What IT course to take? Interested and confident in IT and want a successful career

[B2 Stealth Bomber]

I'm currently going into last year of computer technology-networking program. I intend to specialize in IP networking, and with IPV4 to IPV6 transition, I'm expecting that there will be jobs available. You can't offshore the physical infrastructure.

If you like servers then I would go after the Microsoft certs or Linux Red Hat certs. I however like routers and switches.

Don't let the naysayers discourage you. Find something you actually enjoy, go with it, and let the cards fall.

Fuck being a nurse. Unless you like sticking tubes up penises, wiping ass cracks and changing bed pans.

[Optionryder420]

Originally Posted by ayingerbrau

Yeah you can pretty much hire any old "brown cunt" to do some programming for you for pennies on the dollar. Pretty much anyone can code, IT is a dead duck, still people making money off the previous success of the IT industry, but they've been there a long time, for the new boys, you've got no chance.

So, can you code? What languages?

[LiquidIce]

Originally Posted by B2 Stealth Bomber

I'm currently going into last year of computer technology-networking program. I intend to specialize in IP networking, and with IPV4 to IPV6 transition, I'm expecting that there will be jobs available. You can't offshore the physical infrastructure.

If you like servers then I would go after the Microsoft certs or Linux Red Hat certs. I however like routers and switches.

Don't let the naysayers discourage you. Find something you actually enjoy, go with it, and let the cards fall.

Fuck being a nurse. Unless you like sticking tubes up penises, wiping ass cracks and changing bed pans.

What kinda school is that program in? I'm taking a general comp-sci class but I'm getting some cisco certs, as I find both of these areas fucking fascinating.

Originally Posted by Optionryder420

So, can you code? What languages?

Well, he is kinda right. Anyone today can learn to code... a simple html webpage or a "hello world" program in a matter of hours. However, there's a huge fucking chasm between this and people like J. Carmack.
I remember reading an article on outsourcing programming projects to India and shit. They apply the same sweatshop approach to programming, which as you can probably imagine, doesn't work out too well. The result is shoddy code, impossible to maintain, barely understandable comments and hacks and worst of all - you can't find the person who that piece after a few months.
Hence why I believe the need for skilled programmers as people who know how to solve problems and how to implement said solutions in a computer-readable format.

[dreamcastsega]

Outsourcing and a lot of people fighting for a limited number of jobs is a very legit concern.

[LiquidIce]

Almost 700 million people in India are without power. This I believe includes a lot of companies which are used for outsourcing. Goodbye customer service.

Do you really think someone is gonna outsource higher value or critical services to a place where electricity can just stop working? I wouldn't be surprised if some low grade tech support is outsourced or even simple programs, but I just can't see it being done with critical applications or with critical people that sometimes have to be where shit hits the fan.

Btw, about those disappearing jobs - yeah schools are churning out compsci majors here and there, but their quality sucks. I think I can say that the vast majority of my class has no fucking clue about computer science even after 3-4 semesters. Sure, they can troubleshoot some basic issues or even know how to write some programs, but their quality and speed are so shoddy, it looks like shit written in basic by a 12 year old.

[REDiXP]

Thanks for the replies. I think I am going to stick with Computer Science majoring in Business, stick to my guns sorta thing, learn programming in my own time to get ahead of the class, should be easy.

[Nightshade]

I am majoring in Information Systems with a minor in Business. I can only tell you from my experience and the classes I am taking, as well as what the comp sci major entails at my school.

Computer science deals with a lot of theory, and much of that theory and algorithms is applied in a practical level with programming in some form or another, weather it be high level programming or the nitty gritty low level machine language. Many computer science majors say that computer science is not just about programming, however this is despite that is what most comp sci people do. It's like the ultimate denial.

Information Systems from what I have seen (and what my IS program can offer) can be divided into four basic categories; networking, systems administration, database administration, and support. It is with this that that a IS degree is more flexible than a CS degree.

However most companies are familiar with a CS degree than a IS degree and as such you see a lot of jobs requiring a CS degree. But that is changing slowly. A lot more companies are respecting the IS degree despite it being a grey area.

I think my academic advisor said it best when he said in the end it really does not matter about the CS and IS degree, but the entrance to the fied is a lot more easier with a CS degree than a IS degree because the CS degree is well known and less grey area.

