Re: Career Change

Hi Tom,

Here’s a couple of other thoughts on the career change.

I did the same – but in my mid thirties (in my mid fifties now). It was very, very difficult to get that first job (a year of contacting every one I could find with a job, every way I could think of ). I finally ran into a place that would try entry level programmers that appeared to have talent (and were willing to work for very low money – which is why they did it).

As an interesting note -- the head programmer there had come from being a carpenter.

It will be hard, but if you are tenacious enough you should be able to break in (and if you have any friends/relatives already in IT, lean heavy on them for help). Once in, with a year under your belt, you’ll have it pretty much made (providing the economy doesn’t totally collapse, etc.). There is a shortage of qualified people and, IMHO, will be ‘till long after I’m out of the market.

As for the direction to take, I’m not sure DBA is what you ought to be thinking of. I’ve been both DBA and developer – they are really two different skill/talent/interest sets. If you’re top of your skill set, they both pay around the same.

A programmer builds things. As being a builder of things all your life, I would imagine this would be more your liking. A DBA keeps things running – as important (if not more important) – but a whole different way of looking at it. The analogy would be the builder of a building to the plant engineer (once it’s built).

Just some thoughts,
Tom

Blaine Jones wrote:

> Tom - I've been in IT for all but the first few years of my working life but
> even within IT the thoughts of changing focus have to come up from time to
> time. I've pretty much been a generalist over the last several years.
> Delivered Tech support, was a network admin for a little while, got my MCSE
> and went to work for an IT shop as a Systems Administrator where I basically
> consulted/worked for other companies on behalf of my employer. I've been
> working in implementations for a healthcare software company for the last 4
> years. I've increased my Unix skillset, although nowhere near the level I'd
> like. But I still feel like my career doesn't have much focus - I'm pretty
> much all over the map in terms of what I do. With the shape of the U.S.
> economy I thought long and hard about how to target a skillset in IT that
> has the best chance of surviving a round of layoffs and one in which if I
> DID get laid off, should allow me to find another job relatively quickly. I
> settled on Oracle DBA (it was between that and Java programmer).
> I figured I could get my OCP without much difficulty by buying the OCP
> books - I used this same tactic for the MCSE exams. The major difference
> being that I already knew Windows NT (incidentally, my MCSE was in 3.51, so
> it was a few years back).
> I'm finding the OCP track much more difficult as self-study than I thought
> it would be. If I had the funds (which I don't, so the point is moot), I
> would go with classroom training/mentorship in addition to self-study rather
> than self-study alone. I find the concepts pretty foreign and it's taking
> some time to get my head around some of the logical concepts of Oracle-
> physical concepts don't seem to be a problem.
> I'm determined to make this self-study work for me. I've already passed the
> first exam on my own (8i PL/SQL), so I have 4 more to go. I was hoping to be
> at least halfway to the OCP by now, having passed that exam on December 10.
> But I'll get there - it'll just be later than sooner. I just hope the
> economy can wait for me to finish.
>
> So, to answer one of your questions, age may be a factor in some employers
> eyes but demonstration of skills seems to overcome that. One of the most
> intelligent and respected IT guys in my company is somewhere between 50 and
> 60.
>
> I say go for it. What've you got to lose?
>
> Blaine
>
> --
>
> "Tom Watson" <tjwatson_at_snip.net.nospam> wrote in message
> news:a5cm6u0135hho4clhb9ju242qu1pi0f26u_at_4ax.com...
> > I'm looking to make a change of careers.
> >
> > I'm currently a cabinetmaker and prior to that I was a carpenter and
> > construction superintendent.
> >
> > I'm fifty-one years old now and various body parts are not working
> > according to design specs anymore. (the lifting of 110 lb. sheet
> > goods onto the tablesaw has become onerous) Besides that, I've done
> > what I can do in this line of work and would like to go in another
> > direction.
> >
> > A few years ago, in appreciation of the facts of my declining physical
> > capabilities, I began studying VB. I began in VB4 and have proceeded
> > through VB5 to VB6.
> >
> > I haven't done any professional work in this area, just made some
> > programs that would help me along in my business, mostly cutting list
> > applications that leverage Excel and use VB to make a nice front end.
> >
> > I've explored Access and some SQL stuff, in making simple databases
> > that help me with pricing, inventory and customer contacts.
> >
> > Now I've come to the decision point and have set my sails to enter
> > into the real world of IT employment (shudder).
> >
> > In doing a local (Philadelphia area) search for available jobs, it
> > has become apparent that Oracle skills are in high demand. Oracle
> > seems to be the most represented skill-set item in the listings.
> >
> > My question to the group is that of the most efficient path to follow,
> > in terms of study and training, with an eye towards entering the job
> > force as quickly and as profitably as possible.
> >
> > I see that there are Data Base Operators, Data Base Administrators and
> > Oracle Developers. Unless I have misjudged, the DBO position is the
> > one that is closest to an entry level undertaking.
> >
> > If this is the case, how should I proceed, in terms of study and
> > training, to prepare myself for such a position? What time frame of
> > study is involved? Is this the best first step on a path of
> > continuing learning and involvement in this craft?
> >
> > I've enjoyed my study of VB but have no real world experience under my
> > belt that would help me judge my skill level in a professional
> > environment. I feel comfortable in dealing with computers, having
> > done so as an amateur from my first CP/M Televideo machine to the
> > present.
> >
> > I do worry about being a 'new old guy' in a realm that I perceive to
> > be populated by 'old young guys', in terms of their professional
> > experience. I also concern myself with the differences in 'culture'
> > between my past work environment and the IT world.
> >
> > It would be a great help to me to have some opinions from those of you
> > who are experienced in this area.
> >
> >
> > If I have made foolish statements and assumptions in the above,
> > please, kindly write that off to someone who is 'looking through a
> > glass, darkly' and seeks a clearer vision.
> >
> > Thank you.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Tom.
> >
> > Thomas J. Watson-Cabinetmaker
> > 278 Balligomingo Road
> > Gulph Mills, Pennsylvania
> > 19428
> >
> > 610-940-0546
> >
> > tjwatson_at_snip.net
> > www.tjwcabinetmaker.com
> > Regards,
> >
> > Tom.
> >
> > Thomas J. Watson-Cabinetmaker
> > 278 Balligomingo Road
> > Gulph Mills, Pennsylvania
> > 19428
> >
> > 610-940-0546
> >
> > tjwatson_at_snip.net
> > www.tjwcabinetmaker.com
Received on Sat Feb 16 2002 - 11:07:10 CST