Programming bored me to tears. I loved teaching it, but few will pay for instruction these days. I made good bank teaching Java, Solaris Admin and Networking, Sun Solaris Fault Analysis, and so on.
After the dot bomb, it seems most training has gone to be web based and/or employers expect employees to either have it or learn it on their own time. So I moved to a Systems Engineer position.
I'm fortunate that I'm as comfortable both on the Data Center floor as I am in a cube farm behind a keyboard. So I have a job that lets me do a bit of both.
I added a Cisco CCNA to my bag of tricks and Sun/Oracle certifications last spring. We use Cisco in some of our Engineered Solutions, so the justification was there for four semesters worth of training crammed into two at the local community college. A 4.0 GPA ensured I got the company tuition reimbursement.
I get to be Santa when the new gear arrives and Superman when any of it crashes. It pays well and it keeps me networked with hundreds in my industry. So it's the second best alternative to teaching.
Originally Posted By: Mykl
Originally Posted By: javacontour
I'm in the industry, I can see what's happening on the inside.
I work with Bangalor Bob more often than Alan from Austin or Sam from St Louis.
If you are going into this line of work, then try to find a niche that's more difficult to send overseas, which is the military and government segments, or infrastructure. Actually putting your hands on the hardware, cabling, etc.
You know, like it was when I started. When programmers might actually carry a screwdriver and not just know where to click the mouse.
Cars are not the only things the users don't understand. You may or may not be surprised at how many IT pros don't understand the systems they are administering.
Right, but unless you're willing to limit yourself to service industry work, construction, or the various building repair fields you're really limiting yourself.
The bottom line is that if you have actual skills, and may be willing to move for a job, you can find employment behind a keyboard.
I'm sorry you pine for the good old days of punch cards, but being a skilled programmer can still land you a very decent paycheck in the United States, and that's not likely to change any time soon.
*edit* - there's nothing wrong with those other jobs, not at all, but if it's not something you want to do.... then that's that.
After the dot bomb, it seems most training has gone to be web based and/or employers expect employees to either have it or learn it on their own time. So I moved to a Systems Engineer position.
I'm fortunate that I'm as comfortable both on the Data Center floor as I am in a cube farm behind a keyboard. So I have a job that lets me do a bit of both.
I added a Cisco CCNA to my bag of tricks and Sun/Oracle certifications last spring. We use Cisco in some of our Engineered Solutions, so the justification was there for four semesters worth of training crammed into two at the local community college. A 4.0 GPA ensured I got the company tuition reimbursement.
I get to be Santa when the new gear arrives and Superman when any of it crashes. It pays well and it keeps me networked with hundreds in my industry. So it's the second best alternative to teaching.
Originally Posted By: Mykl
Originally Posted By: javacontour
I'm in the industry, I can see what's happening on the inside.
I work with Bangalor Bob more often than Alan from Austin or Sam from St Louis.
If you are going into this line of work, then try to find a niche that's more difficult to send overseas, which is the military and government segments, or infrastructure. Actually putting your hands on the hardware, cabling, etc.
You know, like it was when I started. When programmers might actually carry a screwdriver and not just know where to click the mouse.
Cars are not the only things the users don't understand. You may or may not be surprised at how many IT pros don't understand the systems they are administering.
Right, but unless you're willing to limit yourself to service industry work, construction, or the various building repair fields you're really limiting yourself.
The bottom line is that if you have actual skills, and may be willing to move for a job, you can find employment behind a keyboard.
I'm sorry you pine for the good old days of punch cards, but being a skilled programmer can still land you a very decent paycheck in the United States, and that's not likely to change any time soon.
*edit* - there's nothing wrong with those other jobs, not at all, but if it's not something you want to do.... then that's that.