Careers With Computers

[reapersivan]

I have been looking around d for careers involving computers. For engineering you need to have a bachelor's in computer science, meaning that you would have to first complete computer science. Is anyone looking or in the progress of being one? What are the requirements? Maths? The sciences required to do all that? How long will it take to get there?

[thekeemo]

What interest you software or hardware?

[Fictionvl]

This is was my same exact concern, majoring in IT, didn't know if there are job opportunities or not, at least it's something I really love to do.

[TheKDub]

This is was my same exact concern, majoring in IT, didn't know if there are job opportunities or not, at least it's something I really love to do.

 

Same.

 

Though companies pretty much always need IT people, if you look in the right places I'm sure there are plenty.

[ofr057]

I use computers a fair bit, but I did a degree in environmental science.

 

I mainly make maps, satellite imagery analysis and remote monitoring

oh and reports ....

 

In high school i did all the science fields (chem, physics, Bio) and middle level maths (I did have to do extra maths at uni because of this).

 

how long? - 4 year degree plus grad program, so 6 - 7 years after high school

[BOT Edward]

I work as a Computer systems officer and only have my certificate IV in Info-tech.

 

Depends on the job I guess. I'm looking at a promotion in the future to infrastructure manager hopefully.

[reapersivan]

What interest you software or hardware?

I am honestly more interested in hardware

[reapersivan]

I use computers a fair bit, but I did a degree in environmental science.

 

I mainly make maps, satellite imagery analysis and remote monitoring

oh and reports ....

 

In high school i did all the science fields (chem, physics, Bio) and middle level maths (I did have to do extra maths at uni because of this).

 

how long? - 4 year degree plus grad program, so 6 - 7 years after high school

It seems to long. I thought it would be like 4 years. So throughout those years is it just learning or are there any hands on experiences or working?

[chkenwing]

I have been looking around d for careers involving computers. For engineering you need to have a bachelor's in computer science, meaning that you would have to first complete computer science. Is anyone looking or in the progress of being one? What are the requirements? Maths? The sciences required to do all that? How long will it take to get there?

 

I have a bachelors in Computer Science primarily Games Technology, however the first 1-2 years during my course touched on topics such as low level programming i.e. machine code, how stuff is translated from a keyboard press into instructions that a computer can understand, architecture of Motorla's 68000 microprocessor, logic gates (and/or/xor/xnor). Some topics I did find a bit confusing as maths isn't one of my fortes and thus if you are very good at maths, you will find it a very useful asset to have.

Most IT jobs aren't exactly like how it's depicted in Linus' youtube videos (I would LOVE to work for a company like that). 

 

Plus it's down to what field you're trying to specialise in, some companies are more fun to work with than others. 

[ofr057]

It seems to long. I thought it would be like 4 years. So throughout those years is it just learning or are there any hands on experiences or working?

well 4 years is the degree that is research/ learning using programs etc, after that in the grad program you are working but still learning.

 

If your going into a professional field your going to be required to always learn new things / re train

[PiGHamM3R]

As said, it depends on the job. For hardware, I'd suggest Help Desk (it's not the grandest, but it will get you into higher stuff that pays more)

 

I've only got a High-School diploma and went to work for the Government as a Contractor when I was 20 (not doing IT stuff).

 

While I was doing that, I met several people whom work in prestigious multi-billion dollar companies making 6-figures... they all promised me jobs if I got my certifications in A+, Sec+ (requirement for the Government), Network+, CCNA was a big plus. Well after I got those (except the CCNA), those people never responded to my emails or inquiries, even after I spoke with them, nothing.

TL;DR = Don't trust/jump for what job offers people throw at you; once you see an offer, then it's legit.

 

So now I've jumped from my comfy Contractor job into the military (Air Force) and I'm using the G.I. Bill to pay for college on the side, while doing IT work in the military. This way, college is paid for (as long as you do good in school); so you don't have to worry about student loans & debt (if any, it's very little). So my job compliments my career study field, this is always the best thing (for me) as your mind isn't in a million places at once.

 

Plan after the military? Depending on how my job field goes, I'll either stay in for 20 and get the benefits (which it's looking like that), or get out after you get your schooling and go work for a company making good money.

 

That's my dollar on the thought though; but hey, PM me on the forum if you've got questions (I've got dancing paperclips).  Hope this helps

[thekeemo]

I am honestly more interested in hardware

what your looking for is electrical engineering then

[reapersivan]

what your looking for is electrical engineering then

I honestly am clueless on all of this

[reapersivan]

I honestly am clueless on all of this. So for engineering, what would that be all about? Is it way more complicated than just computer science?

