hear back. So I drafted a kick-ass cover letter and sent it in with the resume I had a friend of mine revamp, and in my cover letter I hit on something the hiring person didn't know about, so he called for more info, and from there I ended up with the interview, and the job.

The money's pretty good. I'm at $60k right now working part-time without a degree, though next month my raise takes effect (20%), so that will go up. Last raise was last October, which was a 25% raise. So it's cool that raises seem to come at a better frequency than once every year or two for 5% or whatever is typical. But those who work here and have degrees are at or above $100k already (those are full-timers). So we've got people in their early 20's making six figures. This may or may not be typical though - this is Silicon Valley. Apple's headquarters are on the way to school, Google is just another company, we're tired of hearing about YouTube's legal troubles, and everyone is somehow or another connected to big names in tech by no more than three degrees.

My boyfriend (who is also a co-worker, and the company's cool with it) told me that when he went to school during the dot-com boom, everyone thought they'd graduate and be instant millionaires. Didn't happen of course. He said school isn't so much about teaching you languages and whatnot, but to teach you how to learn. I asked him how he ended up in virus research (pop his name into Google and you get a ton of shit on him and what he does already at the age of 25), and he told me that it wasn't what he was planning to do when he got out of school, that what he wanted to do originally didn't work out due to the dot-ka-boom, and what was available and ignited some interest was virus work.

So I guess you need to keep in mind that due to the ever-changing nature of the field, exactly what you want to do right now may be obsolete in a few years or just unavailable, so keep a little bit of flexibility.

Your handle is techchic, so I presume you are a girl. No matter what the guys here may say, there's probably going to be some pressure on you to prove yourself, even if those giving the pressure don't realize they are. Tech is a field still so male-dominated. At this company of 400, only one other woman actually works in tech, and she's in her 60s. The other women are in HR, marketing, etc., but no others actually working hands-on with tech. I hear about how a higher percentage of people taking a tech major of girls, but I have yet to see that reflected in the actual work force. X% taking in school doesn't mean that X% will work in it in the end. But don't give up. I'm just giving you a heads up that you'll be making your way among guys and will probably face some of the same pressure as a guy wanting to be a nurse, though male nurses are starting to be a bit more accepted.

Don't give up, keep flexible, and go for the money.

[ariastar]

It's kinda funny because i think I got a little confused when I was talking to my counselor yesterday. I THINK I walked out majoring in Computer Science. All I really know is that a C++ class is on my schedule. I was trying to take a major that was transferable to a 4 year college.

Do you have a specific four-year in mind? The different ones will have different requirements for transfer, and what one may accept, another won't. I was going to just take classes to transfer to the UC system (you've heard of schools such as UCLA and UC Berkeley, I'm sure), but met with a counselor and am so glad I did because UC Santa Cruz has a different plan, and some of the courses that will transfer for the UC system in general with a C will only transfer to UCSC with an A, and some courses needed for other UC schools aren't needed at all for USCS while others are.

So it will help to have a specific school or two in mind and to make sure your credits will transfer there specifically. What may work for one school won't necessarily work for another.

[phatlip12]

I start school on the 2nd of July in CIS on a path to transfer to UC Santa Cruz for a B.A. in a program that also works partly toward a Masters. So it takes a year past the BA for the MA, which is what I'm looking at doing. I'm 26 and feel so damned old.

Kinda funny that I'm only now going to get a degree in the field I've been working in for the past year and a half. But it should help advance me in my field.

I'm working both software engineering and e-mail security (lots of anti-phishing/anti-spam). How I get here was kind of stroke of luck. A major one. An ex and I were starting an online bond company for things like eBay, small businesses, etc., and after three years of work, I found out he sent in a different set of articles of incorporation than the set I filled out listing both of us. He sent in a set in his name only, essentially stealing the company from me. I'd put every penny I had into that company, a lot of money. (He's lucky that I still talk to him.) Anyway, I got an inside look at fraud online, but nothing really of much to put on a resume. The company folded when John and I broke up. But I saw an ad for a part-time job that allowed telecommuting, very important at the time as I didn't have a running car, though the position listed a BA, MA preferred, with five years experience, and I didn't have that. So after about a week, I decided the worst case scenario is I wouldn't hear back. So I drafted a kick-ass cover letter and sent it in with the resume I had a friend of mine revamp, and in my cover letter I hit on something the hiring person didn't know about, so he called for more info, and from there I ended up with the interview, and the job.

The money's pretty good. I'm at $60k right now working part-time without a degree, though next month my raise takes effect (20%), so that will go up. Last raise was last October, which was a 25% raise. So it's cool that raises seem to come at a better frequency than once every year or two for 5% or whatever is typical. But those who work here and have degrees are at or above $100k already (those are full-timers). So we've got people in their early 20's making six figures. This may or may not be typical though - this is Silicon Valley. Apple's headquarters are on the way to school, Google is just another company, we're tired of hearing about YouTube's legal troubles, and everyone is somehow or another connected to big names in tech by no more than three degrees.

