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Re-entering a career field after a hiatus?
bigpanda
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Looks like I'm getting all my posts in tonight.
I'm looking at trying to switch careers in the next year. I have a BS in Computer Science from the University of Michigan and have had about a year's experience in programming. Thing is that I switched to a more generic IT position (helpdesk and technical support) for about 4 years as the money was better at the time. I planned on only sticking around for a year or so, but you know how that goes, woke up 4 years later and I'm still in the same field.
I've done Windows and Mac support (including pre-press and print production) and am now transitioning into systems administration. Thing is that I'm burned out from doing help desk and want to get back into doing dev work (basically I need to start creating something rather than fixing things). I know C++ and VB. Thing is that I'm rusty and I don't have much dev work outside of some FoxPro/VB work that I did that first year out of college.
I'm looking for ways on how to transition back into the world of programming and am looking for ways of making myself marketable for those kinds of positions. I'm working on learning Python and Ruby right now and want to tie that into graphics programming. Ideally I'd like to end up in a career working in graphics programming, preferably at a visual effects house. I know I'm probably going to have to take a paycut and go for a more entry level position at first. Most of those that I see though either want someone with 3+ years experience or a recent college grad (which I'm not). I've thought about going back to school, but won't be able to do that until next winter, possibly the fall depending on when classes start.
Okay, I think I'm starting to ramble now, so I'll shut up and listen to comments.
Thanks,
BP
I'm looking at trying to switch careers in the next year. I have a BS in Computer Science from the University of Michigan and have had about a year's experience in programming. Thing is that I switched to a more generic IT position (helpdesk and technical support) for about 4 years as the money was better at the time. I planned on only sticking around for a year or so, but you know how that goes, woke up 4 years later and I'm still in the same field.
I've done Windows and Mac support (including pre-press and print production) and am now transitioning into systems administration. Thing is that I'm burned out from doing help desk and want to get back into doing dev work (basically I need to start creating something rather than fixing things). I know C++ and VB. Thing is that I'm rusty and I don't have much dev work outside of some FoxPro/VB work that I did that first year out of college.
I'm looking for ways on how to transition back into the world of programming and am looking for ways of making myself marketable for those kinds of positions. I'm working on learning Python and Ruby right now and want to tie that into graphics programming. Ideally I'd like to end up in a career working in graphics programming, preferably at a visual effects house. I know I'm probably going to have to take a paycut and go for a more entry level position at first. Most of those that I see though either want someone with 3+ years experience or a recent college grad (which I'm not). I've thought about going back to school, but won't be able to do that until next winter, possibly the fall depending on when classes start.
Okay, I think I'm starting to ramble now, so I'll shut up and listen to comments.
Thanks,
BP
bigpanda on
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