Whats everyones background and experience level?

I guess you could say I'm at sort of a crossroads in my career, and I suppose life in general.

I'll be turning 30 next year. I love my job, but feel as though I should be earning more, given my experience and geographic location. Also I think I've sort of "hit the cieling" in terms of promotions. I don't think I can go much further, except possibly for mangement, but screw that. I have not been actively searching for a new job, but have considered it. Basically just too lazy to update my resume'.

Anyway, just wondering where I fall in terms of qualifications in the tech industry. What is everyones background, and are you currently in the tech field, or just do this stuff as a hobby?

Myself, I have a degree in Electronic Engineering, which frankly was (is, still paying for it) a big waste of money, since I don't do that type of work. I'm currently working on a degree in Computer Networking Technology. Almost there but it is slow since I'm only going part-time. I'm A+ Certified as of 2002 and am scheduling my Network+ exam for right after the Holdiays. I've been working with the same organization for almost 8 years designing and providing training and support for PC based audio recording and production workstations.

Sometimes I really hate this stuff and wish I had done something different. Of course, theres the "singer in a Metal band" dream, that will probably never happen.

Does anyone else wish they were in a different proffesion? The tech market really hasn't gotten much better. There is a lot of competition, and for that reason, it seems IT type jobs are paying much less. I get so frustrated when I think about how my brother-in-law makes $50,000 as a plumber and is only 23 years old.

So, I'm basically trying to decide what I want out of life. Money isn't everything, but with a family and a mortgage, it sure is important. Should I stick with my fun-as-hell cake job that I love but don't make as much as I think I could, or should I try to find something that pays better at the risk that it could be one of those hellish jobs that will cause all kinds of stress?

Anyway, I know it's a long post, sorry. Probably my longest yet. Can you tell I'm bored? The wife and kid are at her aunts house for a get-together and I opted to stay home. I did what I needed to get done and now I'm bored. A true Geek, bored and at home on a Saturday night.



Steve

 

Headed the exact opposite direction of you.

I am 28 and trying to get out of IT, outsourcing woes, and other headaches. I've gone back to school for Computer Engineering, and unfortunately, its part time. You folks might find it interesting that there is not one single computer class needed before I transfer to the U of A.

I find that refreshing and exciting.

I may be good at troubleshooting and fixing computers and software, however I no longer enjoy it.

 

I worked as an Aquatic Biologist / Fish Health Specialist for a govt. agency and really considered that as very satisfying and thought I would be doing that until I retired.

Things started to change in the 90's. Government agencies started cutting back on salaries, research projects, basically everything cosidered non-essential in the monitoring and protection of aquatic species in rivers, streams, reservoirs, etc.

My job was changing cosiderably, I spent more time at a desk looking at data from contractors than I did in the field, and these people were making almost as much as me working for a consultanting firm. I did have one speciality, I was trained as a Scientific Diver and underwater identification of fish and mussels was still very popular and necessary at the time.

It wasn't long until voluntary RIF's ( Reduction In Force ) were offered with double severance if you qualified. I took it and never looked back. I bought the required equipment and contracted myself out as a aquatic technician and scientific diver. Doing very well and enjoy it now.

Anyway, as a result of my work I receive many photos and must do alot of work and communication online. I was referred to this site by a digital photo class and found alot of answers here, I discovered later that I might could contribute a little and joined.

I enjoy this site, it helps me keep my computer's running and I know if I ever run into problems, this is the place to seek solutions. I, learn here, and if I did this for a living / occupation, I don't think I would enjoy it as much.

But, for you young guy's. Money is important! You have to have it to live, take care of your family, and pursue your dreams, whatever they maybe.Try to find the balance of work, obligation, satisfaction and life

With that, good luck to both of you. You are on the right track thinking about the future, your happiness and prosperity await you.

Steve

 

im still in highschool, and working on my A+, Network +, and MCSE.

