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lovemuffin
Starting Member
1 Post |
 Posted - 2009-08-26 : 10:07:29
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| I was hoping to get some advice from actually people who work in programming and SQL database management, although I never have. I got my bachelor's degree in journalism (big mistake) in 2007. Now I want to go back to school and one thought that has stuck with me is something in database or network administration or possibly software programming. I'm curious: what do I need to do if I wanted to move into a computer-related field?Can I go get a master's degree in this stuff, or are there undergrad requirements I won't meet? I have dabbled in stuff like HTML, CSS, flash, javascript and visual basic, but I am far from a computer whiz -- I really don't know exactly what SQL is. Ha! How do I break into this field? What is the work like for what you do -- the hours, the pay, etc.? Is it very difficult? Do you have any freedom/flexibility?It's this or law school, but I am scared because everyone says there are more law school graduates than actual lawyer jobs. I also hear the hours of an attorney are miserable. Anything in IT seems to have a good future ahead, but I am awful at math and not sure what sort of education I need. I'd really appreciate any help! |
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TG
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
6065 Posts |
Posted - 2009-08-26 : 10:57:27
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Ok - I'll ramble about this for a minute...The IT industry is sort of unique in that it is one of the few fields where you can excel without necessarily having a degree or educational background in the field. In fact there are a lot of ex engineers, musicians, cabinetmakers, chemists, etc in IT. Unlike phisicians and lawyers you don't need to be "certifiable" - although a lot of my colleagues are  . You do, however, need to have a knack for technology and a thirst to learn. Some traits that would help insure success are logical thinking, creativity, and an ability to manage/perform some kind of project based tasks. It would be nice to have some experience in the work place so you already know how to put in a days work, collaborate with co-workers, etc. I'm not knocking a formal education at all - it is preferred but this is one industry that it is not a prerequisite. Of course getting the first job is tough. you need something, either a degree, some certifications, or experience. I personally did some (self-taught) programming projects for my previous profession then talked a startup company into hiring me. My salary started out well below the industry norm - but I feel I have more than made up for that since. I have no college degree and no IT certifications but at this point I am quite desirable as an employee and can afford to be selective when job hunting just based on my previous work experience and acquired knowlege. Those things count waaay more than the certs and degrees. If you're good, you won't have any trouble advancing quickly.Hours, pay, dress-code, etc are all over the map - depends on the location, industry, company culture, etc. The good thing about IT is that there are no industries left that don't require some sort of IT support.Be One with the OptimizerTG |
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How to get into SQL?