Career question...

Apd904 said:
So if i want to build computers, what is the true name for that? Like programming computers is computer programming, obviously. And also is there a way i could make over 150K in making computers? I know a management job pays 225K but that one person said he'd been working on them for 10 years and makes 50K....
Click to expand...

It depends on where you live. If you live in CA you can make 100k/year what I do, but cost of living is 4x higher there.

Also, don't expect to make that much right out of college. A lot of places don't higher in at those high positions. A lot of places higher entry level or just above and then promote from with in, which is something I agree with. If you put in your time somewhere they should promote you over hiring outside the company.

In some occasions they will hire outside the company, if they create a new position or have an opening that no one that can fill it that already works there.

I applied to UMKC a few times to be their network admin. Legally, they have to publicly post all their jobs, because they are an equal opportunity employer. Working at a University would be nice because a lot of times they give you free college courses if you work there. I figure I could work there and get some more education for free! However, they didn't even interview me and I was more than qualified, that is because I guarantee they promoted one of their existing tech guys into that position.

The only reason why I, myself, have been hired in at level II or higher positions from outside is that I can do things that aren't too common. I can administer Linux and Unix, and I am Apple certified and have been working with Macs forever. I also have windows certs and PC company certs and have been working with PCs for a long time too, but I have been doing both. Every network admin that works at my current job knowns pretty much nothing of Mac or Unix, so I get to control all of them and they hired me from the outside because no one was qualified and their existing Mac people couldn't support 6,000 machines on their own. So they had to hire outside help.

I did my time too. I have been a warranty tech, I have worked help desk, I have hauled servers, UPS, desktops around in a huge box truck and physically moved them and deployed them on location (lost about 15 pounds that month). I have also swept the floors of the shop, cleaned, ran cable, held many people's hand through software/hardware stuff, and I will still do all of that today if it needs to get done.
 
Apd904 said:
Hey i was just wondering if i wanted to have a career in computers, should i go with programming or actually building computers. I know this a very stupid question, but i figured this is the best place to ask :P im not too cmputer oriented, just as much as any teenager would be. But i'm willing to learn, i just don't know what i want to learn.
Click to expand...

err both, you rarely see a decent programmer who cant build
 
Apd904 said:
Damn bro, you do it all haha. I live in FL, what are the chances of me making 150k+ there
Click to expand...

Right out of college no way.

Here is an entry level job that I found in Florida.

http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSee...&APath=2.21.0.0.0&job_did=J8D0Z16381NTBM3YCJX

http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSee...APath=2.21.21.0.0&job_did=J8F4526TGYJBMQ7M2Q5

I don't see much over 30 to 35k per a year entry level, and those require at least 1 year experience and some of them are asking for 3 years.

In all honesty, it is more about who you know and most importantly who knows you.
 
K. Just for curiositys sake, how long do you think it would take someone with no programming experience to get good at it? I know that's pretty vague but i dunno how else to ask.
 
Apd904 said:
K. Just for curiositys sake, how long do you think it would take someone with no programming experience to get good at it? I know that's pretty vague but i dunno how else to ask.
Click to expand...

Depends on all kinds of things. What interests you the most right now?

Networking?

Web development?

Application Development?

Operating System development?

hardware design?

Repair/Support?
 
Networking - would entail setting up servers, managing switches and routers, firewalls, and other technologies related to the network

Application development - would entail coding programs, and could be anything from video games to office productivity suites to accounting software, possibilities are endless.

Web development -- would entail, creating websites, creating web content like flash videos, creating web applications that can be ran through a web browser, basically anything you can do with a web browser would be web development

hardware design - this is more of an engineering job. You would design circuit boards, and chipsets and all that cool stuff. lots and lots of math involved, but very high paying.

Repair/Support - would be any type of technician job with computers, and it could even mix with a lot of the networking aspect.
 
