Computer Job

[Meleager]

here are some interesting links...
http://www.zdnet.com.au/jobs/news_t..._to_rise_in_2005/0,2000056653,39180681,00.htm
http://www.zdnet.com.au/jobs/news_t...e_growth_Olivier/0,2000056653,39176723,00.htm
http://www.zdnet.com.au/jobs/news_t..._skills_shortage/0,2000056653,39204103,00.htm
http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,15820390^15335^^nbv^15306-15317,00.html

these are all australian sites cause google likes to prioritise them higher. But i should point out that some jobs are in decline whilst others are in great demand.

I think we have answered Dabom's question though.

 

[Padma]

programming is just so boring, i can't believe people would enjoy doing them for life. plus, you are no good after the age of 40 in the computer field, unless you move to higher managerial position, which isn't possible for most people.

Well, I'm 50+, and I'm practically guaranteed a software developer job for as long as I want. In fact, we're almost *desperate* for java/j2ee types her, right now. Trouble is, you need one thing that all the IT schools in the world can't give you: a Top Secret Security Clearance. If you can get that, you can *almost* write your own ticket.

As for boring, well, if you just "write code", yeah, that is boring. You can train a monkey to write code. That's why *good* software developers do more than just write code.

What exactly do software developers do?

Well, obviously, we develop software.

Seriously, we analyze systems, design software, write code, etc. And don't forget, not all software development is new programs. A *huge* percentage of software work is in maintenance. While I love doing new stuff, my current job (for the last 6 years) is maintaining stuff that's already written. E.g., every 6 months the database shop puts a new version of our Eneterpise Database onto the production servers. But that would immediately break all the porograms, since they don't know the new structure. So we work in conjunction with the DB shop, and when they unveil the new EDB, we roll out the new versions of the programs, so our customers can keep working.

 

[Lord Valentine]

Well, obviously, we develop software.

Seriously, we analyze systems, design software, write code, etc. And don't forget, not all software development is new programs. A *huge* percentage of software work is in maintenance. While I love doing new stuff, my current job (for the last 6 years) is maintaining stuff that's already written.

Don't forget the database part. An experienced "software developer" can be an analist, a DB administrator, a LAN administrator, and some other things, anytime. I just want to say: to be a good "software developer" you need to know more than just software development.

And as Padma said, you're very lucky if you're able to develop really new software, and not maintain or add functionality to existing stuff (with the obligation of following bad coding because you don't have the time to redesign/redevelop the whole thing).

Something that wasn't mentioned yet in this thread: money for your work is important, but don't forget that you have to like what you're doing! Getting a big paycheck each month with a negative motivation won't get you far. And also, titles don't mean that much (hence the quotes around "software developer"): in some companies you might be "software developer" while all you're doing is finding bugs, while in other companies you really develop software...

 

[Dabomb18359]

Well I've defenitely gotten a good response. I take it Computer Science doesn't guarantee a job since many others have it + experience. But are the other things you are talking about actually majors? I think I've heard about Information technology, which sounds like one of the top oppurtunities from what I've heard, but are all the others majors or positions?
Thanks again for the overwhelming response.

 

[Meleager]

At my uni the bathelor of IT is a course. It goes for 3 years. After your first year of common units you can choose a major and a minor (mini course in another course say buisness or science) or 2 majors. The majors are:
Games Technology
Software Archetecture
Buisness Systems Engeerneering
Databases
Electronic Buisness
Embedded Systems
Information and Knowledge Management
Information Systems
IT management
Intellegence Systems
Interactive Media
Network Systems
Sercurity
Web Services and Applications

so if you choose say Networking Systems and Sercurity you will end up...
A Bachelor of Information Technology majoring in Networking Systems and Sercurity

Nice Title

 

[vbraun]

so if you choose say Networking Systems and Sercurity you will end up...
A Bachelor of Information Technology majoring in Networking Systems and Sercurity

Nice Title

Oooh, I like that.

