A message to people thinking of going into a career in computers

[Ctrackstar126]

About a year ago I started on these forums after realizing my love for computers. Shortly after I enrolled into college for computer networking. All since then has been great but for this next semester I have decided to go for my other love which is business.

If you ask experienced guys on this forum which path to go they usually tell you to head for the hills and keep it a hobby. I would have to agree with them. It seemed the more and more I learn the more and more I have to learn. It does become just like that...have to learn.

You no longer do it because you enjoy it but learn it because you have to. Its not that im starting to hate computers its just i see myself losing the lust for it if i keep going.

I will still continue to learn and be all about electronics and computers but I see what the seasoned techs mean when they say get out. A hobby should be just that a hobby.

Also if you do love computers and you have another hobby you enjoy dive right in, it is a rewarding path and is very enjoyable. Not to steer you away from it, but think of it like your wife, would you want to work with her all day and also have to go home to her. Imagine that over the years.

I will continue to learn and play just as much as before but I can finally put the Cisco command lines to rest and just enjoy the finer things

 

[moshquerade]

sounds just the same as going into porn.

 

[DaWhim]

just go for MIS?

 

[Ctrackstar126]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
sounds just the same as going into porn.

Thats what I thought after 3 years in it to.

Its hard going from porn to computers . No pun intended

 

[Schfifty Five]

Originally posted by: Ctrackstar126
About a year ago I started on these forums after realizing my love for computers. Shortly after I enrolled into college for computer networking. All since then has been great but for this next semester I have decided to go for my other love which is business.

If you ask experienced guys on this forum which path to go they usually tell you to head for the hills and keep it a hobby. I would have to agree with them. It seemed the more and more I learn the more and more I have to learn. It does become just like that...have to learn.

You no longer do it because you enjoy it but learn it because you have to. Its not that im starting to hate computers its just i see myself losing the lust for it if i keep going.

I will still continue to learn and be all about electronics and computers but I see what the seasoned techs mean when they say get out. A hobby should be just that a hobby.

Also if you do love computers and you have another hobby you enjoy dive right in, it is a rewarding path and is very enjoyable. Not to steer you away from it, but think of it like your wife, would you want to work with her all day and also have to go home to her. Imagine that over the years.

I will continue to learn and play just as much as before but I can finally put the Cisco command lines to rest and just enjoy the finer things

Good advice. I think for many, when they are young (ie pre college), they get to build their first custom computer and/or they have been upgrading computers for gaming and whatnot and think that getting into the computer biz is going to be like that.

 

[slsmnaz]

I have to disagree somewhat. It depends which industry you are looking to work in. I actually got out of the business/sales side and went to work in our IT dept. because I see such a need. In my industry the technology idea is so underdeveloped it's scary. We are looking to add 130+ people in the next year alone. This includes analysts, programmers, admins, DBA, support etc. Ours is such an in-house job that the odds of ever outsourcing are very small but it's getting harder to find qualified people. Just my opinion though.

BTW-I have posted some of our needs in the "Networking support thread..." at the top, if interested PM me.

 

[ruffilb]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
sounds just the same as going into porn.

What, the hard part, or the keep doing it as a hobby part?

 

[0]

follow your desire.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: ruffilb

Originally posted by: moshquerade
sounds just the same as going into porn.

What, the hard part, or the keep doing it as a hobby part?

this part:
"You no longer do it because you enjoy it but learn it because you have to. Its not that im starting to hate computers its just i see myself losing the lust for it if i keep going."

 

[Mday]

i like electronics. i can do math. i have a degree in math and electrical engineering from 2 schools (BS and BE respectively). i am not practicing my math degree. i am not practicing my engineering degree with my current job.

electronics is a hobby, so that EE degree was a waste of time. math was just something i could do, like a fall back major.

i'm considering getting a degree in finance in a few years.

 

[kevinthenerd]

I was all about computers previously. Now I'm doing mechanical engineering, but it's not stopping me from writing my own code for a CNC mill (rapid prototyping machine) I'm working on building!

 

[Sentinel]

Still all about computers, won't stop me from doing what I love even after a degree.

 

[KrillBee]

i thought about this too and this is the reason why i didnt want to find a career in computers.
i love fixing peoples computer problems, it doesnt feel like work at all. but, im sure after awhile id begin to hate it.

my dad does programming all day long and says he cant stand to look at a monitor when he gets home, which is why he doesnt go on our home computer very much.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I'm still enjoying software development a decade out of college, but it's not for everyone.