K i think I've narrowed it down to hardware design and app development. Would anyone happen to know anyone in those fields, and how they like it? Also, I want a career i can use outside of my career, like at home, helping friends and fam, etc.
 
with computer hardware engineer i know that you learn programing so you can make your own programs and stuff plus you make about 55k for beginners and bout 114k for experienced :D
 
tlarkin said:
Depends on all kinds of things. What interests you the most right now?

Networking?

Web development?

Application Development?

Operating System development?

hardware design?

Repair/Support?
Click to expand...

I have an interest in Networking but when i go to look for information and learning resources, it talk about stuff I don't understand so I have to look that up and it goes on and on. Is there any way to narrow down networking? (I am familiar with basic networking)

I have an interest in Web Development as well, I have learned HTML and CSS, will be learning JavaScript soon. Is it worth learning all that stuff (is it good pay?).

I have an interest (too many interests) in App Development as well, no experience though.

OS Development, nah

hardware, nah

Why did I type that???

oh-yeah, what would be the best paying out of the top 3.
I have a whole summer to learn while i'm off school.

(my family and friends think of me as a computer guru, I have a basic knowledge of everything)
 
Well, networking is huge. Too broad of a subject for me to narrow it down. I can spit out some basics though. For networking you have the following:

hardware:
-servers
-switches
-routers
-storage
-cables
-wireless
-firewalls

software:
-Server Operating systems
-Firewalls(can be both hardware/software)
-security software
-site license software in general
-software deployment
-databases (SQL, MySQL, LDAP)

services
-DHCP
-Directory services (AD, OD, ED)
-SMB, AFP, NFS, samba (file sharing services)
-Web services (IIS, Apache)
-DNS
-Mail
-Group Policy
-Calendar


In my professional opinion, the next big great thing in IT networking will be probably directory services, and knowing how to integrate two or more different directories in a current given infrastructure. Things like Cisco are getting more intuitive and easier to use and configure every release. It no longer is taking someone with a 4 year Cisco degree to learn how to configure their products, it does however take some experience. Server OSes are easier than heck to install these days, but configuring them takes the know how. Really, when it comes down to it, you will need to know how to implement these technologies on your given infrastructure. Like, if you have 1200 users all with email, then you better dedicate at least one full server to nothing but email. If you have 20 users using email you could probably have that server run mail services and DHCP and DNS since the load would be low with only 20 users.

I also think the next big thing will be web development. Everything eventually will go web based, and admins will be able to deploy everything from a web server and clients will connect via web browser. It is already happening and has technology improves it will only go further and further towards that route.
 
Thanks for sticking with me on this.
Do you know any good resources that give you good info on networking (not wikis which give you specific info)?

I heard Cisco is the 3rd best place to work in Ireland (where i live) behind Microsoft and Google in computers. I wouldn't mind working for google or cisco, I hate MS.
 
Depends what you want to get into. Do you want to administer Unix, Linux, Windows, Novell, or OS X? Do you want to be a switch/router guy? A really good place to start I would think would be the Network+ certification from CompTIA. It covers a lot of the basics in a broad spectrum.

http://certification.comptia.org/network/

After that you can specialize and go for the following courses

CCNA, CCNIE, CCNP (cicso)

MCP, MCSA, MCSE (Microsoft)

CNA (Novell)

Linux+ (Linux)

ACTC, ACSA (Apple)

It is good to know it all IMO, but in the end you will specialize. I have MS certs and Apple certs and I ended up being an Macintosh Admin. Depends on the job you get. I can still admin MS stuff, but its been a while so I would have to brush up on it.
 
I like the sound of being a linux admin.

Is there any free ways to learn or is it just learn a small bit everywhere (internet)? (i can't do any courses, i'm 2 years too young)
 
Anywhere that offers courses towards the Linux+ certification would be a great start. Then of course each enterprise version of Linux has its own certs, like Redhat, Suse, so on and so forth.

I say get some basics, get an entry level job doing the basics, get experience and some employers send you to training.

My employer is sending me to Chicago at the end of June for CCA certification courses.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top