What kind of job can I get?

[TheLinuxDuck]

I'm going to be moving sometime next year, and will be needing to find work. I wanna know what I can shoot for, with my current experience, or what I should build on to add to my knowledge:

I have very minimal schooling, basicaly a high school degree.

I have been using linux for over year, and feel comfortable with it, although I still have lots to learn.. I know perl (about a year) decent enough, and C (several years, but not much machine specific) decent enough. I don't know very much about OOP programming though.

I am comfortable with Win95/98 and have set up several LAN's, from running the cables to setting up each box. I can troubleshoot win (as much as anyone can really troubleshoot it).

I am comfortable with the hardware and software aspect of computers; I enjoy building and coding.

I am comfortable hacking the config of linux, and windows, although nothing too wacky, or obscure...

What job sounds right for me?
Should I learn C++ and OOP perl? Or, should I just try to learn java?

Should I focus more on learning hardware better?

I know I have some time before the job thing is really a concern, but I want to make sure that I'm ready for whatever job I decide to shoot for.

Anybody have any opinions, statements, ideas, insults, compliments, or bacon?

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TheLinuxDuck
Wait... that's a penguin?!?!?
:wq

[ep0k]

Whoa dude... Where are you moving to? When are you moving? Do you want your copy of Maximum Linux Back?

[TheLinuxDuck]

Originally posted by ep0k:
Whoa dude... Where are you moving to? When are you moving? Do you want your copy of Maximum Linux Back?

http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif I'd like to get it back whenver you're done with it.. I'm in no rush. http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif

I'm going to be moving to Alabama.. I'm not sure when.. sometime next year, I think.. it just depends on when God opens the doors for me. I met a woman there in September at a friends wedding, and want to be closer to her. She's the one I've been waiting for my whole life! http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif

Regardless, we should get together sometime, and do the linux thing.. I haven't heard much from you in a while... but then again, I haven't been too active here either. http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif

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TheLinuxDuck
Wait... that's a penguin?!?!?
:wq

[Shad]

I'd check on what sort of coding jobs are available in Alabama, but you will probably find better luck working on getting some Certs for Admin work. You sound like you know enough to be a competent Admin, and knowing code is a big puls in many employers eyes (plus it will make your work much easier).

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Just a Tuna in the Sea of Life

[crohozen]

Sounds like you can do about anything you want http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif But hopefully she can be your sugar mamma, and you can stay home all day and play!! http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif Congrats for finding the woman of your dreams !!


She does run linux right? http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif

[ndelo]

If I were you I would do all the M$ certs (MCSE) and maybe A+. If you know windoze as well as you do you will probably breeze through them no problem. There are a lot of windoze jobs out there as windoze is always misbehaving. MCSE is cake and can only make you more marketable. Knowing Linux is a major plus because you can impliment more than windows and hence can save any company who is not in awe of Big Bill a lot of bucks in licensing fees and software costs. If you know C and Linux, why not beef up on Solaris. Since we're talking jobs here, essentially you want to learn those things employers want to see, and be able to prove you know them. Certifications, especially M$, don't really prove much, (well, ok they do prove a a little) but they look dandy on a resume in the big boss man's eyes.

[LinuxIdiot]

LinuxDuck won't be moving afterall. I've chained him to the handrail on my front porch. STAY, LinuxDuck. STAY!

Rob

[berb]

LD - As it is right now I'm getting my masters in IT, and THEY say -

OOD OOD OOD OOD OOD OOD
JAVA JAVA JAVA JAVA JAVA JAVA

Do you want to web program or system development program? GUI or back-end? Do you know anything about client/server architecture? It seems you have a good base but you need to focus on what you want to do.
As far as your background, it is spread out and you need to narrow it down to become an expert in one thing (they will pay for mare training).

two word distillation: learn JAVA.
and a little UML won't hurt either.



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I've got a special dispensation from original sin.

[Dru Lee Parsec]

LD: Don't you also have some serious PERL skills?

As far as Java goes, yes, Java is huge right now. At my last job at Union Bank 5 of the last 6 Java programmers they hired were from India and were here on H1B visas. Not because they are cheaper (which they are) but because every American Java programmer is already working.

In order to get ANY Java programmer we must steal one from some other company.

However, as we've discussed here and on the programming forum, knowing a language is not the same as knowing how to be a programmer. nanode can attest to that. One of the reasons he's doing so well at his current job is because he was my intern for 6 months or so before he graduated. The experience of working in the real world was VASTLY different from college. I'm not saying "I turned him around" I'm just saying that the 6 months of real world experience counted for a lot more than a couple of years of school.