Unless you like to study new tech, enjoy solving problems, and just have a certain aptitude for the work it can quickly turn into a job you'll struggle with and hate.

 

[BullsOnParade]

Lol CNC is considered rapid prototyping for ME's. I love industry buzz words. For us EE's its VHDL and FPGA synthesis.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
sounds just the same as going into porn.

What if you're a nympho?

 

[SKORPI0]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: moshquerade
sounds just the same as going into porn.

What if you're a nympho?

1. nympho
2. do porn
3. profit.

 

[EyeMWing]

If your idea of fun with computers is playing games and upgrading, you'll hate IT. You never play games, and upgrades happen when you place another order from Dell or HP.

The REAL fun part of IT is in the BUSINESS problem solving. Your technology isn't so much your job as your media. Saying that computers are your job is like a sculptor saying "I work with stone" - correct, but not quite right. Modern IT's job is to take what the business already does, or what it wants to do, make the technology fit, accomodate, and streamline that, and then replace that portion of the business with the new model.

In the past, IT gave the users the technology, configured to what we thought best. Now, the challenge is undoing that brokenness and rematching it to the business model and the end user's actual needs. For example, if you're a database person, you're going to spend as much time, if not more, on a whiteboard, or in meetings, or interviewing users, or walking around a cube farm watching people work as you do sitting at a SQL command prompt.

 

[drum]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
If your idea of fun with computers is playing games and upgrading, you'll hate IT. You never play games, and upgrades happen when you place another order from Dell or HP.

The REAL fun part of IT is in the BUSINESS problem solving. Your technology isn't so much your job as your media. Saying that computers are your job is like a sculptor saying "I work with stone" - correct, but not quite right. Modern IT's job is to take what the business already does, or what it wants to do, make the technology fit, accomodate, and streamline that, and then replace that portion of the business with the new model.

In the past, IT gave the users the technology, configured to what we thought best. Now, the challenge is undoing that brokenness and rematching it to the business model and the end user's actual needs. For example, if you're a database person, you're going to spend as much time, if not more, on a whiteboard, or in meetings, or interviewing users, or walking around a cube farm watching people work as you do sitting at a SQL command prompt.

I'm going from support to SQL database management. going to be a uique experience for me.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: moshquerade
sounds just the same as going into porn.

What if you're a nympho?

what if?

 

[Hyudra]

I'm in the position of MIS at Morgan Stanley, so I kinda see the IT a lot and the business side. Morgan Stanley spends A LOT of money on IT and business line stuff to support new businesses. I have a degree in finance btw.

 

[wasssup]

Stay out of the IT field.

I just got a job as a software engineer so I think things are finally looking up, but for the last two years i've been doing helpdesk type jobs. I didn't particularly enjoy taking 50-60 calls a day.

 

[iamaelephant]

Doh, blank post

 

[iamaelephant]

I had a very similar experience with my love of cars. I went to a technical school for two years and am now a qualified mechanic but after a couple of years working I hate it. I got out of the industry because it was ruining my love of cars and the job was miserable and a dead end.

 

[chusteczka]

To the OP:
The best type of work is that which can be considered as a hobby.

I do not understand the reasoning behind your decision. You enjoy working with computers so you are switching to business. You enjoy learning about computers so you are going to quit studying them and spend your time and energy working with something else. This reasoning is not logical and it seems there is something more here. Maybe you are not enjoying the networking aspect but there are many other aspects involved in computers to work with. Software engineering, system administration, database administration, financial report writing, IT journalism, web development, IT auditing, and the list goes on.

Many people say the same about business after a few years working with it. People are shallow and willing to betray their fellow co-workers to get ahead.

I get the feeling you are having difficulty keeping up with the pace of school and looking to switch to something easier. This is normal and acceptable since it happens to many good people. I just do not think you are being honest with yourself concerning the reasons behind your decision.

Honestly, even if you are having difficulty, stick it out if you are able. Not everyone in computers is a top-tier software developer. Many people working with computers do not know very much about the computers or systems they work with. There will be room for you somewhere if you are good at what you do.

Then there is the thought that if you are having difficulty now it may be better to switch while you are ahead. Your computer skills will continue to benefit you in odd ways throughout your career as long as you work with them in some capacity.

Good luck with your decision and realize there is no shame in either course of action.