Imoutgoodbye Posted October 26, 2009 Report Share Posted October 26, 2009 Question for all you employed in the computer fields... What's more employable, CIST-Coding or CIST-Networking? I'm enrolling for community college classes and I'm not sure which direction to head with for my associates. :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WagesofSin Posted October 26, 2009 Report Share Posted October 26, 2009 Well this isn't my advice, but a friend told me that: Network security is the way to go. Network installation...any high school kid with a users manual or two can do. Programming is high on the list...but network security is definitely #1...programming maybe a close 2nd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mali Posted October 26, 2009 Report Share Posted October 26, 2009 Go with programming if your a math genius. Go with networking if you want a stable job that is widely available. http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/le2/le0/le9/learning_certification_type_home.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croyvern Posted October 26, 2009 Report Share Posted October 26, 2009 Ahem, Networking requires awesome eyesight. You would be amazed how close orange and brown look when your kneeling under some fat guys desk with the reflective flourescent lights bouncing off the doritos bag. So I say networking if your young, programming if your among those of us with failing senses. The Voice of Experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigPapa Posted October 26, 2009 Report Share Posted October 26, 2009 Hey, you sure it was Doritos!!?? I have a Fritos bag on my desk, and a nerd came in to fix my PC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L-A Posted October 27, 2009 Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 Well this isn't my advice, but a friend told me that: Network security is the way to go. Network installation...any high school kid with a users manual or two can do. Programming is high on the list...but network security is definitely #1...programming maybe a close 2nd. If you mean plug cables into holes (which is sadly what many consider 'networking') then your friend may be right. If you mean actually connect it then make it work from start to finish (including all server setups, security, user access etc) then probably not. As for what you do - what are YOU more interested in? Do you like solving problems by cutting code? Or do you want to make things work, deal with user access etc? Both area's have ups and downs - and like anything 97% of your time is dealing with unexciting, mundance requests. Its the 3% of really interesting stuff you enjoy doing you have to decide on. I work in the industry (yes, I'm on the Networking side of the world) and I can tell you no matter which you do if you're good at what you do you will find work. This means updating skills in an industry that is fast paced industry - so don't think your studying days are over when you get your first bit of paper. I'm slow at getting bits of paper - my experience helps but in sometime the bits of paper DO open large doors. Undergrads are the start, industry certs after then and perhaps posts depending on what you want to do. L-A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The-Nameless Posted October 27, 2009 Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 network setup and LAN setup are two HUGELY different beasts Wages. Lan setup is cake, Network with an actual server is not so cake. As to an answer to your question I would agree with L-A. Regardless of what field you specialize in, if you have a talent for it, you will have a paycheck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f0xx Posted October 27, 2009 Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 Hey, you sure it was Doritos!!?? I have a Fritos bag on my desk, and a nerd came in to fix my PC. Hehe, I find it quite funny that some can't fix their PCs by themself, especually when it's not a hardware problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imoutgoodbye Posted October 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 If you mean plug cables into holes (which is sadly what many consider 'networking') then your friend may be right. If you mean actually connect it then make it work from start to finish (including all server setups, security, user access etc) then probably not. As for what you do - what are YOU more interested in? Do you like solving problems by cutting code? Or do you want to make things work, deal with user access etc? Both area's have ups and downs - and like anything 97% of your time is dealing with unexciting, mundance requests. Its the 3% of really interesting stuff you enjoy doing you have to decide on. I work in the industry (yes, I'm on the Networking side of the world) and I can tell you no matter which you do if you're good at what you do you will find work. This means updating skills in an industry that is fast paced industry - so don't think your studying days are over when you get your first bit of paper. I'm slow at getting bits of paper - my experience helps but in sometime the bits of paper DO open large doors. Undergrads are the start, industry certs after then and perhaps posts depending on what you want to do. L-A Thanks. THAT'S the kind of networking I'm interested in. I tried my hand at coding in high school and hated it. As for continuing learning, that's a given in the technology world and my original course of study in college was for a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, major political science, minor english. I'm totally down with continuing education. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L-A Posted October 28, 2009 Report Share Posted October 28, 2009 Latest stats (from Garderner I believe): Most IT professionals spend around 80% of their time 'keeping the lights' on. The other 20% is spents adding value and efficiency to the business. It won't matter if you cut code, DBA, network admin, CIO or do rollouts - mostly, you're doing 'work' that isn't exciting. I imagine its the same in most industries - but for some reason everyone thinks in IT its going to be 'exciting' all the time. Don't get me wrong - its not a bad industry to be in, just don't think you will get away from your share of sh!tkicking work. You won't. L-A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imoutgoodbye Posted October 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2009 Well, the plan a few years ago was to do Biometric Security. When it came time to finish the enrollment process at the only school in the state that offered it, turned out each credit hour was $400. So, $1200 per class (3 credits per) and needed 86 just for the Associates....no way. Found out I'm not cut out for being a CNA. Almost lost my sanity during clinicals. Went to look at some welding classes being offered for free through a state funded project. Practically have to be jobless to do that. 40 hours per week for 12 weeks...don't have time to do that and work full time. So, found a CHEAP local community college that offered the nice technical package of an Associates in Computer Information Systems Networking with CISCO. Planning well ahead for Fall 2010 so I can have everything in order I need to get in order. The way it's looking, if I take all the grants/loans, the school will be cutting me a check at the end of each semester. Hopefully everything stays on track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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