View Full Version : Programming or Networking?
David_3033
04-17-2012, 10:57
I am trying to determine which field I want to get into. I am currently a logistician at a warehouse, dealing with inventory, shipping & receiving, and daily warehouse crap (I hate it, but it's a job). Anyways enough about my shitty job.
So I am in school right now and just getting the core required classes out of the way for an Associates of Science. After I will probably move on to get my bachelor's degree. I am stuck between choosing to get a programming or networking degree. They both seem interesting and I like money :D, don't we all. Right now I have VERY LITTLE programming knowledge other taking a basics to programming and logic class. It seemed fun some of it was like solving puzzles. I have zero networking knowledge so I don't know if I would enjoy it:confused:. No certificates or anything like that.
I know most companies want you to have certs out the ass to get a job. That leads to my next question. Should I try to get a bunch of certificates while I get my degree? Or will some companies take you on and let you work through your certificates?
I know a lot of you here are working with computers. I love computers and use one pretty much everyday. I just want some experts who are working in the fields advice / expertise.
Rickety Rob
04-17-2012, 11:26
I would say Networking. My dad is a network engineer and makes a bunch of money with Booz Allen. He only has an associates degree too.
I also only have a associates degree. I've actually been trying to find a place to go to finish my bachelors, but transferring credits is my problem. I have like 130 credits, but from 4 different schools, and ofcourse none of them reciprecate..
in my 10+ years in the industry, i'm poking at the low 6-figure range, good programmers can make that money too. its also dependant on if you referring to; actual network administration, or system administration.. I primarily do the latter, I think the Cisco network guys make a tad bit more then the server system guys do..
you really only need the certs to get your foot in the door, once you get experience, and can start speaking the lingo like a second language, its less of a sticking point.
If I were to recommend a core cert set, I might recommend:
A+, NET+, CCNA, MCITP
(these would give you the basic system & network fundamentals that almost ALL employers are looking for)
I would say Networking. My dad is a network engineer and makes a bunch of money with Booz Allen. He only has an associates degree too.
Rickety Rob
04-17-2012, 12:05
I also only have a associates degree. I've actually been trying to find a place to go to finish my bachelors, but transferring credits is my problem. I have like 130 credits, but from 4 different schools, and ofcourse none of them reciprecate..
in my 10+ years in the industry, i'm poking at the low 6-figure range, good programmers can make that money too. its also dependant on if you referring to; actual network administration, or system administration.. I primarily do the latter, I think the Cisco network guys make a tad bit more then the server system guys do..
you really only need the certs to get your foot in the door, once you get experience, and can start speaking the lingo like a second language, its less of a sticking point.
If I were to recommend a core cert set, I might recommend:
A+, NET+, CCNA, MCITP
(these would give you the basic system & network fundamentals that almost ALL employers are looking for)
Just like you said smoke. My dad, with his associates, has a ton of certs and with the credentials he had he was able to get his foot in the door into the jobs that led him to Booz Allen. Once he was able to get the lingo of networking down, he now has no problem getting a job. He's currently a contractor but the government keeps knocking on his door offering him big $$$$ to have him switch to become a govy. Only problem is, there not offering him no where near what he's getting paid through Booz Allen
David_3033
04-17-2012, 12:06
If I were to recommend a core cert set, I might recommend:
A+, NET+, CCNA, MCITP
(these would give you the basic system & network fundamentals that almost ALL employers are looking for)
I will check these out, thanks. My company has a free certificate training program that I am going to try get in on that action.
Forgive my brevity and spelling I am typing with my phone's Tapatalk app.
iamthesgt
04-17-2012, 12:26
I think Networking is going to be simpler (not to disparage what they do), just because some of the problems you run into in programming are so technical. Also, programmers usually need the bachelors degree, so that's an extra requirement. And programming is a royal pain. I'm not much of a fan, unless it's my own personal project.
Both jobs can be varying degrees of suck but I've been in networking for 22 years now and I've loved it. As a Network Engineer you will definitely get into programming on a smaller scale for various automation tasks and LMS software packages. The money is great too.
David_3033
04-17-2012, 13:11
So basically with networking I could probably land a decent job with just an associates degree, and with maybe some certs too? Where as with programming it would probably require the four years of school.
Forgive my brevity and spelling I am typing with my phone's Tapatalk app.
iamthesgt
04-17-2012, 13:37
So basically with networking I could probably land a decent job with just an associates degree, and with maybe some certs too? Where as with programming it would probably require the four years of school.
I believe so, yes. Depending on the job, you *might* make more as a programmer, but most likely you'll make a comparable salary.
/true dat/
bash scripting, kix, vbscript, powershell, batch scripts. these will all become your new best friends..
Both jobs can be varying degrees of suck but I've been in networking for 22 years now and I've loved it. As a Network Engineer you will definitely get into programming on a smaller scale for various automation tasks and LMS software packages. The money is great too.
iamthesgt
04-17-2012, 13:44
/true dat/
bash scripting, kix, vbscript, powershell, batch scripts. these will all become your new best friends..
Ugh, bash scripts. That's how I erased my hard drive.