My boyfriend (who is also a co-worker, and the company's cool with it) told me that when he went to school during the dot-com boom, everyone thought they'd graduate and be instant millionaires. Didn't happen of course. He said school isn't so much about teaching you languages and whatnot, but to teach you how to learn. I asked him how he ended up in virus research (pop his name into Google and you get a ton of shit on him and what he does already at the age of 25), and he told me that it wasn't what he was planning to do when he got out of school, that what he wanted to do originally didn't work out due to the dot-ka-boom, and what was available and ignited some interest was virus work.

So I guess you need to keep in mind that due to the ever-changing nature of the field, exactly what you want to do right now may be obsolete in a few years or just unavailable, so keep a little bit of flexibility.

Your handle is techchic, so I presume you are a girl. No matter what the guys here may say, there's probably going to be some pressure on you to prove yourself, even if those giving the pressure don't realize they are. Tech is a field still so male-dominated. At this company of 400, only one other woman actually works in tech, and she's in her 60s. The other women are in HR, marketing, etc., but no others actually working hands-on with tech. I hear about how a higher percentage of people taking a tech major of girls, but I have yet to see that reflected in the actual work force. X% taking in school doesn't mean that X% will work in it in the end. But don't give up. I'm just giving you a heads up that you'll be making your way among guys and will probably face some of the same pressure as a guy wanting to be a nurse, though male nurses are starting to be a bit more accepted.

Don't give up, keep flexible, and go for the money.

My cousin just graduated from the school I'm going to transfer to (after my 2 years at community college) with a degree in CIS (the same degree I'm pursuing). He's 24 and is making $72,000 a year starting out. Not bad.

Glad to see your pursuing the degree Aria. 26 isn't that old to be in school. I had a class with a guy in his 50's (that guy was annoying as all hell though).

[techchic]

Hi all! Summer school is tough! I have not been on the forums in almost a month!

I want to thank all of you for voting and for your comments. They were very interesting to read, but I do feel way out of the loop. I SO need to move!!! I Love Minnesota, but technology is not as readily available as I wish it could be. And jobs? Not nearly enough of those either, especially entry level. I am working in tech support now, but really want a new position. Anyway, kudos to those posting about being in your 20's and having a job that sounded like most of you like and that makes good $$. I made the "mistake" of going to school for teaching, but just as I graduated there were tons of cuts and I had a REALLY hard time finding a job. At one point, I did take a couple programming courses in C++...BOY do I wish I had stuck with it!

Aria: yes, I am a girl but somewhat of a tomboy. This may sound weird, but I sometimes prefer to hang out with guys. Your warning about the pressure is true, even through the few interviews I have had I notice that...but since I get along better with guys most of the time, for the most part I should be okay (but still cautious when needed). I am not much of a girlie-girl and hanging out with guys lets me play video games, talk tech, go to Best Buy etc instead of Macy's or something. I thought your background info was interesting...I am a little jealous actually! :o But happy for you! Best of luck in school!

Oh, for Fall I will be working on Visual Basic and ASP.NET.

[black_magic]

Right now I don't work in the tech industry... I work at a steel company. I was always lazy in school, just doing enough to get by, and when I had a chance to work where I do, not even going to college, it made me care even less about school. However, although the money is good here, I'm slowly working my way into networking, I've already passed and got my CCNA cert, but don't have any real world experience, hopefully I can find some odd part time/internship type thing in the networking field and get my way into there.

[phatlip12]

Right now I don't work in the tech industry... I work at a steel company. I was always lazy in school, just doing enough to get by, and when I had a chance to work where I do, not even going to college, it made me care even less about school. However, although the money is good here, I'm slowly working my way into networking, I've already passed and got my CCNA cert, but don't have any real world experience, hopefully I can find some odd part time/internship type thing in the networking field and get my way into there.

My grandfather worked at a steel mill his entire life. A little before he retired the company wen't under and he lost his pension.

[logant]

I've thought about tech journalism if that counts.

[tokenuser]

My grandfather worked at a steel mill his entire life. A little before he retired the company wen't under and he lost his pension.I worked in a steel mill as well :) OK, it was the EDP (electroinic data processing) department, but I still showed up at work each day in steel capped workboots, and had a hard hat sitting on the parcel shelf of my car for trips into the plant.

http://www.airviewonline.com.au/photos/0405/1309/0405-1309-59.jpg

All the various IT groups around the country were pulled into a single IT subsidiary. Nothing teaches you about networking in hostile environments than working in a steel plant (or a bulk cargo transport). Gives yo a unique perspective on IT operations. Also, lessons on batch processing, order entry systems, legacy hardware and software integrations, and political wrangling between all levels in a company were learnt through my experience at that company.

After 13 years of employment with one division of that company or another, I finally got laid off through a sale of the subsidiary I was working at at the time. I could have transferred back to another division, but my time to leave had arrived. BUT the experience I learnt through that company, and the opportunites I was presented enriched my career no end.