Show me the money

steve s.

steve s.

New Member
I have posted this topic on another forum but, because ComputerForum has been so incredibly accomidating and hospitable, I would like to post it here and hear what the truly computer oriented have to say. Sorry in advance if I caught you on this topic on the other forum...

The question: If you were able to start over (or are starting now) what would you study/get certified in so you could make money in computers?

Here is my background: I'm in the fitness industry= extrememly rewarding, not in it for the money. Degree in the industry, 12+ years in the industry.

Recently developed the hobby of computers: hardware (computer assembly), linux, some graphics (I'm artistically oriented).

But at this point I could go almost any direction in my learning of computers. But, if I were looking for the money (sorry to be so superficial, but I've got kids and expenses :) ) then what should I learn? A+ certification for computer repair? Linux+ for Linux systems? Programming? Graphic design?

If you were in my shoes, which direction would you go in computers?

Thanks in advance for your opinion on this...
 
Based on many years of experience, I wouldn't go in any direction that you've mentioned. It's a waste of time. The market is saturated because EVERYBODY is doing it. There are a lot of unemployed IT people out there. Computer shops open today only to close tomorrow. People say it's the wave of the future. It may be, but there aren't enough jobs to go around and there are a lot of highly qualified techs working for peanuts just to have a job.
 
I disagree with SirKenin totally. I see you fullfill your dream and your desires fully. I don't believe in can'ts at all. What you need to do is find out for yourself, what makes you REALLY exited.....is it when you have a PC in for repair, and everyone has failed fixing it, and you have a break through, and the maching goes from a trash item to a really awesome PC that the client just looooove, and they can't thank you enough, because of what you did for them and so on. Or is it when you have spent 8 hours on your graphics, and it is taking shape, and you talk to everyone about your awesome project, even though they have asked you to shut-up several times. Or maybe you need to specialize in a certain software, or evn better Linux, fighting for a good cause......whatever it is, you have to dig into the feeling of it and experience your own rush. Once you got it down, you you set your self some goals that gives you an idea of the market. I dare you to follow your dreams. The will be so much more JUICE in your life, than if you accept Sirkenin's disempowering reality and quit before even beginning. It also depends on the area you live in. I live in an area, where there is absolutely no freaking PC shop, except for an ols dude who is rude and hates talking about them. PC's that is. There is a market for you, but you need to feed it, and surround your self with people who are supportive and also people who knows a lot more about what you want to learn too. Step into the unknown, be in your power, but don't be stupid, get to learn it first, check out everything you can and then go for it. Don't jeopedize your financial commitments too much, until you and your wife/family or anyone who are dependant on your financial support. Bottom line on most of this is " follow your bliss "!!!!
 
SirKenin said:
Based on many years of experience, I wouldn't go in any direction that you've mentioned. It's a waste of time. The market is saturated because EVERYBODY is doing it. There are a lot of unemployed IT people out there. Computer shops open today only to close tomorrow. People say it's the wave of the future. It may be, but there aren't enough jobs to go around and there are a lot of highly qualified techs working for peanuts just to have a job.
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..What is your frame of reference? Your generalized statements are not necessarily accurate. If I were to take a look at my region I would say there are too many jobs and not enough people to fill the jobs. 15 months ago when I was looking for my first job fresh out of college I had 2 incredible job offers within a week. One with a defense contractor and another with a VOIP telecommunications company (I chose the second one).

steve s., if you truly want to change professions and you are willing to give 100%, you need narrow down your direction based on what you truly enjoy doing and finding which field is in the highest demand in YOUR area.
 
steve s., if you truly want to change professions and you are willing to give 100%, you need narrow down your direction based on what you truly enjoy doing and finding which field is in the highest demand in YOUR area.
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It's not that I necessarily want to change professions. The observation is that I allow my hobbies to be directed in such a way as to be financially viable, and then perhaps a change of venue will follow. I am at the point right now with computers, art and graphics that I just don't know what to persue that is lucrative or what to direct my efforts towards.