With that said if you want a IS degree you have to decide what you want to do since it is a diverse field. Look at your strengths and weaknesses and decide from there. Then look at the program at the universities you are applying to. For me I am going into networking so a IS degree would make more sense to me and since networking is part of my IS requirement all the better, especially since networking is not a requirement of the CS program at my university, but an elective.

[Struwwelpeter]

All this talk about "CS" has got me hungry for some video games! Anyone know how to cook these CDs? They look like pancakes, so they MUST taste good!

[crackhead]

Put in a pan with hot oil. Cover in chocolate syrup.

[Optionryder420]

Originally Posted by LiquidIce

Well, he is kinda right. Anyone today can learn to code... a simple html webpage or a "hello world" program in a matter of hours.

No, a simple html page isn't coding, nor is writing a "hello world" program.

It's even worse if it takes you a matter of hours to complete such simple tasks.

I doubt there are many in here that can actually code. In fact, who I was responding to hasn't even answered the question yet, but I can assure you, it is most likely a resounding "no."

Not many people can code. Even less can code well or are flexible enough in today's market.

[B2 Stealth Bomber]

Originally Posted by LiquidIce

What kinda school is that program in? I'm taking a general comp-sci class but I'm getting some cisco certs, as I find both of these areas fucking fascinating.


Well, he is kinda right. Anyone today can learn to code... a simple html webpage or a "hello world" program in a matter of hours. However, there's a huge fucking chasm between this and people like J. Carmack.
I remember reading an article on outsourcing programming projects to India and shit. They apply the same sweatshop approach to programming, which as you can probably imagine, doesn't work out too well. The result is shoddy code, impossible to maintain, barely understandable comments and hacks and worst of all - you can't find the person who that piece after a few months.
Hence why I believe the need for skilled programmers as people who know how to solve problems and how to implement said solutions in a computer-readable format.

Accredited Ontario College with a Cisco Networking Academy/lab. I could of probably got the CCNA on my own, but there is nothing like touching the real gear dicking around in the lab and furthermore people might view me as a paper CCNA. Upon graduation I have a 3yr advanced technology diploma backing up my cert and I've already got the Security+ (COMPtia pffffft). I could transfer over to comp-sci afterwards and get advanced standing on credits, but there really is no point. Two different domains. Another real hot spot with high pay is Linux administration. Red Hat certs are a hot ticket from what I've heard. RHCA and RHCE. I'm might pursue them as well but I'm hoping I land into a large enough organization where they have all their IT personnel segmented into their roles. I don't really like the server crap, not my cup of tea, especially microcrap GUI click and point. Just say no to GUI's, even though I'm sitting here on Windows 7... lol for home use meh.

[LiquidIce]

Originally Posted by Optionryder420

No, a simple html page isn't coding, nor is writing a "hello world" program.

It's even worse if it takes you a matter of hours to complete such simple tasks.

I doubt there are many in here that can actually code. In fact, who I was responding to hasn't even answered the question yet, but I can assure you, it is most likely a resounding "no."

Not many people can code. Even less can code well or are flexible enough in today's market.

The part you're quoting was sarcasm. I meant anyone can learn "woodworking" and build a chair. Will the chair be comfortable? Will it be practical? Will it be safe?
No.
It'll be a chair, sure, but it's gonna be a crappy chair. Same with code. Get someone in front of a computer, point him to some tutorials and they'll be cranking out hello world programs like champs. Too bad it's all crap. And most CS students from my college do exactly that - they learn some basics and they make crappy shit.
Me? Well, I probably make shit too, but damn me if I ain't trying to get better.

Originally Posted by B2 Stealth Bomber

Accredited Ontario College with a Cisco Networking Academy/lab. I could of probably got the CCNA on my own, but there is nothing like touching the real gear dicking around in the lab and furthermore people might view me as a paper CCNA. Upon graduation I have a 3yr advanced technology diploma backing up my cert and I've already got the Security+ (COMPtia pffffft). I could transfer over to comp-sci afterwards and get advanced standing on credits, but there really is no point. Two different domains. Another real hot spot with high pay is Linux administration. Red Hat certs are a hot ticket from what I've heard. RHCA and RHCE. I'm might pursue them as well but I'm hoping I land into a large enough organization where they have all their IT personnel segmented into their roles. I don't really like the server crap, not my cup of tea, especially microcrap GUI click and point. Just say no to GUI's, even though I'm sitting here on Windows 7... lol for home use meh.

