software/web developer, for large internet company…my avatar should be a hint.

Btw…my bay area company is looking for more engineers..
A lot lately…

PM if interested.

I was gonna start a new thread but figured that this one was relatively the same.  I wanted to ask if you could give a little more (and updated) description of your careers (ie: Major and/or minor’s in college, credentials, basically how you got to where you are…, if you are something technical like “web programmer/software programmer” what that entitles, around how much you make as of now and future predictions, how much you like your job/career :ph34r: , and any other interesting things you can think of…)

I am basically asking this because I am stuck on what it is I wanna do.  I love computers and stuff like that and want to know EVERYTHING but at the same time reflect upon what tifosiv and others have said about the IT world being too shaky… NEEDING to know EVERYTHING as soon as the technology is released, having to stay on top of current and future things etc… so while loving computers and technology I’m stuck… As far as my career I figure your either 100% in or don’t bother with it period. (ie: I am gonna reach the top of ONE career and be educated {maybe not competent in but have knowledge of} rather than be spread around in several different majors.  But again this is where I am asking for your opinions. In other aspects, knowledge for example, I do prefer to “know a little about of a lot” rather than “a lot about a little”.  To me it seems like “knowing a little about a lot” provides for a more secure finacial future in the case that even if one career ends up getting a lot of traffic (as IT seems like it will in my generation) you can fall back on another.  Yet that contradicts the way I want to go in my career because I would rather reach the top of it… ARGHHHH :evil:  IM SO CONFUSED!

At this point what I have considered so far is my major in Psychology/Psychiatry/Genetics and a minor in International Relations/Global Economics/IT (fairly respectively)... but I want something with computers too.  I just think it is dumb to go to school til your 30 and have 20 years left for an actual life (a job, a family, fun…) cause after you hit 50ish… you can only do so much… I want to achieve things while I’m young not be in my 50’s before I gain some kind of creditation.  Anywayz… if you could just give some of your mind into this it would help out and I would appreciate it. (I realize that my career choice is up to what I want to do so I am mainly asking for your opinions on the “spread yourself out or not” topic and general recommendations… THANK YOU :D

I’m like a lot of my friends who are programmers. My major has absolutely nothing to do with my work.

I was an East Asian Studies Major specializing in Japanese History, Culture and Language. Doing IT stuff, programming, web design, graphic design were hobbies to help pay for school. I was actually an engineering Major to start college but I found it restrictive (they were baffled about why I wanted to take non-engineering related classes). Because I was unhappy with my courses, I didn’t do as well as I could have. So, I switched majors to something I really enjoyed and wanted to learn about. As a result, I did much better in school and became much more well rounded individual in the process.

Once I was ready for work, I simply went full time with my computer related jobs since my employer didn’t want me to leave. In a weird way, I think my non-engineering background helped me a lot in programming because I was able to “think outside the box” much better than most of my coworkers and I’ve enjoyed a lot of success in my field of work. Like you mentioned, I want to know EVERYTHING and made an effort to know a little bit about everything. In terms of web development, it really worked out to my benefit being able to do design work, front-end development, business logic development, and back-end development. It meant a couple of things.

1. I was never on the bench. Since I could fill any role, many Project Managers wanted me. Also, it meant that they didn’t need as many consultants on the project that had a fixed income. Of course, that meant more work for me sometimes but I always enjoyed it.

2. I was often given lead positions. Because I had better communication skills and a better sense of the overall picture, I was able to meet with clients face-to-face to manage expectations and coordinate between designers and programmers. Often, designers wouldn’t understand programming issues and vice versa.

3. I was able to choose which projects I wanted to be apart of. Because every PM wanted me on their project, I often got to choose (unlike many coworkers) and request the people I wanted on the team.

So, those are just a few examples of my experience. It’s probably not the most “normal” way to go but it’s worked for me and I’ve been pretty successful with it.  :wink:

What prompted you to be interested in Asian (and specifically Japanese) studies?  I realize your Asian (Chen… Chinese?) but was that the reason you wanted that major? I’m just curious as I am considering a minor in Asian (and specifically Japanese) history, language etc..

I lived in Japan for two years when I was 10-12. That had a profound impact on my life as I experienced life, cultural, and society in Japan. I learned to speak, read and write during that time as well and it never left me and I kept quite a few of my Japanese friends. To a certain, degree, I understand Japanese culture better than I do Chinese culture (I’ve never been) and my Japanese speaking/understanding is almost better than my Chinese. To this day, I hang out with tons of Japanese people…mostly dancers and I occasionally go to Japan to perform and visit old friends.

I’m a senoir in penn state materials engineering specializing in bio-compatible polymers.  Going to be a EM specialist next year characterizing materials. ^.^

Right now, going to school for an RN. Only in the second year, though.  I plan to go on to get a MSN and a CRNP to become a family practice, nurse practitioner. 

Previously I was in the Air Force.  My job there was as an aerospace ground equipment mechanic.

school…

more debts… more debts… and mroe debts… i love college! :wink:

I’m still doing music, my number one… but also have my finance business on the side.

Second year doctrate student ( Networking )  king’s college , London.

Bar Manager
Freelance photographer dance/sport/portrait
Video producer for docs on dance, mainly hip hop
graphic designer (print)
3D animations - poser etc

It’s a nice balance with free beer…..

Ooh, nice. Have you done any documentaries on Locking? Are their Locking groups in England? Gemini Lockers from France are pretty good if you’ve ever seen them.

*For those who are curious…Locking is one of the first old school hip-hop styles that pre-dates both Popping and Breakdancing.

During the day, I am a PORN set builder/set builder…90% of the sets that I build are PORN....Yes I said “PORN” :wink: By night, I DJ for a college radio station and clubs on the weekends :D

WOWOWOWOWOWOW :shock:  :shock:  :shock:

I own and run a video game store in Melbourne, Australia :mrgreen: .... and I also do web development Part -time (SAP - ASP integration, SQL, VB, .Net etc) I used to work for sony on their aussie version of sonystyle.