Career decision

[InfoDude]

OK everybody...I'm fed up. I've been trying to get into programming for the last decade or so and the best I am doing now is that I'm a team lead in a mainframe operations shop. I've studied so much VB and Javascript, but I feel like I'm not catching on fast enough. There is so much to learn. I also know Crystal as well as SQL w/ ACCESS and DB2. What do you guys or gals think? Should I continue to make a giant push for programming and if so...what should my study habits be? Or should I stay in mainframe operations and try to move up? Thx.

InfoDude

 

[techwriter56]

I have spent two decades as a programmer and I am burnt out.
My advice therefore should be taken with a grain of salt...
I am getting out - or should I say I am unemployed and will make an attempt for tech-writing. (actually I have done about a year's worth already) just that now I will do it with full speed and there will be no looking back.
I can't tell you what to do - but I can tell you what
IT programming has done for me - it has shortened my life
at least 5 years -- that is a lay-up (sure thing).
You know the worst of it - programming would be ok. The project managment what ruined for me.

 

[Jacque]

I spent 20 years in production and got a lucky break into the IT dept of our company. I went from being a nobody (Inventory Planner - no offense to Inv Plnrs - but the only people who knew me or what I was capable of were my coworkers) to someone who was known by just about everyone, including offsite personnel and executive staff. It was just one of those in the right time and place things - I was developing reports and I also worked closely with both DBA's, when one decided to leave the company, she noticed some of my report scripts and asked me if I'd be interested in her position, I jumped at the chance and haven't looked back since. It was a small IT dept and I got a lot of training totally unrelated to being a DBA/Systems Analyst but it was and still is worth it.

As for what you should move toward, find out what you like doing best, for me, its being creative and I like being around people who appreciate my skills - which users do.

I wish you the best of luck, don't give up - maybe you can volunteer some of your time or take an entry level position as a starter and for your new employer to recognize your skills, we even had an intern Help desk guy. When you go in for interviews, take some of the programs or scripts you've developed, let them see what you are capable of.

 

[Prefbid]

A decade of programming and you can't break in? You have a lot of patience in my book!

I think you need to determine what it is that is really holding you back. Are you afraid of taking a step down in order to get where you want to go? Are you waiting to be discovered instead discovering where you need to go? Do you really have the drive and skill for a programmer?

A year is too long in my book. A decade would seem like an eternity. Are you sure you really want the job?

 

[elizabeth]

I agree with prefbid, would you care to elaborate on what you mean by "trying to get into programming"? Are you just hoping, and reading, or are you getting credentials (degree and/or certifications), asking the appropriate people in your shop what they feel you need, doing projects on your own time (or free time at work if you have any), looking for a new jobs outsode your current company based on your experience and credentials?

You may have programming skill but very poor communication skills. You could be being discriminated against by one of the decision-makers. They may not like your gender, color, personality, attire, breath, etc. You could be so good at what you currently do, or making enough money at it, that your current company doesn't want to shift you. A thousand reasons.