[reapersivan]

well 4 years is the degree that is research/ learning using programs etc, after that in the grad program you are working but still learning.

 

If your going into a professional field your going to be required to always learn new things / re train

So by working while studying, what job would that be? IT?

[ofr057]

So by working while studying, what job would that be? IT?

I am no longer studying but I am doing on the job learning, as i said in my initial post my career isnt in IT but i do use computers alot and more then just word processing.

 

I think what I'm trying to say is technology is everywhere these days, you most likly find you will use computers in almost all fields of work.

 

the main question is WHAT do you want to do?

[reapersivan]

I am no longer studying but I am doing on the job learning, as i said in my initial post my career isnt in IT but i do use computers alot and more then just word processing.

I think what I'm trying to say is technology is everywhere these days, you most likly find you will use computers in almost all fields of work.

the main question is WHAT do you want to do?

That's what I have been asking myself for a while. I would honestly really like to continue to assemble computers and repair them. I want to learn more about them, know what everything means and does. Perhaps be a computer technician

[ofr057]

That's what I have been asking myself for a while. I would honestly really like to continue to assemble computers and repair them. I want to learn more about them, know what everything means and does.

well an electrical engineer would design or manufacture parts, you could work for companies to produce new things or oversee things getting fitted out.

 

if you want to learn more about HOW they work you could look at going into research and working at a university or a place like bell labs. To work in a place like that though you would most likly need a master's or a phd in electrical engineering, computer science or physics

[reapersivan]

well an electrical engineer would design or manufacture parts, you could work for companies to produce new things or oversee things getting fitted out.

 

if you want to learn more about HOW they work you could look at going into research and working at a university or a place like bell labs. To work in a place like that though you would most likly need a master's or a phd in electrical engineering, computer science or physics

In highschool if I take physics, do I have to take it in college again to pursue my career? Or should I just take physics in college and not in highschool

[ofr057]

In highschool if I take physics, do I have to take it in college again to pursue my career? Or should I just take physics in college and not in highschool

In high school you will learn the basic's,  you will also do physic's in college that build's upon what you have learned in high school

[reapersivan]

In high school you will learn the basic's,  you will also do physic's in college that build's upon what you have learned in high school

I already took and passed chemistry last year and honestly didn't want to go to physics so I took oceanography for fun although I will get no benefit for it. I also took algebra 2 last year and am going to algebra 2 trig. I honestly do not want to take physics 2 time, 1 in highschool and one in college. Should K just take it in college?

[PiGHamM3R]

In highschool if I take physics, do I have to take it in college again to pursue my career? Or should I just take physics in college and not in highschool

 

You still want Physics and Calculus, as much of it as you can. Pro Tip: Your high-school won't let you take Physics and Chemistry in the same year as they conflict each other.

 

Edit: Look at the requirements for your college to gain admission, so you don't have to do remedial courses in the summer.

Edited August 26, 2015 by PiGHamM3R

[reapersivan]

You still want Physics and Calculus, as much of it as you can. Pro Tip: Your high-school won't let you take Physics and Chemistry in the same year as they conflict each other.

.-. Damn, I really didn't want to take those classes. I want my senior year to be great and not stressful

[russemerson]

Whatever you do end up doing, remember that it's a never-ending learning process.  You cannot just acquire one set of skills/knowledge and expect it to carry you through a career unless you're very very lucky... but only an idiot counts on luck.

 

My own story... I go out of college after my time in the Army and went to work for Cisco as a tech support guy.  I didn't know jack about routers and whatnot - back in the '90s, very few people really did - but I did two things: I made myself an expert in one technology, and spread myself around other technologies to pick up what I could.

 

Now, 20 years later, the one technology I was (still am, really) an expert in is pretty much a dead letter (not too many people using ISDN anymore...) but my spreading around to other facets of networking has kept me employed, and nowadays I spend most of my time dealing with routing protocols and network hardware.

 

The point being, be prepared to never stop studying and learning.  Hardware, software, networking, protocols... it's all a moving target.  

 

If constant education (usually not formal - lots of reading and self-motivation involved) sounds like something you don't want to do, I would advise finding another field.  IT subjects change too much and too rapidly to treat education as a one-time thing.

[russemerson]

Oh, and one further note: in the IT professions, certifications can often be more valuable than degrees (though ideally you'd have both.)  For networking, I'd rather hire a high-school educated CCIE than a "virgin" MIT grad.

 

In any case, I wish you the best of luck.