Free Career and Job Search Advice

Djill · Newbie Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 3 Career Advice: +0/-0

Hi
I’d like to have some wise advice or simply ur opinion about something. Actually i’ve got a degree in graphic communication (so i use photoshop, xpress, dreamweaver, flash, illustrator... for my work) but obviously now i realize it’s not exactly what i wanted to do. I wish I had known more about computing career.

I’d like to work as a security engineer or specialist but for it, i need to go back to Uni at least for 3 years for a BSc Hons and 1 more for a Master, and that if everything goes well!

I’m 29, woman and i don’t know if it’s worth it, especially when i read that after 40-45 years old some are considerated useless by their fellows and considering the fact that a lot of IT jobs are offshored.

Don’t u think it could be hard for me to find a job afterward ?
Please, please give ur point of view.

Thanx for ur help

Jill

lexa10881 · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:33 am Post subject:

It really depends on what specific area of IT you are interested in. And you should try to research the demographics of that particular job market if you can, possibly. Maybe check out a site like monster or career builder or craigs list that might offer stats like these? If you see that it looks like it might pay off for you to go to school, then get back there and go to work on getting a degree. If not, start pursuing other plans that are as appealing that might make you happy too. And then there's simply the idea of 'beating the odds' because if you are good at what you do, I don't think it will matter a whole lot to a company.

http://www.cvtips.com/career_change.html

Djill · Newbie Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 3 Career Advice: +0/-0

Thank you for ur help ! about the money i think you can at least earn £30-35 k with a degree being a junior security analyst/consultant. Im just afraid to be in an insecure situation for few years with nobody supporting me.
It's so hard to push yourself...

businessanalyst · New User Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 8 Career Advice: +0/-0

Techrepublic (www.techrepublic.com) recently posted the results of an extensive survey they conducted about trends in I.T. It primarily had to with many aspects of the industry, including top paying fields, average age (43, I think), and also average no of years in the industry (14). The ratio of men to women was 3:1. While it is true that there are more men in this industry in general, it is not too uncommon to see women, sometimes, though not always. In our department of 6, we are all men. I also know of very few women in the IT field, but that might be a trend here in the Middle East/Asia.

About outsourcing, keep in mind that it only opens up more opportunities for talented, skilled individuals to do better quality work. Most of what is outsourced is backoffice, desk jobs. Consultancy/Management in I.T. will always, always be needed in any organization.

Djill · Newbie Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 3 Career Advice: +0/-0

Your reply was really useful, I downloaded a lot of .pdf for information and I learnt a lot ! I feel much more comfortable and secure knowing that it's not so uncommon to see a fresh graduate in his 30's. well now I need to make my mind.

Thanks again

businessanalyst · New User Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 8 Career Advice: +0/-0

Djill, you welcome. The internet can be quite resourceful if used correctly. Best of luck and let us know of the outcome of your decision!

dasani2008 · Newbie Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 3 Career Advice: +0/-0

businessanalyst · New User Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 8 Career Advice: +0/-0

I'm no champion of outsourcing myself. Working for the IT department of large US conglomerate, I sometimes feel threatened by the possibility of having part or most of my work shifted to another, cheaper location, under the guise of standardization or even cost-cutting, but that threat only makes me work harder/smarter. Having now worked on both sides of the outsourcing fence (in my previous organization we would recommend companies to outsource their core development work to us), I personally feel I add more value as a person who works for someone able to sustain its workforce without feeling they are an over head of some sort. At the end of the day, outsourcing is a company decision and who they choose to outsource is entirely upto them. My statement of it opening up avenues for other better work is true, it just doesn't mean that the opportunity will come at the same organization

dasani2008 · Newbie Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 3 Career Advice: +0/-0

I'm glad you have faired well in the outsourcing game. But please be careful about making blanket statements like that, especially to people who are looking to get into IT. They need to know that IT does tend to pay better than most other fields, but along with that salary comes rampant volatility. I just didn't want her to have a false sense of security and assume that if she was outsourced, there's some common practice or obligation to move her into some better role. That, in effect, is the exception...not the rule. It's also a field with inherent age discrimination. Older IT works, those in the 40s and 50s (and those that just look that old) are the most commonly outsourced workers. They tend to be upside down in their salary compared to the market because of their seniority. It's interesting, actually. Many people prefer an older more experienced doctor or attorney, but in the IT world grey hair has become a red flag of unpromotability.

businessanalyst · New User Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 8 Career Advice: +0/-0

You are right to say that my advice may have suger coated the actual truth about outsourcing - that it is painful for those that have to endure it. You are also very correct about age/experience being a disadvantage for techies. Frankly, I've never really liked working as a tech person and enjoy the business side of things more. It really depends on what kind of company you work for. In a core technology firm - techies are like Sales people, they are the drivers for the business. This is why, as a business analyst, i was never valued at what are known as software houses, not like the Team Leaders and Technology Architects anyway. Working for a company that drives its revenue from products other than technology (FMCG for e.g.) allows me to be a more imperative component of the process improvement drive (as a business analyst i mean). Of course, this does not take away the fact that I am also viewed as member of a cost centre. Its a trade off though that I'm willing to live with.

P.S. I am enjoying this discussion immensely!.

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