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Leveraging Development Skills in Other Fields?
It Can't Be All Bad asks: "I've been working as a programmer for a few years now, and I really love the work. I'm trying to think ahead of possible ways to leverage my skills into more specific areas where programmers are welcome and can find work. Areas like bio and chemical informatics appear very interesting ,but for the most part they seem to be for chem/bio majors with masters degrees. My biggest problem is that I'm self taught with only about a years worth of college experience. At this point in my life (with a family, kids, and bills), going back to school just isn't an option anymore. I wanted to know if anyone has had any success utilizing their development skills in specific fields that don't require masters degrees, and what areas I could be overlooking. Like most people here, I just want to be a part of exciting projects with some sort of purpose behind them."
Assuming it's informatics you want... Find out where the people who you want to be like hang out - Informatics blogs, IT Toolbox groups for informatics apps, etc. Just absorb for a while. Then get the to know the tools they use - there is uaually a way to get an evaluation copy or at least a white paper. Ask polite questions when you don't understand, and get to know the more kindly regulars. You CAN work in informatics without a subject matter degree, but it's harder - you need to be able to buddy-up with a scientist and do the computer things he does not want to, without becoming 'just the computer guy' (who is expected to do all the low-level computer stuff).
There are some college-level statistics courses available for free, too - I think MIT has one.
This method will work for any semi-advanced but not too esoteric field these days. Those internets, amazing things.
It is more complicated and it isn't. I didn't go into all the details of what my family went through, but it included no money when the car needed repairs, the same dinner for many nights because there wasn't money to pay for more and other problems. Life is complicated, but you've got a choice: you either make your life better or you don't. Nobody will do it for you. I have yet to hear someone successful say, "I wanted to take classes and learn more or get more qualifications, but I just could not afford it, or just didn't have the time, or just couldn't do it." Yet I often hear comments like this from people looking for jobs that can't do the work well or say they want to be in management in a few years, but don't know how to get there and think somehow they'll work it out.
Newsflash: life is not fair. You can complain about how complicated it is and not step up to the plate, or you can stop complaining and do it. So, in the long run it is that simple: you either find a way to make it work, or you can stop wasting your time dreaming because it won't happen without your effort.
Make excuses or make an effort and find a way. One makes thing better. One does not.