Anyone know of any websites that have info about how this kind of stuff works in Arizona?

 

[Meleager]

Oooh, I like that.

Anyone know of any websites that have info about how this kind of stuff works in Arizona?

I would suggest looking up the site of an Arizonian University, and checking out their IT course/s.

 

[vbraun]

This stuff makes no sense to me, I'll have to look at it when I'm going to decide which College I'm going to attend (should be sometime next year).

 

[MarineCorps]

BTW this has been buggin me for some while: What does IT stand for?

 

[MarineCorps]

Trouble is, you need one thing that all the IT schools in the world can't give you: a Top Secret Security Clearance. If you can get that, you can *almost* write your own ticket.

Want to tell me how to get one?

 

[Meleager]

BTW this has been buggin me for some while: What does IT stand for?

Information Technology

You will also hear ICT: Information Communication Technology

 

[IglooDame]

programming is just so boring, i can't believe people would enjoy doing them for life.

Says the lawyer... Pot - kettle - black?

You will have a better shot if you go into things like asp.net, or HTML, web design. Or, consulting, of course. There jobs are less likely to be outsourced, a company would not want to consult someone in India for a computer problem at hand, for example. And for the web design type of jobs, they are so low paying, it is not profitable to outsource them.

On the contrary, web design is one of the things that can most easily be outsourced, and companies will outsource to save 80% of an HTML jockey's wages just as readily as they'll outsource to save 80% of a helpdesk droid's wages.

To the original topic, in my experience (in IT consulting/in-house network engineering for about 6 years now) most IT specialists start out with jobs in the bread-and-butter stuff to gain experience. Network Security folks usually have network admin and/or general IT consulting experience in their past, and the database admins and hardcore programmers have started with VB, C, or scripting-type work.

 

[Grisu]

Says the lawyer... Pot - kettle - black?

my thoughts exactly. pah, i'll take a few friendly lines of code any day over the scum of the earth a lawyer has to deal with on a daily basis

IT might not be the goldmine it was some years ago, but it's still a good field to work in, and you sure can make a decent linving out of it. But, guess what? You'll have to work for it, same as in any other field.

No IT Security expert was born that way. as Igloo said, they started as network engineer or similar, and built up their experience.

 

[Dabomb18359]

Well I want to learn computer science to make agame hopefully in the future but I don't want it to be my career. So Does this sound like a good prospective 3-year-future plan?:
Learn Computer science (I learn Java) in Comp Sci 1 and 2 AP in school 11th and 12th grade and learn C++ on my own, and please don't comment on C++ or Java ruling one or the other since there are already many threads on that.
In college I could major in IT (getting a bachelor to start with) and hopefully major in IT management and something else, either a business major or another computer one.
I assume IT management would make more than some of the others because of the "management" and I've heard from many sources that it's always good to get a business degree because you can use much of it later on in life.
Any suggestions? Also, there has been much talk on each career, but what exactly does IT management do? I can only assume that it is a boss or something, but I'm just guessing. If you want to make furthur explanations, I'm looking for something that allows me to work on computer software-wise where it's not physically touching stuff but easier than programming (or less complicated and less timely if you want it put that way) Sorry for being so picky!
Thanks again and again!

 

[Meleager]

Overview of QUT's IT management major... (they must love me for free advertising by now)

[Print-friendly version]
IT MANAGEMENT
The skills and knowledge imparted by this Major are essential for any aspiring IT Professional, but particularly for those whose career goals include working in roles such as IT Consultant, IT Project Manager or IT Manager.

This Major will allow you to future-proof you career with an employable mixture of IT skills and Organisational/Business knowledge that can lead to rewarding value-add jobs either in high management levels or as the Manager of your own IT enterprise.

Undertaking this Major you will be engaged in industry-based case studies, benefit from Industry Guest Lecturers and participate in “trade shows” to develop valuable team, business and project skills.

PS. IT is the bachelor course.