My career started with 3 year diploma for computer programming/ systems anaylsis. Through 5 career steps, always in the customer support field; from junior programmer to technical support supervisor...although always supporting packages written in "BASIC".  Now at new crossroads.  My computer language knowledge is outdated although the Pc's /windows /os/ networks have changed thus I stayed recent in this knowledge.  I am considering going into the 'internet' world with use of cross-over skills...but where do I start.  I do want to remain involved with the helping/resolving/figuring out problems aspect, and supervisor skills also, but do I need to have a new 'language' to get into the 'net' world?.. When people say Java or Hmtl, I don't know which is better or more global.  Is E-business something I should look into, or where do I start.  I read about free subscriptions to some PC mags, and I'll start that, but there's now some much info out there, how do I pick an area that will not be outdated, like the "Basic" coding language.

Everything will be mostly outdated someday.  Unfortunately, that's what progess is.  The key is to keep skills current as part of an ongoing educational process.   You can never get so buried in your day to day job that you lose sight of what's going on in the outside world.  

PC Magazine (www.pcmag.com), ComputerWorld (www.computerworld.com), and InformationWeek (www.informationweek.com) are 3 good sources of information to keep current.  All 3 have free subscriptions available to professionals in the field and all 3 also have much of their content available on line for free.

If you're going to move into the e-business/web world on the development side you will need to know, html, java and database programming concepts just for a start.  

If you have project mgmt or customer service skills, those would remain applicable to some degree no mattter what the underlying technology is.  I would begin the job search emphasizing those skills while working on the education through extension classes or on-line training on the side.

Some free training you could use as a primer is available at http://www.vcs-s.com/Online-Training.htm. ;   Many colleges offer fee based on line courses.  Also one source of fee based training is www.smartplanet.com.

Good luck!

Jeff
masterracker@hotmail.com

Of all the things I've lost in life, I miss my mind the most ...

Thankyou very much Jeff.  I will go right to the online training and check it out.  The exact email addresses for the freebie mags is much appreciated also.