So how's the computer job industry doing?

Cobra · 07-14-2004, 09:13 PM

i'm sure this has been asked before, and is a very popular topic. but i really have no idea, so i ask; hows the computer industry doing? since i'm doing computer science, will i be able to find a job when i graduate? and should i do computer science and computer engineering? i feel kind of iffy now... any input would be greatly appreciated

beedubaya · 07-14-2004, 09:20 PM

The IT industry was very hot during the Bill Clinton economic boom and has been slow during the Bush economic recession. However, the number of IT jobs are expected to increase dramatically throughout the next four years (or so I've heard). I wouldn't worry.

Larry · 07-26-2004, 02:49 AM

Your reply makes me ask the question:

Do you think slick willy had something to do with the recession?
You do know that Bush "inherited" the recession!

But back to the IT question...
Point Blank.... computers will ALWAYS be around.
AND most everything has cycles (ups and downs)

beedubaya · 07-26-2004, 03:13 AM

Being neither republican or democrat, i have to say that really, the president has nothing to do with the economy. But Clinton is commonly associated with economic boom and Bush with recession, so that is why I made the statement. If Kerry inherits a good economy, it will not be because of anything he did. Things do not change overnight just because a new president is elected.

Kangaroo · 08-12-2004, 07:03 AM

When I finish my degree in Astrophysics I should be able to get a job practically anywhere.

Large companies are usually interested in your learning curve (how well you take in information). My uncle has a degree in Politics but got a job working for a computer company, which in turn paid him through a Degree in Database programming or something

Cobra · 11-23-2004, 09:05 PM

so now, what section of IT jobs pays the highest? programming, engineering, or what?

Zakian · 11-24-2004, 09:59 AM

Thats a very good question. You cannot break the aspects of IT down to such a blunt level and Engineering, Programming and such you have to understand that some programmers make alot more then others. Some Engineers also make more or less then others. In general, I have been IT for over 10 years, I see that the field has gone from a very focused career to the more diverse you are the better chances for you to get that higher paying job. I used to just do networking, now i am network, security, server admin, exchange admin, and a set of hands for our world wide operations. So being a master of one is nice but be knowledgeable in many things is a good thing

ewomack · 12-13-2004, 06:45 PM

The people that seem to get paid the highest where I work are the analysts. I don't know why, but programming and operations are looked down upon where I work. They like the generalist types who see the entire system and can offer help on infrastructure, architecture, and overall system design. Of course, they also outsource a huge chunk of their programming and development, so that may be why. Those who move up the highest, and thus get paid the most, are those who seem to do the least amount of hands-on work. It seems bizarre to me, but that's how it works. On the flip side, good look landing one of those jobs without coding or operations experience.

Larry · 12-15-2004, 12:57 AM

Zakian.... I agree with much of your post....

ewomack... from my experience, a good...uhm... A GREAT analysts is one who has been the programmer, the operations guy, the guy who did the hands-on work.

IMO, you CANNOT be a great "manager/upper person" if you have never got your hands dirty.

HOWEVER, politics and the "good-ole-boy" network can and has put people into these positions with out it AND those companies that have done so are now bankrupt

The term in sports is "A Player's Coach"
meaning, a the chance of success of a coach who has never played the sport is very little.

However, there are exceptions to the rule

I tend to go with the odds... UNLESS I'm the underdog... meaning, I usually never under estimate my own abilities AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU!!!

ever play craps?

I will always bet the pass line when I roll, yet many times go against the pass when other people roll "based on their attitude"

ewomack · 01-17-2005, 08:16 PM

I totally agree with you - the analyst should have "from the ground up" experience, but I know plenty of architects and systems analysts in my company who say they've never written a line of code in their lives. It doesn't make sense to me either, but somehow they get there. And they get paid more and have more prestige on top of it.

I don't know...