Thanks man! I'm aiming for network/help desk jobs to gain entry into the field and to get me enough cash to learn more. Saw a couple in my university, might wanna look for some internships and such. Even though they're entry level, their pay and perks are pretty good and I reckon it's easy to advance if you learn quick and know how to play your cards.

[sevenTwo]

Originally Posted by Nightshade

I am majoring in Information Systems with a minor in Business. I can only tell you from my experience and the classes I am taking, as well as what the comp sci major entails at my school.

Computer science deals with a lot of theory, and much of that theory and algorithms is applied in a practical level with programming in some form or another, weather it be high level programming or the nitty gritty low level machine language. Many computer science majors say that computer science is not just about programming, however this is despite that is what most comp sci people do. It's like the ultimate denial.

Information Systems from what I have seen (and what my IS program can offer) can be divided into four basic categories; networking, systems administration, database administration, and support. It is with this that that a IS degree is more flexible than a CS degree.

However most companies are familiar with a CS degree than a IS degree and as such you see a lot of jobs requiring a CS degree. But that is changing slowly. A lot more companies are respecting the IS degree despite it being a grey area.

I think my academic advisor said it best when he said in the end it really does not matter about the CS and IS degree, but the entrance to the fied is a lot more easier with a CS degree than a IS degree because the CS degree is well known and less grey area.

With that said if you want a IS degree you have to decide what you want to do since it is a diverse field. Look at your strengths and weaknesses and decide from there. Then look at the program at the universities you are applying to. For me I am going into networking so a IS degree would make more sense to me and since networking is part of my IS requirement all the better, especially since networking is not a requirement of the CS program at my university, but an elective.

I wouldn't say most CS professionals are in denial. Many of them go into software engineering and fun practical research. For many people with passions in problem solving and logic puzzles, IS can be incredibly dull and intellectually unrewarding--especially when practically all of the problems faced in IS reduces to a couple of Google searches. Indexing, searching, and scaling something like Google, on the other hand, is a much more interesting problem for those types of people.

[mexico]

I have a BS in computer science from a state research university. During my degree I had a 2 year internship that paid 12usd an hour. Upon graduation I landed a 50k job as a java developer.

Only take comp sci if you really enjoy mathematics and programming. Most of what you learn in school is just 1) the fundamentals and concepts of programming and 2) advanced theory that you will never directly use. To break into the field you need to learn about frameworks, technologies, and methodology on your own. For example, you may learn how to write java code, but you will most likely need to study jsp jsf struts spring etc on your own

[mexico]

Outsourcing is an issue. I don't think you have to worry too much about universities churning out tons of CS majors because, for example, we had hundreds of CS majors my freshmen year and only about 30 graduates my senior year.

I've competed for contracts with outsourced programmers. I can bid just as low, and produce equally shitty code. I don't see the advantage there

[sevenTwo]

Originally Posted by mexico

I have a BS in computer science from a state research university. During my degree I had a 2 year internship that paid 12usd an hour. Upon graduation I landed a 50k job as a java developer.

Only take comp sci if you really enjoy mathematics and programming. Most of what you learn in school is just 1) the fundamentals and concepts of programming and 2) advanced theory that you will never directly use. To break into the field you need to learn about frameworks, technologies, and methodology on your own. For example, you may learn how to write java code, but you will most likely need to study jsp jsf struts spring etc on your own

Man, they paid you poorly during your internships. I was making 30/hour during mine. :S

[Struwwelpeter]

Don't listen to sevenTwo unless you like living in squalor, calling up 911 for an ambulance when you need to get a free ride downtown to get a reduced price (read: cum fart) "flu shot"

[sevenTwo]

Originally Posted by Jim "fuck latinos" Carrey

Don't listen to sevenTwo unless you like living in squalor, calling up 911 for an ambulance when you need to get a free ride downtown to get a reduced price (read: cum fart) "flu shot"

I see you enjoy preaching humor a la family guy.