14+yrs from prog to tech specialist to supervisor=fired, now what? 1

[eliatorontocanada]

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  My computer language knowledge is outdated although the Pc's /windows /os/ networks have changed thus I stayed recent in this knowledge.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to some PC mags, and I'll start that, but there's now some much info out there, how do I pick an area that will not be outdated, like the "Basic" coding language.

 

[MasterRacker]

Everything will be mostly outdated someday.&nbsp;&nbsp;Unfortunately, that's what progess is.&nbsp;&nbsp;The key is to keep skills current as part of an ongoing educational process.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;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.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br>PC Magazine (<A HREF="

http://www.pcmag.com"

TARGET="_new">

http://www.pcmag.com</A>),

ComputerWorld (<A HREF="

http://www.computerworld.com"

TARGET="_new">

http://www.computerworld.com</A>),

and InformationWeek (<A HREF="

http://www.informationweek.com"

TARGET="_new">

http://www.informationweek.com</A>)

are 3 good sources of information to keep current.&nbsp;&nbsp;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.<br><br>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.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br>If you have project mgmt or customer service skills, those would remain applicable to some degree no mattter what the underlying technology is.&nbsp;&nbsp;I would begin the job search emphasizing those skills while working on the education through extension classes or on-line training on the side. <br><br>Some free training you could use as a primer is available at <A HREF="

http://www.vcs-s.com/Online-Training.htm.&nbsp"

TARGET="_new">

http://www.vcs-s.com/Online-Training.htm.&nbsp</A>;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Many

colleges offer fee based on line courses.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also one source of fee based training is <A HREF="

http://www.smartplanet.com"

TARGET="_new">

http://www.smartplanet.com</A>.

<br><br>Good luck! <p> Jeff<br><a href=mailto: masterracker@hotmail.com> masterracker@hotmail.com</a><br><a href= > </a><br> Of all the things I've lost in life, I miss my mind the most ...

 

[eliatorontocanada]

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