Computer field

[SwordsMaster]

Computers covers a pretty broad field from hardware to software to communications to tech support to installations to database/datamining to integration of technologies and so on. There are many ways to go in the technology field.

I was an astronomy major at college/uni and had to take a computer programming course as a degree requirement. I loved it and was bitten by the bug. My degree was in astronomy but my career was in software development. It is funny how life throws you unexpected curves when you least expect it.

Curves eh? I see *wink wink nudge nudge*

Well, the education system over here is more rigid as far as picking subjects and minors, so I'm actually considering a transatlantic extrapolation of my educations.

[Togakure]

I work currently as a systems integrator for a major food retailer (Whole Foods). I used to work for a US state government, starting as a programmer and progressing over twelve years to systems analyst, lead developer, technical project leader, enterprise architect, and finally, enterprise IT consultant over twelve years.

After high school I followed my heart and played in various rock and roll bands for about five years. When I decided to go back to school, I was in a hurry. My goal was to gain employment in a field that started and progressed with good pay, had a wide variety of options as to what I could do, and that looked like it would have plenty of opportunities over many years. Information Technology was it.

While in junior college, I got a job with the state as a Student Assistant in IT. This was key. Once in, I learned that all I needed to test for Programmer I was 18 units of IT-related coursework completed. 18 units--six classes! After spending a year as Programmer I, I was eligible to test for Programmer II, which required a 4-year degree to qualify for otherwise. It was also laterally equivalent to an Assistant Information Systems Analyst position, which also required a 4-year degree.

My point is, you don't necessarily have to go the full university route to get into an IT job and make good money. Mind you, having a degree is a very good thing. The best case scenario is to get into a job with a decent employer as soon as possible. A shrewd opportunist who excels at his/her trade can manuever up into interesting, high-paying positions without necessarily spending 4-6 years just studying. And what you learn on the job will quickly outpace the value of what you learn in school .... Using this strategy, I went from $8/hour as a Student Assistant in 1988 to $55K per year as an Associate within three years. And at Associate we got three weeks of paid vacation, two weeks of sick leave, and 14 paid holidays per year. And a $1 for $1 match to our retirement. Well, the benefit perks are characteristic of government work, but still ... my point is, you can do a hell of a lot without waiting until you finish your degree. That's what most of the others will do. Act "out of the box" and you can do even better.