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Lifetime Careers in IT?
CyPlasm asks: "MSN Careers had this article posted the other day that asked about a "Lifetime Career in IT: Is It Possible?" Does the average Slashdot reader think they will retire (with a pension, benefits, etc) after a long and successful career in IT?"
Indeed, my dad is a lifer (same systems for 25+ years even). Doesn't know many (modern) languages, but has been keeping the system he's worked on up, running, and maintained to modern needs while the company cycles through less competant engineers (and managers).
According to this and this article, close to half of all IT workers could be displaced in as little as two years. International outsourcing, contractors, part-timers and consultants will do most of the work. If you want to work in IT for the rest of your career, you need to be planning your strategy now. So quit munching pizza and watching cartoons and figure out what you want to be when you grow up.
Maybe the analysts are wrong, but do you want to bet your career on it?
The warning signs are out there.
You'd be surprised, a good mechanic and a body technician (repair wrecks) can make really great money. It's really hard work but good mechanics can make 65K and body guys can top 6 figures and that's just working for a shop. Most of those guys get paid by the bill hours and the job hours aren't how long it actually takes. There's a big book with how many hours it takes to do EVERYTHING but if you can do it in half the time that's twice the money.
Hey I'm going to school @ UTI. The web addy is like www.uticorp.com . You go to school to learn like your basics, if you have good grades you can go to the manufacturer's programs. Not just BMW, but Porsche, Mercedes, Volvo, VolksWagon. The fun part of going is the few classes that add up to make hotrod u : power and performance classes, street/hot rodding/ NOS ... I'm taking Diesel as well and industrial which adds refrigeration and hydraulics.
BMW's by the way use fiber optics to drive all sorts of systems. The courses I believe take 22 weeks.
I used to work in computers. Overclocking just doesn't feel the same when you tweak an engine and hear it break class and make car alarms cry.
If you have any questions or would like to know more about UTI , the BMW manufacturing program, let me know. I'll be glad to help. email: crea5e AT yahoo dot com.