I understand that, if I choose to be succesful in whichever carreer (exept perhaps spelling ;) ), I mearly need to desire it and stubornly persevere. I have succeeded in fitness merely by deciding I wanted to and going that route.

However, I know enough about computers and art to know that I seem to have some talent in each. The question is how to make money with those talents.

I would like to respond further, especially to all of the well phrased suggestions thus far, but first I would like to know if there are any artists out there and, if so, how computers have played a role, be it computer graphics or whatever (I simply don't know yet).

Also, any and all ideas, please keep them coming. It may very well allow me to continue or adjust my focus(es).
 
im only a sophmore in college and my degree is computer science. there is a computer graphics and virtual reality course that i was debating on taking because i think it will be a waste of my time. i am an artsy person. i would absolutely love to do computer graphics and desinging logos or something of that nature, but i always thought it is really hard to get a job in that field. i also thought that i would have to move to california which i dont wanna do. am i right with these assumptions?? Also, can u make good money in those fields.
 
Let me expand on where I am currently with the art and computer hobbies.

In the last six years I have gone from not knowing what emails were to making dual boot computers out of scrap for friends. I enjoy learning more and more about computers daily. Thank you to all of you for your continued help in the discussion topics presented here in this forum!

I have always had an interest in art. My last class (MANY years ago) was a Life Drawing class I took at a comunity college. My art professors were always grumpy when I told them my degree was Kinesiology and not anything artistic.

Understand, I certainly am not presenting this to brag by any stretch of the imagination, and please don't consider the attached photo (I used a Sampson portrait I did to show muscular examples in a book I am writing on Weight Loss) my definitive work. I mearly provide it to show that I seem to have some talent there and could persue a carreer possibly.

Again, the question regarding these two (perhaps overlapping) hobbies is where to go from here that I can continue to provide for my family?
 

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SFR said:


..What is your frame of reference? Your generalized statements are not necessarily accurate. If I were to take a look at my region I would say there are too many jobs and not enough people to fill the jobs. 15 months ago when I was looking for my first job fresh out of college I had 2 incredible job offers within a week. One with a defense contractor and another with a VOIP telecommunications company (I chose the second one).

steve s., if you truly want to change professions and you are willing to give 100%, you need narrow down your direction based on what you truly enjoy doing and finding which field is in the highest demand in YOUR area.
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My frame of reference is being in the actual trade since 1998. I have many peers in the trade. I have spoken to colleges. I see the employment boards. Check Monster.ca to see how many people are seeking computer jobs. There is a lineup of people waiting for me to hire them as long as my arm. Employees are a dime a dozen. I can pay whatever I want and they will take it, because they are dying for a job. University graduates are taking entry level positions because that's all they can get. Where does that leave the kid fresh out of high school or a college graduate?

My frame of reference is also the Yellow Pages. Look in there how many computer places there are. Look in your local paper to see how many wannabes are trying to sucker people into letting them service their computer. People work on one or two computers and all of a sudden they know everything there is to know about computers. Look all around you. It's everywhere.

I know where the money is, but that's not it. I just do it because I enjoy doing it and I'm damn good at it. I'll never get wealthy doing it though.
 
SirKenin said:
My frame of reference is also the Yellow Pages. Look in there how many computer places there are. Look in your local paper to see how many wannabes are trying to sucker people into letting them service their computer. People work on one or two computers and all of a sudden they know everything there is to know about computers. Look all around you. It's everywhere.

I know where the money is, but that's not it. I just do it because I enjoy doing it and I'm damn good at it. I'll never get wealthy doing it though.
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I think wealthy is perhaps a relative term. In the fitness industry you basically have to be in management (which I am) to even begin making money. But it should be noted that even the entry level IT guys I know are making comparable and surpasing wages.

