Job/school/certs Need help and advice

[solitudedude]

I am 19 and I need to set a goal. In the future, im goin to need a job that pays well, not something extreme or something where im poor. For example about 50-60k. I dont really care for money, but man have things got expensive. House prices have gone up, and many other things. I want to be stable, and have extra money for things such as paying support money to parents and investing money.

Now this is where I need your guys help.

1. What degree should I pursue that is computer related but isnt towards the programming side?

2. What is some key things I can do on my spare time, for example, read some well known books, do you have any to reccommend. And another example, network with people, go to LUG meetings and so forth.

3. Are there any certs I should get? Are they worth it?

4. Any other tips or advice to get money, such as investments, mutual funds and so on...

5. Any general advice please provide.

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Note
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1. Im fairly good with computers for my age
2. If I set a goal I will be determined to do it
3. I have some money for investing
4. I dont like programming

Thanks

[JayMan8081]

If you don't like programming but like hardware then get a B.S. in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering. In the Electrical Engineering just make the focus of electives be on computers and hardware related topics such as FGPA programming or VHDL. If you don't mind doing some programming do Computer Engineering. It can have some of the same hardware aspects as a computer-focused EE major but also gives a basic programming layout as well. Just my two cents worth. Also I am a Computer Engineer, now going back to get my Master's degree in the same field with an emphasis on the hardware.

[carbon-12]

Well im 17 and am planning on going into computer engineering once im out of HS. I was worried about all the recent events with outsourcing and IT cuts but most of the people Ive talked to have reassured me that the hardware side of the computer industry is still fairly strong and the demand is still very high/consistent.

There is a little bit of programming required but nothing major. Computer engineering is basically just electrical engineering+computer science.

You can earn about $80,000(CDN) initially and get upto the $250,000(CDN) range when you have alot experince.

All in all, it seems like a pretty good career.

[solitudedude]

what about computer science? I was assumining this degree is for general knowledge about computers, which is good.

Or is this degree for people who will be sitting at a desk 8 hours a day coding? ;)

[hardcore]

that's all comp sci students do is code, all damn day. some of their courses are pretty interesting, but still, its not as much fun as learning to code on your own for free and not $600 a credit hour ;) .

Get system admin certificates, RHCE, and flame-bait aside, MCSE, and there are a few other certificates out there. They'll help you get a "real" job.

Personally i would go the Computer Engineering route if I were in your shoes, EE may be more than you may want to handle, and there is still programming involved. CE is a nice comprimise between EE and CS.

[drummerboy195]

I am in a similar position, not at all interested in coding, but i enjoy my networking alot. My intent is to go (finances pending) to the Rochester Institute of Technology, and get a BS in Applied Networking and Systems Administration, and possibly even a Masters in Business Information Systems or something similar. Eventually, I'd like to be able to start my own business, however, I've seen people travel that road, with varying degrees of success. As far as certifications, I'm taking the attitude that they can't hurt you. I doubt that there exsists a job where they would have hired you but for the fact that you had a MCSE.

[canon006]

When deciding my major I was in the same boat, not really interested in programming (though I enjoy web programming) but I wanted a major that dealt with computers. So no I'm an IT major, with a concentration in Multimedia. I have to take some programming classes, but that's just the core requirements set up by the school YMMV, and it's helping me to be a better web programmer anyway.

There are lots of different directions you can go with and IT degree, you choose to do more with hardware, or you can do more software related classes depending on the concentration you pick. My advice is that even though you don't like programming, don't let that alone turn you off from a specific school or major that might require you to learn a bit of it. I talked to my C++ professor about it just today actually, he said that you don't necessarily need to remember the programming itself as much as the problem solving it teaches you, it'll make you a better worker in the end, regardless of what you do.

[Gertrude]

Originally posted by drummerboy195
My intent is to go (finances pending) to the Rochester Institute of Technology, and get a BS in Applied Networking and Systems Administration


I was thinking about doing the same thing. I still need to get some more information about it, but that is what I currently have my sights on.

[cereal83]

Get A+ Certified and get all the Microsoft and Cisco Prometric certificates and you will make more like $100k + a year But you also have to get your dimploma in something. I am taking Networking and Internet security specilist and they if everything works out (with me only having A+ and 1 prometric certificate) I am looking at $80k a year with $40k in stocks and RRSP's and fun stuff like that. I am only 20 :)

[Crito]

Bill Gates is a college dropout, LOL. I guess he's not qualified to sell me an OS. :)

Certification is important in the Windows arena because MS requires a certain number of certified professionals be on staff for companies to qualify as solution providers. Doesn't matter as much in the Linux world, where a degree and experience seems to be more important.

All I can say is stay far far away from consulting companies. They might pay you really well, but after shuffling you around to different subsidiaries and a dozen 3-6 month contracts, you'll be left with a resume no one will even look at. Employers like to see stability, a long time spent at a few positions. Take your time, find a good company to work for and stay there. The big money isn't as important as job security. Something consulting companies don't provide.