 

Ford mechanic for 26 years with the same boss in 2 different dealerships. I really like my job, I know so much about Fords It blows MY mind. Electrical repairs, emmission controls, air bags, abs, computer controlled suspension, audio systems, are what I love fixing.Took electronics in high school, but already had the bug before that. My Dad was into fixing cars, and building those radio shack kits you assembled yourself. This was back in the late sixties so it was all pretty simple stuff. My hated my job mostly until electronics took over. I can't believe what it did for my outlook. I"m the top guy now so I have to watch my ego from time to time.http://forums.majorgeeks.com/images/icons/icon12.gif Especially after a complicated repair. I also have to watch out for the kid below me. He's as good as me on the new stuff now, but he doesn't need to know that! Punk! We all get along real good, it's a great place to work. PC interest came when a buddy of mine bought a screaming 286 system. We had a blast with it doing not very much. Then I bought a 386 and he was stunned by the speed of it, so he came back with 486 and 16megs. Well look out! All DOS. If something went wrong aguy could find it easily and fix it. Finally made it to a pentium (100mhz or 400 or something) and windows95. I sure got sick of "This program has performed an illegal operation" So now I have the old standard Pentium4, 1.7 40gig. Never on the cutting edge! And for whatever reason my memory is only 96megs instead of the 128 that was supposed to come with this thing.http://forums.majorgeeks.com/images/icons/icon8.gif I downloaded Everest from here just a few days ago and found that out. We've talked about buying more for some time but never seem to get to it. I'm not really much of a geek I guess. Computer definately more of a hobby for me.

 

Jack of all trades, master of none? I started college with an eye toward engineering, switched to business admin the second year, got married and ended up almost a year short of a BA.

Started married life working in a factory, rose to department head in about 2 years. Went from that to industrial sales (hydraulic & pheumatic equipment). From there to purchasing agent for an automotive electrical manufacturer. From there to parts manager for an FBO (fixed base operation - aircraft repair center), where I also ended up being tech support for their computers. From that to sales for a large aircraft parts distributor, where I am today. Plus a couple of very forgetable jobs in between real ones; I'll do almost anything legal to put food on the table for a family. Almost everything I needed to know for my jobs has been self-taught; I've used very little of what I studied in college.

Most people make at least a couple of changes in their "career path" through their lives, either because their jobs disappeared or dead-ended, or because they found something they'd rather be doing.

Money is important, but try real hard to find something that you enjoy doing as well. No amount of money is worth hating what you do all day every day.

 

I'm a Carpenter 23yr's exp, with lot's of backgroung in plumbing, electric & metal fabercation.
Some of my work was featured in Better Homes & Gardens Magazine, an Addition made the Cover and Kitchen made another story in the same edition.

I worked for National Graphics Company where in a four year period I worked in 47 of the 50 states, building, rehabbing, reidintifying, convienance store's, gas stations, hardware stores etc, mostly Big Fat Corporate Accounts.
The pay was great, but living out of a suite case Sucks!


Computer's Just a hobby, today I have 8 PC's, built 4 of them, altered the others.
Seems like always building one or fixing one for someone.


P.S. If it aint broke, I cant fix it.

 

Went to school for Psychology / Neuroscience. BA
it was a good personal experience for me, but I wanted nothing to do with being in debt for the next 25 years as a PhD so I bailed. I liked computers equally and I've been tinkering with them since the commodore 64.

Got a job as a tech in 99 and moved up to contract supervisor and have been on the same contract since 2002. I am the guy that they drop into the meat grinder and say "fix this place". SInce 2002, I have taught myself how to program and love working with the web. To me , the web is the place people are going to go and .NET has opened the door to apps on the web that begin to mimic apps on the DT. Since my primary function at my contract is NOT programming and I'm completely burned out on tech support, I enrolled in school . Going for a 2 year degree in Web Development at ITT . I've already tested out of 3 classes and will probably test out of atleast 2 more. When I'm done with this degree, I will go for my bachelors in web, then masters, then .. whatever from there.. I want to OWN the web.

 

Like dan, I'm still at school. Doing Product Design, Chemistry, Physics and Maths for A-Level (in the UK).

I'm quite interested in a lot of things : Website design, mechanical design, music, sound engineering, programming generally, physics... not sure where that would take me.