So, with all due respect to SirKenin and that direct response (which is what I asked for) I'm certain there is some money to be made in the computer industry. Ok, perhaps computer repair is not exactly what I need to be leaning towards. So, should I learn programming? Should I learn computer graphics?

I note that SirKenin represents one faction of no-money-to-be-had-with-IT. Ok, are there any others that have a view as to how I should direct my efforts to make money in either of these two hobby/venues? What has anyone had success in? I work with clients daily that make money in computers on some level or other. I am also certain that there is a great deal of advise to be had on this forum as to how to do so in the areas I am speaking of. Am I right?
 
You want the truth.. Ohhh, I'll give you the truth.. Your soul's gonna burn in a lake of fire...

Ok, I happen to like that song. haha

The money is in CGI programming. If you can get in there you're set. Unfortunately it is a highly competitive market. Be prepared to offer your left nut.
 
SirKenin said:
You want the truth.. Ohhh, I'll give you the truth.. Your soul's gonna burn in a lake of fire...

Ok, I happen to like that song. haha

The money is in CGI programming. If you can get in there you're set. Unfortunately it is a highly competitive market. Be prepared to offer your left nut.
Click to expand...

See, now was that so hard? Don't you feel better? :D

How does one get into CGI programming? Do any forum users here do any of that?

Does anyone else have any ideas?
 
Well SirKenin, I am 22 years old and I make a 50 cents more than four times the current California minimum wage. I was hired with three months experience (an internship..). In October it will be one year that I have been with this software company. They offer great benefits and are paying for more than half of my graduate degree. They hired me knowing that I was not finished with college.

I am constantly reading trade magazines that talk about how much demand there is for IT. Even with the overseas market.. etc, there is still an sizable demand here in California. As I side, you need to look outside of your region. I agree that Canada is NOT a hotbed of computer technology. When I went to Monster.com and click on Information Technology in San Diego alone, I got a listing of 571 job openings. I did not get my job from an online job listing, I got my job through my college counselor...

There will always be a demand for qualified IT employees because many of the existing IT personnel are sub par. steve s., CGI "programming" is far from being a big money maker. CGI programmers are, as SirKenin put it, a dime a dozen... My opinion is to look into becoming a systems administrator (network side of the business) or an application software developer (and not a web developer)... but again, you have to find what YOU enjoy doing. Do you enjoy maintaining databases? Fixing computers? designing applications? coding applications? testing applications? documenting applications? helping people who are having problems with applications? creating webpages?
 
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Heh, but you're in California. That is THE place for technology. I think that is an accepted fact. Man, you have Silicon Valley...

I know a CGI programmer here making $50,000 + a year. I would say that's not too shabby, no? :)

I thought about getting into programming, but again everybody is doing it. I dunno. I guess I'll stick to what I'm doing.
 
Well, like SFR, I seem to be in an area were computer tech's are in demand, Austin, TX, USA.

So, it looks like I have few areas to explore. I am open to any and all other suggestions regarding this, but thanks to all that have thus far contributed.

SFR: the thing is, of the items you listed, I don't know which piques my interests...haven't tried them yet. It gives me some things to consider.

Please keep those ideas coming all, especially those that have made successes in your trade. Also, if you have found something you love and made money at it within these areas, could you tell me/us your steps to success? e.g. got a degree in Computer Sciences, or got certified in (whatever) please?
 
Yeah, the IT field is saturated. But do not lose heart. The truly gifted and ingenious ones will almost always rise to the top.

I know several people that have 4-year degrees in IT (non-specific) and they struggle. One individual I know really knows his stuff (I think he has a photographic memory) and his knowledge base and experience are HIGHLY rewarded.

Follow your dreams, but don't try to wring money out your your passion. You will only end up with a hollow and dried-up husk. A pale shadow of what it used to be.

Forgive me if this is presumptous, but I have seen it happen. The individuals are not happy.
 
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