Career In Computers? Need Help

Endurance Man

Well after many weeks of organising and planning its come down to choosing between 2 courses that i can do. They are 2 year diploma's.
Basically its between "Programming" and "Networking"
I have done a bunch of research and from what i can see programming is a lot more involved than networking, lots more maths . I am thinking that networking would be the easy way out.
Are there perhaps any programmers and networkers that could comment on there day to day work life, is it fun, do you think you will ever get bored of either of them.
Realise this is a silly post but just trying to get more thoughts into my head to make the right decision.
Thanks

commited

You're looking for an "easy" career? You're gonna get bored quick imho.

I'm not currently doing a computer related degree, but I have worked in IT (many moons ago when a P3 was something ) and it was pretty boring. It was nearly all networking and support.

Are these two your only 2 options?

I did programming as part of my engineering degree - it's a bit difficult but it'll bring a different challenge every week!

Nick_oliveri

Yeah, i would be interested on which one to go for myself. Currently doing two year diploma (FETAC) involving shiddy word processing, java and the like. So im all about tha boring!

Endurance Man

commited wrote:

You're looking for an "easy" career? You're gonna get bored quick imho.

I'm not currently doing a computer related degree, but I have worked in IT (many moons ago when a P3 was something ) and it was pretty boring. It was nearly all networking and support.

Are these two your only 2 options?

I did programming as part of my engineering degree - it's a bit difficult but it'll bring a different challenge every week!

No, im not looking for an easy career, i just dont want to get in over my head. I am no maths whiz kid , so im worried a lot of the course is going to involve heavy maths.
I did Standard grade maths for the LC and got a B2, i thought that was okay but would you think good enough to take up a programming course?

commited

I dont remember there being very difficult maths, but I only did C++ programming.

I'd go for the programming option over the networking everytime though!

gre_soul

hardware problems can be more daunting than sw issues in real life scenarios, try getting into linux and maybe into shell scripting. A junior system admin role could be a nice varied job (i would not know though!). i would browse various job sites and look at the requirements to see whats out there and what are employers looking for. a lot of networking/tech jobs requires knowledge of certin programming languages so it would not do any harm to understand the syntax at least and see where it takes you maths is not as relivant as you may think!

MiCr0

this might be better off over in Work

deadfingers

Well it all really depends on the company you work for. I got a job a while ago in an IS department working with large comm rooms, it was really interesting coz i did both daily tasks such as checklists and such things but also did some cool stuff like setting up wireless networks, now I work in a different company and I am doing both networking, sys admin and programming. Don’t get bogged down with Maths as I have not used much since I left college? Why don’t u do a Comp Sci course then that way u get to do a little of both and see what you like and will be qualified to do either. IMHO programming with 1 company could be a completely different role that doing programming with another company! Hope this helps?

Endurance Man

Thanks for all the replys . I have now decided to go with a 3 Year IT Degree, this will give me a feel for both aspects of the industry. Just hope i cope , gotta stay away from the bloody beach.

Khannie

You'll be fine with that level of Maths. I was similar in school, but kinda "got" things more in college (late bloomer). Coding is a real winner if you like a mental challenge because it changes and is satisfying when you get something finished.

Adblock

I am doing a Degree in Computer Science [UL]. + I worked as a Localization Engineer for 8 Months. To be honest I only like a very small part of comp sys. I mean the maths is ok but I hate design and analysis rubbish.

Working in the industry is fine I mean it’s a handy job. I found it very boring as a localization engineer, but then in fairness summer jobs as a builder/joiner wasn’t much fun. Work is work.

I have to admit I do like the networking side of computers. I suppose it’s a personal taste.

Anyway If I could think of something better to be doing I would do it.

Just a final note and this isn’t snobbery it’s just the truth. There are a few courses in colleges today that are designed for the extremely intelligent in society. Like theoretical physics and the like. I think Computer Systems can be brute tough, I mean if ur looking to get a bare degree its fine but if you are looking for a 1.1 then u will have to study hard no matter how smart u are. I.e. in short it’s a tough course.

WizZard

A 3 year IT degree, you haven't specified which, should give you a good feel for the field.
The most important thing at the moment in IT is experience. Get as much as possible during the year and during summers. It will benfit you the minute you leave college

SwampThing

Programming - hands down!

Stephen

I did a four year honours degree in networking (i actually graduate next week ), and found the first two years brutally hard because of my poor standard of maths. Programming wasn't too terrible (we only did Java), but I don't enjoy it. The third and fourth years I found far better, as the maths was more applied to the subject matter, rather than just abstract letters and numbers, so I felt much more comfortable with it. I ended up doing my fourth year project on IPv6, and I quite enjoyed it, though I didn't get great marks on it as it was quite an easy project when compared to some of the horrific looking programming projects some of my classmates did.

I currently work in the IT department of a large Irish company, where my work is quite varied. I do a range of things from second level tech support (i.e. not sitting at the phone taking calls from our users, but resolving calls escalated from the helpdesk) to maintaining some of our systems, installing bits and bobs in the big noisy computer room, driving to some of our nearby sites to do some routine stuff etc.

In short, I like my job. The company is paying for MCSA courses for me too.

stevenmu

Tbh I think you need to re-evaluate, it sound like you've just decided you'd like a career in 'computers' without any real thought on the matter, or any real interest in any aspects of it.

You need to figure out first why you want a career in 'computers', then deciding which area to go into will come naturally, or at least you'll end up in the slightly better situation of wanting to go into multiple areas and trying to decide which one you want more. At the moment you sound a bit like a young Roy Keane saying "Meh, I think I'll try some kind of career in sports, what one should I play ?"

Endurance Man

Well i have always been interested in pc's, enjoy changing out the hardware and building up systems ect..
Working on pc's has always just come naturally to me, everything i no i basically taught myself with books ect.
I have set up a network in my house comprising of 4 pc's, it wasnt the most difficult task but i enjoyed doing it. I have actaully done a programming course before at school, it was a year and fairly basic. I did not enjoy it as much as i hoped i would, i found entering lines of code kinda boring .
I have always wanted to design games but not many colleges do that course.
I have looked at many other options but none have sounded like my kinda thing. Its difficult and i dont no if im making the right choice, but i have been deliberating over this for 6 months.
Another draw back is i am going to study in South Africa and there is not a huge choice of courses there.

Stark

Do you know what's involved in designing games? It's nowhere near as glamorous as you think.

There are various "sys admin" jobs out there that would suit you. Maybe try getting a support role to gain experience.

WizZard

Endurance Man wrote:

i found entering lines of code kinda boring

Programming is not for you then...
You will probaby spend the first few years after college as a code monkey, which can be pretty boring, before you could move into, say, project management.

Placebo

im doing computer science and software engineering in maynooth.
4th year.
#
we did networks as part of 3d year - boring

Endurance Man

I really enjoy the hardware side of computers but i doubt building computers is gonna bring in a decent pay check .

chump

Endurance Man, just because you're into playing and messing with computers doesn't mean it's your only option as a career...

Sure life would be boring if we all choose to have careers in the one thing we had an interest in...

You could look at trying for a career in an area that suits your skills and aptitudes best, and continue on with computers as a past-time/hobby.

Also being good with computers is pretty a strong asset in pretty much any career you'd opt for...

Basically what I'm saying is, choose business, choose a trade, choose a profession, look at all the options...become a quantity surveyor!

Look at your options, it's easy for you to choose to go into computers, but it mightn't be the best call, career and finance wise...