And that brings us to college. No matter how much it sux (and it does) you MUST go to school. Get your first two years done at a Jr. College or community college for cheap units. Here in So. Cal community colleges were running at $16 per unit about 8 years ago when I was taking classes there. I'm sure you can still go full time for less that $200 a semester.

I got all my lower division classes done for cheap units at a JC. I also got an A.S. degree in applied math (the application part being programming). I then went on to a "real" college to finish my last two years with it's more expensive units with a B.S. in Comp Sci.

This has all been generic advice so far. But let me finish by giving you some personal advice.

You're obviously a very intelligent guy. Don't screw up by putting college off. I'm speaking from personal experience here. I decided to go out into the world and make my fortune instead of going to school. After what was pretty much a lost decade I started going back to school at the age of 29. Because I was working full time I could only take 2 or 3 class each semester.

It took me 9 years to finish a 4 year degree because I could only go part time in the evenings. Now, at the age of (well, VERY early 40's) I'm finally achieving a level of success that I should have had 10 or 15 years ago.

So whatever you do, never stop taking classes until you have that degree. Once you have the paper (no matter how little usefull experience that degree actually represents) you can write your own ticket in the software world.

Best of Luck LD. I have every confidence that you'll be a great success.

[TheLinuxDuck]

Originally posted by Dru Lee Parsec:
LD: Don't you also have some serious PERL skills?

Well, a little less than a year of perl stuff.. having a good C background certainly helped me understand how to code better.

Not because they are cheaper (which they are) but because every American Java programmer is already working.

Yes, but what about 4 years from now? If/when I finally do get college going, and finally get to the point where I'm not just taking general courses, but stuff I want to take, what language is going to be popular? Who will be willing to pay for someone who still uses perl and C, if they are both obsolete? I don't see perl dieing anytime soon, but C pretty much doesn't have the foothold it used to.

Don't screw up by putting college off. I'm speaking from personal experience here.

Firstly, thanks for sharing that with me.. I am in the exact same boat that you were. I am already 30, and have almost no college level school behind me.

Don't get me wrong.. after high school, I jumped after what I thought my dream was, and that was playing guitar for a metal band. I played with a band here in Oklahoma for 3 years, and then moved to Ohio to further the band.. which then broke up.. and then I found a band there that I stayed with for 2 years.. that time was some of the best times of my life, although it was also some of my worst times too. http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif I have some awesome memories of the travels and things I did that I wouldn't want to trade.

As a single man, I don't really have any need to push for a great and profitable career. I'm not career driven.. as long as I have what I need to survive, I am happy.. however, I will hopefully be getting married sometime in the next few years, and want to be able to give to my wife all the support she needs so she doesn't have to work if she doesnt want to, or be able to pay for her going to school, or whatever.. which gives me more of a reason to better myself.. I want to be able to give to her everything that my dad gave to my mom.

This is why I want to go to school and put myself in a better career..

So whatever you do, never stop taking classes until you have that degree. Once you have the paper (no matter how little usefull experience that degree actually represents) you can write your own ticket in the software world.
Best of Luck LD. I have every confidence that you'll be a great success.

Your words are very encouraging to me, Dru. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you sharing your life with me, and the struggles/etc you went through.. as I said, I am where you were at at 29, almost exactly.

My desire is to better myself and be able to give to my future wife a life of some comfort.

But, I must also share with you my views on a different matter that are also related. I believe very strongly in the guiding hand of my God. I know that He will provide the opportunities for me in my life that are needed to prepare myself for the future.. I am just worried that I will be stepping on His toes, and not heeding His advice. I don't see how going to school could be bad, but then again, He knows things I can't possibly, and chances are would never understand..

So, I worry that my desire to go to school and such are driven by my own selfish desires, and not the desires He has placed in my heart..

I don't know how you feel about these things, so I only tell you this so that you can understand my position better.

Regardless, I have done a *little* research on getting started at the local community college.

I know that I need to start getting into taking some of the basics required for a degree.. which you have said also, so I think that is the right step.

I also am in a position to take time off from work to attend school.. I don't have a lot of bills and such... so, I could prolly get into school a little heavier than you were able to at first.

I just hope that I will have the drive to continue and complete school.. for my future wife's sake.

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TheLinuxDuck
Wait... that's a penguin?!?!?
:wq