 

Jack of all trades, that is all.........

 

I'm 38 years old. Spent 6 years right out of high school as a Marine doing Air Traffic Control Tower Operations. I thought that I would be doing that for a career the rest of my life. At 24 I decided to enter the IT field. It took me 13 years to get from a 7$ an hour tech support job to 70k a year network load balance architect. I've no college degree or IT certifications to hang on the wall and I'm pretty sure that in the next couple of years i'll end up being replaced by a young kid with an electronic engineering degree who will work for less money.

My point is, that at just approaching 30 years of age isn't something that you should be fretting about. Find something you enjoy doing and find a way to turn that into a career/business.

 

Okay steve this is going to be a long one, but I hope it helps.

Like another post, I am jack-of-all master of none. Currently, I work at a wastewater plant. I easily got a Class 1 liscense (which is the highest you can get). I make next to nothing, and I constantly feel like I'm not living up to my potential. That being said, it is a very easy job. I have no stress at all. Because I am very intelligent, I get a lot of respect from my co-workers. I am the person all new and most old employees come to with questions and problems pertaining to just about anything.

Yes, I would love to make more money! I would love to give my daughters any and everything they wanted. The thing I realized is: the one thing I do give them is the only thing they need - ME. I am virtually stress free, I have alot of free time to spend with them, and I have the most wonderful relationship with them a father could ask for. I know all their friends, and they are all comfortable enough to speak candidly and freely around me. I began to realize that this is the single most important thing I have ever done. I can influence the lives of several budding minds and try to steer them in a positive direction. You are right, "money isn't everything". Happiness is. All this posturing to impress others is really not important. I can take my children and their friends out in the oldest, crappiest car you can imagine. I take them to cheap movies or other inexpensive outings. They are thrilled. Often times they say this is the best time they have ever had. Why? Because someone (an adault) is actually interested in them, and what they have to say (not just telling them what to do). The point is: no matter what you do, as long as you are happy the ones you love will be happy too.

As far as turning 30 goes, we all go through it. I didn't think I would, but I did.
The hardest part of turning 30 was actually saying I was 30 (especially when everyone kept asking if those were my little sisters (it was especially painful to say it when the really cute 18 year olds behind the couter asked)). Now I'm 32 and realize that being in your 30's is more about actually becoming grown up (not still in your 20's).

Lastly, there's nothing wrong with being alone on a Saturday night. I'm greatful that nobody wants anything from me, I don't have to do anything, and I can do whatever I want or not. Peace atlast !

Well, my new firewall just finished downloading. Time to go install it....Hehehehe. I love all these free new toys. Thanks again to everyone for the technical support. Unfortunately, I cannot reciprocate. But if anyone ever needs morale support, I'll be here for you .

 

If I never fix another computer or OS issue again, I would be so happy. Tech support makes me sick just thinking about it, I am so burnt out.

I wish I could test out of classes, but its been too long.

Oh well.

Next semester, my first engineering class!

 

I'm... same as goldy and dan at school. Studying Geography, English Literature, Classics, and... dreaded subjects, Business Studies and Critical Thinking , for A Level.

 

i guess ill add that im focusing on the sciences hoping to persue a degree in medecine.

 

Steve, you oughta consider moving to Cairns, OZ, with your qualifications. People come from all over the world to visit here. The Great Barrier Reef, aquaculture, best country in the world, magnificent weather (9-10/12 months), James Cook University (Townsville and Cairns campuses), and all the dive operators looking for qualified people. Imagine working on the reef every day (and getting paid for it). Bazza

PS: I'd then have a second MG member living in Cairns. Baz

weather: http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/94287.html

James Cook University http://www.google.com.au/search?as_q=&num=20&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=james+cook+university&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=lang_en&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&safe=images

Great Adventures and Cairns http://www.google.com.au/search?as_q=&num=20&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=great+adventures&as_oq=cairns&as_eq=&lr=lang_en&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&safe=images


Check them out. Be seeing you soon. . Baz
===

 

Left school at the age of 15, with 7 GCSEs and 1 O-level(Religious Instruction). Anyone from England can tell you how bad that is.