07-14-2004, 09:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cobra Newb Techie Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 30	So how's the computer job industry doing? i'm sure this has been asked before, and is a very popular topic. but i really have no idea, so i ask; hows the computer industry doing? since i'm doing computer science, will i be able to find a job when i graduate? and should i do computer science and computer engineering? i feel kind of iffy now... any input would be greatly appreciated

07-14-2004, 09:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
beedubaya Lord Techie Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 5,235	The IT industry was very hot during the Bill Clinton economic boom and has been slow during the Bush economic recession. However, the number of IT jobs are expected to increase dramatically throughout the next four years (or so I've heard). I wouldn't worry. __________________ ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Motherboard AMD Opteron 165 @ 2.25GHz 2GB G.Skill Extreme PC4000 RAM Leadtek Winfast GeForce 7800GT Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi "I know the human being and fish can co-exist peacefully" - George W. Bush

07-26-2004, 03:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
beedubaya Lord Techie Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 5,235	Being neither republican or democrat, i have to say that really, the president has nothing to do with the economy. But Clinton is commonly associated with economic boom and Bush with recession, so that is why I made the statement. If Kerry inherits a good economy, it will not be because of anything he did. Things do not change overnight just because a new president is elected. __________________ ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Motherboard AMD Opteron 165 @ 2.25GHz 2GB G.Skill Extreme PC4000 RAM Leadtek Winfast GeForce 7800GT Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi "I know the human being and fish can co-exist peacefully" - George W. Bush

08-12-2004, 07:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
Kangaroo Ultra Techie Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 722	When I finish my degree in Astrophysics I should be able to get a job practically anywhere. Large companies are usually interested in your learning curve (how well you take in information). My uncle has a degree in Politics but got a job working for a computer company, which in turn paid him through a Degree in Database programming or something __________________ [size=0.5]Full Aluminium ThermalTake Case Asus A7N8X-E-Deluxe AMD Athlon XP 3200+ 400 FSB Barton (2.2GHz) ThermalTake Volcano 11+ Xaser Edition Air Cooling 1024MB Corsair TwinX XMS 3200 (Dual Channel 2x512) 2-3-2-6 256Mb XFX 7800 GS EXTREME 2x WD Raptors (10krpm 8MB Cache) 36.7GB using RAID -0 Video Logic SonicXplosion 5.1 Soundcard[/size]

12-13-2004, 06:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
ewomack Newb Techie Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 46	The people that seem to get paid the highest where I work are the analysts. I don't know why, but programming and operations are looked down upon where I work. They like the generalist types who see the entire system and can offer help on infrastructure, architecture, and overall system design. Of course, they also outsource a huge chunk of their programming and development, so that may be why. Those who move up the highest, and thus get paid the most, are those who seem to do the least amount of hands-on work. It seems bizarre to me, but that's how it works. On the flip side, good look landing one of those jobs without coding or operations experience. __________________ Ed Womack Get Milked

07-26-2004, 02:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
Larry Administrator Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 1,410	Your reply makes me ask the question: Do you think slick willy had something to do with the recession? You do know that Bush "inherited" the recession! But back to the IT question... Point Blank.... computers will ALWAYS be around. AND most everything has cycles (ups and downs)

11-23-2004, 09:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cobra Newb Techie Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 30	so now, what section of IT jobs pays the highest? programming, engineering, or what?

11-24-2004, 09:59 AM	#7 (permalink)
Zakian Newb Techie Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3	Thats a very good question. You cannot break the aspects of IT down to such a blunt level and Engineering, Programming and such you have to understand that some programmers make alot more then others. Some Engineers also make more or less then others. In general, I have been IT for over 10 years, I see that the field has gone from a very focused career to the more diverse you are the better chances for you to get that higher paying job. I used to just do networking, now i am network, security, server admin, exchange admin, and a set of hands for our world wide operations. So being a master of one is nice but be knowledgeable in many things is a good thing

12-15-2004, 12:57 AM	#9 (permalink)
Larry Administrator Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 1,410	Zakian.... I agree with much of your post.... ewomack... from my experience, a good...uhm... A GREAT analysts is one who has been the programmer, the operations guy, the guy who did the hands-on work. IMO, you CANNOT be a great "manager/upper person" if you have never got your hands dirty. HOWEVER, politics and the "good-ole-boy" network can and has put people into these positions with out it AND those companies that have done so are now bankrupt The term in sports is "A Player's Coach" meaning, a the chance of success of a coach who has never played the sport is very little. However, there are exceptions to the rule I tend to go with the odds... UNLESS I'm the underdog... meaning, I usually never under estimate my own abilities AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU!!! ever play craps? I will always bet the pass line when I roll, yet many times go against the pass when other people roll "based on their attitude"

01-17-2005, 08:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
ewomack Newb Techie Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 46	I totally agree with you - the analyst should have "from the ground up" experience, but I know plenty of architects and systems analysts in my company who say they've never written a line of code in their lives. It doesn't make sense to me either, but somehow they get there. And they get paid more and have more prestige on top of it. I don't know... __________________ Ed Womack Get Milked

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