I want a new job! 1

[alexs0628]

I'm currently an IT Administrator want to get away from a service role into a position that doesn't require me to fix printers or tell users for the MILLIONTH TIME how to enter their user name to log onto the network. I've been thinking of learning web development, like javascripting, html and asp.net. That looks interesting and would tap into my past graphic arts background. How much money can web developers make and what drawbacks to that profession do you see that I should know about? Are you programmers happy campers?

Thanks for any input!

 

[dwarfthrower]

>> How much money can web developers make

As much as you're prepared to work for - like anything, you get out what you put in. Don't expect a huge salary just for being able to spell HTML. It's not the late 90s anymore. I'd also advise against doing anything just for the money. You'll only end up dissatisfied. Try out a bit of web design and development as a hobby to see if you really enjoy it - then pursue it as a career.

>> what drawbacks to that profession do you see that I should know about?

Lets see...

Customers who ask "Why should I pay you guys to build my web site when my nine-year-old daughter learns HTML at school?"

Graphic designers who push unrealistic layouts and designs on customers - who then complain to me when their web site is slow.

The availability of truckloads of really neato technology that you can't use because the company you're working for has a corporate standard web browser of Netscape 4.0.

Everything you learnt two years ago is now hopelessly outdated.

Trying to keep your head above water when nearly every teenager in the country decides to become a "web programmer" and undercuts you by 80% because they live with their parents and you've got a wife and kids to look after.

>> javascripting, html and asp.net. That looks interesting and would tap into my past graphic arts background.

There are three main areas of web based development:

Web designers - The so called "pixel pushers" who design the look and feel of a web site. Working mainly with graphics packages and wysiwyg HTML editors to come up with the template for a web site.
Skills: Photoshop, Dreamweaver, etc.

Web site developers - The html code-cowboys. These are the guys (and gals) who take the designers pictures and layouts and turn them into functioning web sites.
Skills: HTML, Javascript, CSS, etc.

Web application developers - The hardcore programmers, building the back-end functionality that takes a web site from an e-brochure to a working application.
Skills: ASP, PHP, Java, XML, etc.

>> Are you programmers happy campers?
Wouldn't trade it for the world... well, perhaps for the whole world.

_{Never be afraid to share your dreams with the world.
There's nothing the world loves more than the taste of really sweet dreams.}

 

[dilettante]

*moan*

Everybody thinks he's a programmer.

;-)

 

[clarkin]

.. every teenager in the country decides to become a "web programmer" and undercuts you by 80%..
And still can't do anything, so they post the problem in here.. where it's possible you help them solve it (ie, do it for them).

Irony? :-|



Posting code? Wrap it with code tags: [ignore]

[/ignore][code]CodeHere

[ignore][/code][/ignore].

 

[dwarfthrower]

Well if they're undercutting me, they should have the decency to do it properly ;-)

_{Never be afraid to share your dreams with the world.
There's nothing the world loves more than the taste of really sweet dreams.}

 

[unixtechie]

I am in the same boat, so to speak, as alexs0628. Having been a Unix Sys Admin for 9 years, I am ready to do something else; likewise, I too have a background in Art, and was an art major in college before switching to business (didn't want to starve and wanted a job).

The biggest thing is not wanting to take a large pay cut. And wonder what the starting and potential pay would be for web design/programming. I already know databases (DB2, Oracle) and java app servers (WebSphere), so doing the backend "stuff" would not be a stretch. And I would like to do something more creative than what I am doing now.

Another problem I see is the attitude, as far as the web is "anyone can do it. my kid does."

I truly would like another line of work and like the web/internet, and as mentioned have 5 years working with iPlanet, Apache, WebSphere, Network Dispatcher (load balancing/Failover) as well as databases.

Is this an area that can support someone as a full-time job with good pay?

 

[alexs0628]

I actually like the networking part of the job. I've had it with the help desk/PC technician side of it. I work for a smaller company and I do it all - LAN, phone system, cell phones, MSOffice problems, printers, office apps. I was also wondering if I could get a job at a larger company for just network admin and no PC tech stuff. No more computer problems, just network related problems. (I even have to scan documents for the managers because none of them want to bother to learn how to use the scanner.)

 

[unixtechie]

alexs, in answer to working for a larger company doing only networking, the answer is yes.

But it depends on the size of the company. I worked for a Fortune 400 insurance company and it was segmented like that.

Security was broken out to firewall, intrusion detection, compliance; networking was broken out; etc.

Large companies (my former company was 1000+ in IT) tend to specialize, whereas the smaller companies like where you work (and I did that too for almost 5 years) generalize, so they can maximize their labor cost.

I am at a medium sized company now and it is kind of in-between as far as specializing and generalizing.

But again, yes you can find a job doing only networking.

 

[MrGreed]

dwarfthrower,

Excellent response. yah get a star..


MrGreed

http://www.pastame.com

"did you just say Minkey?, yes that's what I said."

 

[GstRdr1]

I'm in the same boat as alexis. I'm in a small company and do everything from nt server admin to LAN to my "speakers aren't working". I would really like to get into more of a network/server admin position but am having trouble finding the opportunity because of the lack of specialized experience. I'm working towards my MCSA/MCSE does anyone have any pointers on getting into a larget IT dept?

Marc
MCP -WinXP
-Win2k Server

 

[RoguePoet01]

If you have a background in art, I'd look into doing printing stuff - signs, t-shirts, pamphlets - and use your computer experience to help promote yourself.

Depending on where you live, server administration is always good to know.

I've been thinking about learning more about servers so that I could provide a "centralized" data server/web-site server for small businesses here in town.

There's a guy in the Colorado/New Mexico area who writes databases for schools and small businesses...once he gets them up and running, they pay him something like $50 a month for a maintenance fee. He's got 30 clients. Not bad for a supplemental income.