Im graduating in the spring (non CS major) and was wondering if any of you super geeks could give me any advice as to getting into the IT field? I have pretty good job experience, but I was wondering if you guys have any suggestions as to companies or jobs I should try to apply for? This post is probably to vague but let me know if you have any advice. Thanks

Well, what do you do?

I'm sorry that this isn't very positive advice...

I would suggest, with the state of IT today and the direction it is heading in, that if there's anything, anything, anything else you're interested in - go in that direction instead.

Yeah, unfortunately, I don't know what to tell you either. I've been in the IT business for 15 years and watched lay off after lay off. Not good. I'm fearing for my job at the moment. The market is very cut throat and it's been going downhill since the tech bubble burst. You're probably gonna have to work your way up and it might be tough. Don't expect a bunch of bucks out of the gate.

move to india.

hah. brilliant responses

my experience is mostly some pretty extensive troubleshooting/repair in windows/dos/hardware, etc. along with a bunch of teaching and whatnot. I've been reading that the IT field is on the rebound and all of my other interests i cant really see a future in. My major is Japanese Culture so i was thinking that along with IT that would be a pretty good combo, especially for a job overseas or in a company that has foreign relations. what do you guys think?

hah. brilliant responses

my experience is mostly some pretty extensive troubleshooting/repair in windows/dos/hardware, etc. along with a bunch of teaching and whatnot. I've been reading that the IT field is on the rebound and all of my other interests i cant really see a future in. My major is Japanese Culture so i was thinking that along with IT that would be a pretty good combo, especially for a job overseas or in a company that has foreign relations. what do you guys think?
I think that could be benecial together, but probably more if it were in Indian or Ukranian or some other country that sees more outsourcing (I am not sure that the US is outsourcing to Japan, but I don't know).

Combining the two areas ("overseas stuff" and IT) could see you as a good manager I'd think. A lot of my friends work in this field for companies that outsource, and they manage projects and deal with the guys overseas. Makes for some crazy work hours!

Programming and Security are the only psudo safe bets otherwise....

RUN! RUN NOW! find anything else but IT. I'm one of the lucky ones if you can call it that i'm gainfully employed but i'm nothing but a work horse getting paid dick.

I make fairly decent money for this area but I've watched the technical force go from 120 techs to 25 in the last 15 years and the 25 left don't have enough to keep 'em busy. Does not inspire confidence. The government is using all the money to shoot Iraqi's so it doesn't look very good.

Move to India, I hear they are hiring. Former systems monkey now training as a nurse.

I wanted to be in the IT field originally, I'm still studying Computers, but I also took up Photography and Film Studies, and they are FAR more intresting.

I can't bare to look at Visual Basic, Java, and Excel anymore.

I wanted to be in the IT field originally, I'm still studying Computers, but I also took up Photography and Film Studies, and they are FAR more intresting.

I can't bare to look at Visual Basic, Java, and Excel anymore.
Hey Jim, we have some similar interests. I started out doing some IT stuff but quickly ended up in design. I am however doing some programming, but my interests are mostly in motion graphics, film too although I am not the best "After Effectser." :)

I'm sorry you guys all hate your IT jobs so much. I work for an IT (design, networking, etc.) company and I have a great work environment, awesome co-workers, great clients, and a very laid-back and fun work experience. I work from home a lot of the time (hence the new monitors, see other thread), and when I go into the office it's really laid back. People wear jeans and sometimes even shorts (well unless we go to a meeting or have someone come in of course).

I'm not doing practical film yet. Just the theory of it, the art side of it on finding meanings and being able to write about it, and learning about the industry.

Hey Jim, we have some similar interests. I started out doing some IT stuff but quickly ended up in design. I am however doing some programming, but my interests are mostly in motion graphics, film too although I am not the best "After Effectser." :)

I'm sorry you guys all hate your IT jobs so much. I work for an IT (design, networking, etc.) company and I have a great work environment, awesome co-workers, great clients, and a very laid-back and fun work experience. I work from home a lot of the time (hence the new monitors, see other thread), and when I go into the office it's really laid back. People wear jeans and sometimes even shorts (well unless we go to a meeting or have someone come in of course).

well you are one of the lucky ones then...otherwise for the rest of us its a jungle out there...most of us are getting eaten alive, i'm thinking of changine career paths entirely...my sanity isn't worth this shit.

I don't hate my job otherwise I never would have stayed with the same company for 15 years. However, the writing on the wall is obvious. The market is flooded with certified guys and hardware is virtually unbreakable these days and cheaper to replace than fix anyhow. Help desk support is cheaper when sourced overseas. I've got a lot of experience and plenty of credentials in lots of areas so my job is pretty safe along with the few guys are left at my place but there has definitely not been new hiring so the market is still shrinking. New growth is virtually nil. Not good.

Hey Jim, we have some similar interests. I started out doing some IT stuff but quickly ended up in design. I am however doing some programming, but my interests are mostly in motion graphics, film too although I am not the best "After Effectser." :)

I'm sorry you guys all hate your IT jobs so much. I work for an IT (design, networking, etc.) company and I have a great work environment, awesome co-workers, great clients, and a very laid-back and fun work experience. I work from home a lot of the time (hence the new monitors, see other thread), and when I go into the office it's really laid back. People wear jeans and sometimes even shorts (well unless we go to a meeting or have someone come in of course).

I don't hate my job otherwise I never would have stayed with the same company for 15 years. However, the writing on the wall is obvious. The market is flooded with certified guys and hardware is virtually unbreakable these days and cheaper to replace than fix anyhow. Help desk support is cheaper when sourced overseas. I've got a lot of experience and plenty of credentials in lots of areas so my job is pretty safe along with the few guys are left at my place but there has definitely not been new hiring so the market is still shrinking. New growth is virtually nil. Not good.


and thats a good point for this thread....its not really that IT guys hate their jobs per say....at its core i happen to love mine its just the garbage i have to put up with. We (not speaking for everyone) hate the industry itself and the people who call the shots in hiring. As JMR put it new growth is virtually nil.

My dad used to run a snack route for Bachman foods....if i was gonna jump the IT ship i'd go do that...good money and its fun.