Computer Information Systems Careers?

[Vindane]

Hey all! I'm starting college in the Spring, in the field of Computer Information Systems. I was wondering if any of you in the computer field would mind posting what it is that you do for a living or what it is you would like to do and why.
Right now I'm thinking either Programmer or Network Admin. I'm just not sure. I know I have a lot of time to think about it but feedback is always great! =)

Vindane

[ghostwalker]

I have ATA in Computer Info Man. Systems and a BSc in Computer Science. I would go the route of programmer. I was in Network Admin and Systems Testing. Just way too many of those out there! I am disabled now and am no longer looking for work. But, my friends are really have a hard time now. Computer Programming is the direction....Keep you mind open and don't fall into a MS only field.

[Alex Cavnar, aka alc6379]

You know, questions like these are funny. But, I don't mean that it's a stupid question, though. It is a good one to be asking.

The only thing is that any of us can tell you is what's happening right now. FWIW, it seems like programming and database stuff is the "hot thing" in computing right now. When I graduated high school, everyone was saying, NETWORKING, NETWORKING! EVERYONE NEEDS NETWORKS! IF YOU WANT TO MAKE $300,000 A YEAR IN AN ENTRY LEVEL POSTITION, YOU SHOULD GET INTO NETWORKING!

So, of course, I jump right into a networking/Communications Tech program at a local college. Now, I'm almost out of it two years later, and guess what? There's slim pickings in networking and systems administration, at least in the entry level arena. All of the jobs I see are mid/senior positions where they require at least two years practical job experience. How am I supposed to get experience without a job? :confused:

But what I have seen is that there is always room for someone who is good at what they do. Whatever field you go into, make sure that you are very methodical in your workings, and that you don't sell yourself short by under-utlizing your skills, and don't over-sell your self by getting too far in over your head in a field.

[mdwatts]

Technical Analyst at a large insurance company. I have no formal education (including computer related) and was promoted to that position from Production Support Analyst after a lot of hard work and self study (all on my own).

If I had the chance to do it all again, I would certainly make the effort to attend University/College. Makes it a bit easier.

[mdwatts]

Speaking of work...

I'm currently on short term disability (9 weeks now and will return to work hopefully in 2 weeks) and now just got a call from my manager to tell me I will be receiving a 2.5% mid-year increase on top of the 3% I got at the beginning of the year.

Many at my work do not receive increases at all, so I'm quite pleased.

Guess it's because I RTFM and don't bother my coworkers for help. :p

Now having a nice glass of (cold) white wine. :)

[Icarus]

2 years of practical exeriance for sys admins in TN Alex? Mind pointing a few of these companies out for me? TN is a nice place :D

Watts...you got a raise? I'm suppose to be happy with my 1.5% increase this year :(
At least last year wasn't bad to me...

I've been a SysAdmin for 2 years now and have to watch friends and family struggling to get a job at all...my brother has been unemployed since November and I know people loosing their jobs all over here...

But, on topic...go for Programming, if you can handle it. When going to classes for it don't use MSC++, but use Anujta or something under Linux...they don't know how to handle C++ in Linux, only MS
Which is very funny because Linux uses a standard and MS uses their own which allows flawed code to be compiled :)

[nerrollus]

I'm a Network/Systems admin for a local hub to a world wide corp and get paid an OK wage..

Network/Systems are cushy jobs, usually involve sitting around surfing the inet and picking your nose, work normal hours, for OK wages.

Programmers work their asses off, long hours, and much pretty damn good money.

Just my opinions .. heh

If I could, I would have rather been the lead admin for a local company so I can run stuff the way I want to instead of having to just be the lacky of the corporate offices..

[mdwatts]

Originally posted by mahdi

Watts...you got a raise? I'm suppose to be happy with my 1.5% increase this year :(
At least last year wasn't bad to me...


I guess the latest raise was for not being at work to screw anything up. :(

[nerrollus]

Originally posted by mdwatts
I guess the latest raise was for not being at work to screw anything up. :(


You gotta take the good with the bad! hehe

We all went from getting 7% to like 1-3% ... Kinda sucks. Be glad when the economy gets better..

[Vindane]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! Actually, today I just went to a job interview for an "Installer" position to set up hardware/networks for a contracted company. Unfortunately, I don't have any formal experience in this field but hey it's an entry-level position that's going to help me work full-time through college.
I'm just getting out of the EMS field as an Advanced EMT. If you wanna see underpaid job, check that out! It's pretty rediculous!:confused:
But anyway, back on the topic... during the interview today (which went well, btw), my hopeful employer told me I should definitely head toward a career in software development and stick with school at least until I get my B.S. I had planned on the B.S. anyway but it seems like I keep hearing that software is the route to take, which I would have absolutely no probelm with. Meaning that I already love learning and digging into programming languages. So maybe that route is for me.... Maybe this job and some experience in school will better wet my appetite for whatever I plan to take on.


Vindane

[Alex Cavnar, aka alc6379]

Originally posted by mahdi
2 years of practical exeriance for sys admins in TN Alex? Mind pointing a few of these companies out for me? TN is a nice place :D


I forget what job posting I saw that for, but it wasn't for anything senior level, probably something like a mid-level Tech Support position. TN is a nice place, but there are slim pickings as far as Tech jobs are concerned. IIRC, the job might have required either a BS and 2 years experience, or an AS/AAS and 4 years experience.

But, on topic...go for Programming, if you can handle it. When going to classes for it don't use MSC++, but use Anujta or something under Linux...they don't know how to handle C++ in Linux, only MS
Which is very funny because Linux uses a standard and MS uses their own which allows flawed code to be compiled :)

You know, it's funny. Last semester I really wanted to take a C Programming class at my college. I figured since I never had time out of school to learn it, I'd take it in school. Guess what? The first words out of my instructors mouth:

IF YOU USE ANYTHING OTHER THAN VISUAL C++ TO PROGRAM YOUR ASSIGNMENTS, I'LL HAND YOUR ASSIGNMENT BACK WITH A ZERO!!! :mad:


That's just something to watch out for. If I had written ANSI C code, which was what the class was supposed to be, it shouldn't have mattered what program I used. I was hoping to be able to SSH into my machine at home and use vim and gcc, since I'm so used to the syntax highlighting in vim.

My next stop after the introduction to that class was to the records office, "Drop Class" form in hand. Now, I'm learning Python. Hopefully it'll get me thinking in programming terms so I'll be more prepared to learn a lower-level language like C or C++.