Lucked into an welding apprenticeship with a big engineering firm, but after a couple of years I was bored to tears, so I joined the army. Spent nine years in the Royal Engineers.(highly recommended)

Emigrated to Canada and got a job in sheet metal fabrication, repairing cyclones in sawmills(now there's a lousy job), but the work petered out, so I went back to school. Took a two year electronics diploma at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, specializing in instrumentation. Graduated 15 years ago, and have spent the time since then travelling around B.C . working on air pollution monitoring systems.

I'm happy to say I love it.

 

Oh , I hear ya man.. I feel your pain. I hate tech support. Infact, I hate it so much that I installed a RDP client on every win9x machine I have at my facility so I don't have to interact with users a lot. People are bickering behind my back "does he do anything"? and I spread around " Well, your system are working aren't they? you haven't had to call in recently have you?" This place is so gossipy that I hear both remarks going about from people that I never talk to.. pretty sad actually.

As for testing out, I've been out of HS for 12 years and college for 7+. If I can do it, you can do it man.

 

I wish I could.


I sucked the first round of this stuff, and now Im sticking with it and truly trying to learn it.

Also, these are subjects I've never gone through before.

Its truly like starting all over.

Just gotta get these dang basics out of the way.

If I can get my finances to the point of working part time, it will be much better.

 

Bazza,

It would sure beat swimming around in mud, silt, and dodging barge traffic.

Steve

 

ahh ok, I was testing out of basic intro classes that I already experience in. Well, good luck none the less

 

I've been out of HS 20 years, and University 16 years. I quit my job last year to take all of my securities courses (I'm an investment advisor) It's a tough transition, but well worth it in the end, when you get to your first day at the new job, and it's something you really like....Hang in there

 

BS Degree in Education-Then applied to Nursing Program, finished 1 1/2yrs. Married for 2yrs. pregnant with first child so I quit the Nursing Program. Don't think I would have liked it anyways. Worked at a Law firm for 10yrs. Hospital for 10yrs. Now doing childcare in my home,(great kids,I might add) which hourly wage averages out to about $6.00 an hour. LOL Do you see anything wrong with this picture?LOL Currently looking for employment. Which hasn't been easy. Oh well.

 

I'm currently in college pursuing a BS in Physics. I'm really burnt out on it though, and I've come to the conclusion that I don't want to ruin one of my favorite hobbies, so I'll probably change my major. That's still up in the air, though, as I'm taking this year off to relax and clear my head.

As far as computers go...I've no degrees, certifications, or "experience." I do the things I do (mostly A/V related things), and I like to think I do them well. I can create a pretty mean spreadsheets...I'm awesome at Doom and Civ III...and, you don't even wanna think about messing with my level 99 Necromancer on Diablo II.

I got turned onto the whole idea of "hardcore computing" when I was in high school and finally got mixed in with the right crowd. They taught me how to be a geek, and to be PROUD of it.

 

I'm 27 and now finally, 3rd line tech support. It's not so bad when other people have to answer the phones. I mostly support PACS which is the digital X-Ray system over 3 hospitals in the city.

I love my job and do consider myself lucky as I never finished Uni, would like more cash though, I seem to be working cheap :-(

 

You could get a working visa and give it a try for 3-6 months. Bazza

===

 

I have no past
I have no future
I do not exist

played Battle Chess with my Grandpa in DOS growing up , got kicked out of school for changing the admin password in some school computer.
After HS I joind the Army in attempt to further my education and did abit in mechanical,electrical engineering, jumped around a bit(location and MOS) Got Married. Unfit for duty. . .I got a civ job in Maintenance,got certs in welding, PLC, Fork truck, a few specilty certs in the field, lost the job then the car, the hime got divorced(you know how it goes"a man with no money").
Got remarried, had kids,(well I didn't have them) sit here with the kids, collecting money from the Gvt.(Woo hoo. .*insert sarcasm here*)

Waiting till I am "allowed" to leave the house and work. .. .
don't know much of anything really
"Jack of all trades, master of none"
been called that myself a few times