IT jobs

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Hi I'm interested in POSSIBLY changing careers to IT. I have no real computer background but I do have some interest and I think this type of job will suit my personality better. I'm a good student and I enjoy technical subjects.
Does anyone who is currently in the field have any tips or advice about getting started with IT?
Thanks,
Johnny

Its fun, but a bad career move. Check the job listings. Not much out there in the US. I was in IT for a long time then after many years of unemployment, I retrained to be a registered nurse.

In other words, unless your other career is worse, don't switch. Go by the job listings. Not many companies will give new grads a chance. They want 3-5 years experience. Which also means literally that 6 years is too much and also not qualified.

If you do manage to get a job in IT, the pay is fair, but its dropping due to cheap foreign labor bringing down the price.

Here is a video that will expose some of the fraud that goes on in the USA IT job market.


[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=TCbFEgFajGU[/youtube]

Last edited by n4mwd on 25 Jul 2008, 2:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

It is very difficult to make the right choice, I should recommend an Orienteering University Psicologist.
Have a look here:
http://www.wrongplanet.net/posts68127-highlight.html

Are you sure you don't mean "psychologist"?

I'm working as a programmer (web sites at moment), though in Amsterdam/NL, so I can't tell you much about the US job market (ad we hear bad things, like having to work in those cubicles )

I started programming in the early 80s, when I was a teen and the first homecomputers started to hit the world... I never studied, still never had problems to get me a job.
If you're good at it, you have an advantage: It'll be easier for you to find a new job, then for your boss to find a new programmer.
In general people in IT are intelligent & friendly and to some extend understanding to my weird character.

It is definitely one of the better options for Aspies, as long as you have the skills to do it good.

There is plenty of IT jobs in the Uk.

IT is so broad, you need to know what kind of stuff you enjoy first.

Hi Johnny,

Its nice to know that there are still some places in the world where a talented Software Engineer can still find work. You did not say where you live. If its not in the US, you have a pretty good chance of finding work it would seem. In the US, you will have a hard time of it.

I wonder if the UK will let me move over there.

I was a software developer for years, before I moved into management. I loved it and it was a good fit for me. It's a good job for an Aspie with technical aptitude because the social deficits don't matter as much. But I agree with those who said it's a tough field in the U.S. right now.

I work in IT and today I was taken out for a free lunch by a placement firm. I had told them several times that I was not interested but was asked to go to lunch to talk about the IT demands of the area where I live along with asking if I knew anybody looking for a job. Like most other careers, don't expect to get your dream job just out of school, it takes a little time.

I'm still looking for my dream job but in the meantime where I live in the US there is a very high demand for IT people and I do not see that changing anytime soon.

Most places, Entry-Level means 1-2 years of experience but for some reason schools don't tell you this.

Yes, IT is a broad area (programming, system adminstration, graphics, mapping, modeling, documentation, testing...) and I found that I like the programming side the best. Yes, some jobs go overseas because of cheaper rates but I have seen some of those same jobs come back. If you are worried about this then look for a career where the job can not be sent overseas. Nursing is a good example because it is part of the service industry and here in the US we have all of these baby boomers getting older and finally starting to retire.

Also, having a good understanding of Math will help. I have a degree in Math which also opens up teaching as well and there is a very high demand for Math teachers but the pay is not that great. Maybe when I get older I go this route and get my summers off.

Maybe research some more and good luck.

I'd be curious where that is. I know a lot of guys that would be interested in moving there. Where I live, a programmer with 20 years of experience is lucky if he gets a minimum wage job working the computer help desk.

I'm always surprised when I hear that IT jobs in the US are hard to find. I've never been out of work, have had numberous concurrent job offers, and really just decide where and for who I want to work. There's plenty of work for the skilled and even semi-skilled in IT. There's little work for those who have no degree, experience or aptitude. I've found that's the only barrier. If you've been in IT, and can't find work currently, you're probably not good at it, and have chosen poorly for yourself.
Check DICE. com or Monster, and just do a general search. Unless you're very picky, alot of decent paying jobs list quickly. Pick one, and give it a try.

Its extremely difficult to find a a software engineering job in the US right now - especially for people over 35. You need to watch the video above regarding Dice and monster. I have a friend who is still in it and is willing to travel anywhere to get it. He has gone as far as Africa for an IT job. If you live in a hot area like Silicon Valley, you can probably still find work.

In my case, I am a software engineering expert as described by all of my former employers and have multiple CS degrees with several software patents as well. Still, nobody was giving me the time of day in the IT field so I retrained to be a registered nurse. I have no plans to go back into IT. Its only a hobby right now.

One thing for sure, to this day, I have never found a single job advertised in another field that specifies a maximum number of years of experience as is common in the IT field. When IT jobs are advertised, the phrase "Must have 3-5 years experience" is a common phrase - and trust me, NOBODY gets those jobs with 6 years or more experience.

I'm going to have to disagree about finding a job. I'm on the west coast and maybe it is different here. I'm leaving a good job to go to another that I just got (moving north for personal reasons). I had two offers and didn't have much trouble. It does help that I continue my education as I have opportunities and have taken the time to learn to interview well.

I have been in IT 15 years. The pacific northwest has a strong IT job market and California is still pretty respectable.

IT has been a great career for me. Worked well when I had terrible communication problems and there was room to grow as my people skills improved.

According to my research, there are vastly more IT jobs in california than in any other state in the country. California has 4 times as many jobs as the next state which is Massachusetts. If you add up all the available IT jobs in the US excluding california, massachusetts and texas, the number of jobs is still less that in california alone.

The problem is that I live in florida and I'm not willing to travel because of my AS.

Pretty soon, the price of transportation may prevent such a journey anyway. By the way, I was able to travel on the road from Texas to Minnesota in 2003. I planned the route, stops, assisted in backing up the moving truck via signaling, etc. Asperger's didn't prevent me from doing that. How is it that you are prevented?