[solitudedude]

So im getting the vibe to go with COMPUTER ENGINEERING.

What I like to do is sort of system admin. Taking care of a system, making sure its up to date. IF there is a problem with the comp, diagnose it. I dont like making a program in perl or checking 1000 lines of C for a bug.

Does this fit COMPUTER ENGINEERING or a different degree.

[solitudedude]

[i] (with me only having A+ and 1 prometric certificate) I am looking at $80k a year with $40k in stocks and RRSP's and fun stuff like that. I am only 20 :) [/B]

what is this prometric cert you are talking about?

[cereal83]

Originally posted by solitudedude
what is this prometric cert you are talking about?

I was saying that I only have 1 prometric cert and it's a Microsoft Install, Config and Administering Windows XP Pro

[j79zlr]

Originally posted by cereal83
Get A+ Certified and get all the Microsoft and Cisco Prometric certificates and you will make more like $100k + a year But you also have to get your dimploma in something. I am taking Networking and Internet security specilist and they if everything works out (with me only having A+ and 1 prometric certificate) I am looking at $80k a year with $40k in stocks and RRSP's and fun stuff like that. I am only 20 :)

I dont want to burst your bubble, but that just ain't true. Most of the people I know with their A+, MSCE, and NetCert only make like $35k starting.

[carbon-12]

Originally posted by solitudedude
So im getting the vibe to go with COMPUTER ENGINEERING.

What I like to do is sort of system admin. Taking care of a system, making sure its up to date. IF there is a problem with the comp, diagnose it. I dont like making a program in perl or checking 1000 lines of C for a bug.

Does this fit COMPUTER ENGINEERING or a different degree.

Computer engineering involves designing/modifying hardware. Basically R&D for companies like Intel, IBM, etc.

Are you sure you want to go into the computer industry? A friend of mine(really intrested in computers) switched out of his comp science courses(he said they were too hard) and when into Business. He found a job relativly quickly and I think earns about $60,000 /a.

[cereal83]

Originally posted by j79zlr
I dont want to burst your bubble, but that just ain't true. Most of the people I know with their A+, MSCE, and NetCert only make like $35k starting.

Hate to burst your bubble but I have already been offered the job and I will be starting it 2 weeks after I graduate.

Also, a family friend also hooked with up with the job who is high up in the company.

1 more thing. I am in CANADA So it's like $90000 US

[JayMan8081]

Yeah I would find that hard to believe. $90,000 right out of school seems a bit high. Or this company just has tons of money to throw around.

[cereal83]

It does seem very high, even to me but I am not turning it down. I don't think anybody would. Like I said, family friend is high up in the company and got me in. What else can i say?

[solitudedude]

Originally posted by cereal83
It does seem very high, even to me but I am not turning it down. I don't think anybody would. Like I said, family friend is high up in the company and got me in. What else can i say?

um give me a job there

[cereal83]

no thanks, if your better then me u might be able to take my job

:p

[Calipso]

that $90g/year job seems extremelly high to me...even if you were to convert the currency to USD thats 67,232.50 according to the way the conversion rates are today....seems really high for a starting salary...but hey, if thats what youre gonna get, all the power to you!!...we should all be so lucky.

anyhoo, a good way to get an idea what salaries are like in certain industries, its worth taking a look at a site like monster.ca (i think theres an american vers too :confused: )

they have a section on the site where you can select the province, and city that you live in and it will tell you the average salaries in that industry/position...worth taking a look if youre interested.

if i remember correctly, the average sallary for a LAN support level 1*(or something along those lines) position is about $41000CAD / year.

*level 1, refers to someone with 0-2 years of experience i believe.

ah, here, i found the site

http://salary.monster.ca/

[Calipso]

but since this thread was about certifications and such, i have a question of my own thats related.

im currently studying computer systems and networking.
im hoping to eventually get a job in the networking field.
i have also recently gotten interested in Linux, and it seems like these days more and more government organizations are turning to linux. So i thought about actually working in the linux field.

so my question is, are linux certifications like those offered by The Linux Professional Institute (www.lpi.org) worth getting??
how about the Linux+ ceritification??

i would like to have more than one option once im done skool, so i would like to know if its worth getting those. That way i would have training in both windows and linux which would in theory increase my opportunities in the working world.

thanx for any input on the linux certifications.

[bandwidth_pig]

Originally posted by cereal83
Hate to burst your bubble but I have already been offered the job and I will be starting it 2 weeks after I graduate.

Also, a family friend also hooked with up with the job who is high up in the company.

1 more thing. I am in CANADA So it's like $90000 US

Don't get me wrong here, as I am quite happy for you (congrats are certainly in order) but 80k Canadian does not equate to 90k US. As of today, $80,000 in Canadian (still a nice chunk of change) would be 60,191.11 US dollars. You'd best keep that *gift* job at all costs. :D

[miteycasey]

Go to monster and do some research on salaries etc.
If I had it to do over I would become an Oracle DBA instead of a Unix Systems Administrator.
My order of choice would be:
1) C/C++ programmer
2) java programmer
3) dba