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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."
I have found it well worth while to find jobs at small companies that are related to the field you are intrested in.. sure there isn't a huge ladder to climb up but you get a few years in the field and if your company is any good you get a good reputation.. then you can move up and to a larger company that is what you want.
.. they want to see it get bigger.
if you don't have the papers you must show your experience - best to start out small as they are the most likly to let you try - and if you can prove your self you can open doors..
but on the other hand i went back to the small company because i like the work better and the people are nice and not just out for a paycheck
'...if only "Jumping to a Conclusion" was an event in the Olympics.'
Find something that interest you, not where you think there are jobs...
Not to sound rude or anything but the best thing you can do is pick some area that you are actually interested in. You mentioned that you are interested because you can get work in those areas. You have a much higher chance of succeeding if you don't pick your career path based on potential jobs but truly on what you find fascinating. This will allow you to pick it up much quicker and if you express this interest in your work you will certainly do better work and be able to advance quicker. I am sure this might not be you, but there are way too many people that say they're interested in getting into Bioinformatics/Chemoinformatics/etc. I love the field and wouldn't want to work anywhere else, but it's dissappointed to see the applicants flooding with people who have no true interest, or experience for that matter, in any of the relevant fields.
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.