Gotta question for you. Our youngest is just finishing up his degree in Computer Science, but doesn’t want to go for a Masters Degree. He’d like to get a job to see how to use his learning, and the things he’s learned outside school, along the way. What areas of Comp.Sci would you suggest for him to concentrate on, if he wants to make a decent living? He’s really into game making, but is interested in other areas, as well. I’d suggested Net Security, thinking that was going to be necessary even more in the future than it is now. Could he get certifications in that, instead of going back to college? Are there other areas you might suggest?
Thw big thing now in IT seems to be in software development(programming). Graphical design/web development type stuff is big too. If he’s good at either of those, he can practically write his own check in certain areas of the country. Database related stuff would also be high on the list. I’m into networking, so I’m missing out on all of that fun right now. I would advise someone to get into networking/server type stuff, but there are many of us out there, and someone would be getting started into an already somewhat saturated market.
I would certainly focus oertifications, rather than going back to school. I don’t know what the specific certs for software developemt are, but I’m sure there are many to choose from. Best of luck to him!
There is rarely one answer to this. The field changes so much. I've been in software development for 25 years. What made me a decent living 25 years ago is different than 15 years ago, which is different than 10 years ago.
There are lots of "fads" that come and go, the trick is picking one that has some staying power. Right now, "big data" is one of them.
For me, one of the best non-computer things I learned (other than touch typing) was accounting. I was required to take accounting courses. I was told "what do you think you are going to program, games?". Game programming jobs are few and far between. Most programming is done by businesses, programming business processes and accounting, or customizing accounting and ERP systems.
It also taught me a lot about business and ended up starting my own company, selling some software that I wrote.