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[ShadowRed]

I'm going back to school after a little vacation. I was a computer science major but no longer feel like this is my calling. I'm currently looking into information technology or IT networking. Is there anyone on the board that is ine either of these fields and or have knowledge of them? If so care to give a discription of the type of work you do, salary range, and if you enjoy it or not? Thanks a bunch.

 

[ShadowRed]

Anyone have any advice?

 

[ShadowRed]

No help here?

 

[Star Power]

someone help this man!

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

*pffft* *mumble, grumble......the force......munble*

 

[ShadowRed]

Jesus Phoenix, Mecha, no one wants to help a brother out.

 

[ShadowRed]

One more time, help anyone?

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

Shadow: I'm in the IT field and for the most part enjoy it. I'm a Systems Administrator for one department at a small (3500 students) private University. It's a good job, but you'll find that you'll be asked to pretty much do everything under the sun when it comes to technology. At times I am administering two servers, each of which are doing web and file sharing, among other things. I handle lite html editing, adminsiter three labs with 10+ computers each, troubleshoot faculty and staff computers and software, purchase and configure new hardware, and handle general long term planning for the technology elements of the School. I also adminsiter a wireless network, train faculty and staff on new hardware/software, and oversee a decent size budget. In short, the job can really entail a lot of different elements.

The pay will vary greatly depending on your area and experience, but once you get some good experience, you can earn a very good living. The downside for me is dealing with some very idiotic users at times and their ability to find new and unusual ways to fuck things up.

Let me know if you have any specific questions.

 

[ronito]

I work mainly in IT application development. If you don't want to code don't go that way. I haven't worked much with networks in the last few years but as I remember it will pay between 45-60k (depending on where you live) for an average mid-level person and 80k+ for a senior level person with tons of experience. It can be hard to break into at times, network admins can be plentiful in certain places. One thing you might want to look into is an application or database admin, being a Siebel, SAN or Oracle DBA or a Security expert, that will give you a leg up on a lot of canidates for said positions, and an experienced one is never wanting for a job. That being said, I was a music performance major in college, so I can't give you much advice as to what to study in.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

ronito speaks the truth on the database thing. There is a good demand for database admins and the pay can be very nice. You probably need to decide which area of IT you want to focus on. There are tons of different IT areas. Networking can be kind of hit and miss, but good Network Admins can make nice coin too.

 

[Phoenix]

Jesus Phoenix, Mecha, no one wants to help a brother out.

Sorry I was in a meeting

I was a pure CS/Engineering major with a Minor in Math. If you aren't feeling CS, you might want to get a work study job on campus (or a campus internship type of thing) where you can do basic Information Technology stuff and see if you find that interesting. Computer Science is a big field with a ton of stuff in it, but the best way to find your fit in it is to actually get some hands on in the areas you are interested in.

My title is Software Architect. I used to be a straight computer programmer when I first entered the industry. I enjoy writing code, but I enjoy architecting solutions to problems a lot more. I spend much of my day doing something akin to technology forcasting and determining how I'm going to get those things done with whatever I have available.... and dealing with customers within the Time Warner family. The later part is far far harder than putting the solution together because it involves working with people who may not yet know what they want - just that they want to be in a particular space.

 

[ronito]

I was a pure CS/Engineering major with a Minor in Math. If you aren't feeling CS, you might want to get a work study job on campus (or a campus internship type of thing) where you can do basic Information Technology stuff and see if you find that interesting. Computer Science is a big field with a ton of stuff in it, but the best way to find your fit in it is to actually get some hands on in the areas you are interested in.

Listen to the man. Like I said I was a music performance major and decided to take a work study job at my university. That's what got me started in the field. Those things are heaven sent.