CrzyChinook
04-17-2012, 13:45
i hear ya DB!!..even though im fully quailfied as a Aircraft mech...mil/civi (+-17years)... since ive been hacking away at army aviation computers for around 14-15years i figured it was time to get off my rear end and get some more certs under my belt (just finished my sec+)so when i return..ill be that much more marketable...by the time i leave im hoping to have A+ Net+ Sec+ and CCNA plus my micro cert MCTS...ive always been a server admin...DBA.. dealing with SQL and MSServer...but i wanna steer towards networking.. i like it better...:eyebrows:
So basically with networking I could probably land a decent job with just an associates degree, and with maybe some certs too? Where as with programming it would probably require the four years of school.
Forgive my brevity and spelling I am typing with my phone's Tapatalk app.
Yes! It's one field where certs matter more than a degree.
with the amount of math needed as prereqs, most likely, yes.. your talking building arrays, and algorithms, algebra, and such..
The root all of programs are built upon the fundamentals of logic and math..
IF THIS = THAT AND THIS IS > THIS {
DO THIS {
SOMETHING HAPPENS HERE;
} ELSE {
DO THAT;
}
So basically with networking I could probably land a decent job with just an associates degree, and with maybe some certs too? Where as with programming it would probably require the four years of school.
Forgive my brevity and spelling I am typing with my phone's Tapatalk app.
iamthesgt
04-17-2012, 13:51
with the amount of math needed as prereqs, most likely, yes.. your talking building arrays, and algorithms, algebra, and such..
The root all of programs are built upon the fundamentals of logic and math..
Yeah at a lot of colleges (mine included), Computer Science majors are subsets of Math majors.
Don't know what happened there....
wha wha wha? :kev:
You can sync with motocast but you need the motocast sync app from the market. I use this to sync with thunderbird.
In your "Accounts" section in system setting you can turn off sync for Google and all other apps.
CrzyChinook
04-17-2012, 13:57
nasty rumor is the new set of skillz we all going to head for are.... cloud certs... my instructor told me that last week...
idk i dont trust the cloud.. its kinda like the cake!!
the cake is a lie........
That is correct. Here at the EPA, we're migrating everything to a "cloud" environment next year and it sucks. There are just too many variables that can play havoc with your data with the cloud, not to mention I hate that term!
David_3033
04-17-2012, 14:03
Someone at work was telling me to get into sharepoint and know all about it. He said they its about to explode. Don't know if he is right or not.
Forgive my brevity and spelling I am typing with my phone's Tapatalk app.
CrzyChinook
04-17-2012, 14:12
Someone at work was telling me to get into sharepoint and know all about it. He said they its about to explode. Don't know if he is right or not.
Forgive my brevity and spelling I am typing with my phone's Tapatalk app.
mehh .. alot of the army is trying to do away with sharedrives and transfer to sharepoint.. i see its purpose but i see it fail more...idk i dont care for it too much.. i help the AVCRAD in kuwait switch over..was more headaches than it was worth.. but in the end they stuck to their guns and got rid of all the sharedrives.. they started to do it here in Kandahar but they have a whole new section(Knowledge Management) that deals with the portal and yet to say if they are getting rid of the share drives...will see...
David_3033
04-17-2012, 16:09
Well you guys are making want to go more the networking route. I am going to have to look at all the certs the my work offers and try get some good ones lined up. Plus look into the ones Smoke pointed out.
Forgive my brevity and spelling I am typing with my phone's Tapatalk app.
SharePoint has been on the brink for years. other software's have almost made them obsolete already in my opinion. I am a network and data person, but the big part for me is the easy schedule and super relaxed summer cause its education IT. plus I know my job will never go away.
Sharepoint is garbage, along with Project Web.. Anyone that says otherwise, is wrong..:der:
IMO - 2 worst products Microsoft has ever released.
Someone at work was telling me to get into sharepoint and know all about it. He said they its about to explode. Don't know if he is right or not.
Forgive my brevity and spelling I am typing with my phone's Tapatalk app.
Sharepoint is garbage, along with Project Web.. Anyone that says otherwise, is wrong..:der:
IMO - 2 worst products Microsoft has ever released.
Haha you said project web. Yeah biggest waste of time softwares.
Sent via Tapatalk HD!!!
David_3033
04-18-2012, 07:00
Sharepoint is garbage, along with Project Web.. Anyone that says otherwise, is wrong..:der:
IMO - 2 worst products Microsoft has ever released.
Well a majority of you guys say sharepoint is crap, so you're probably right, then I won't waste my time with it.
Forgive my brevity and spelling I am typing with my phone's Tapatalk app.
iamthesgt
04-18-2012, 08:20
Sharepoint is garbage, along with Project Web.. Anyone that says otherwise, is wrong..:der:
IMO - 2 worst products Microsoft has ever released.
I don't know...Windows Me was pretty bad...:)
Well a majority of you guys say sharepoint is crap, so you're probably right, then I won't waste my time with it.
Forgive my brevity and spelling I am typing with my phone's Tapatalk app.
Well he hard part of IT is sometimes the path you take is dictated by the type of businesses you want to work for or where there tech is pointing. I did a lot of oracle working one peoplesoft in the payroll/finance world, before that I was a GIS and logistics software person. Both were ok, but I have a great love/hate life the last 5 years with SIS (School Information System). I also do networking and help desk, but more cause I miss it. It's like some of the guys mentioned, some businesses like the army are moving to Sharepoint, crap or not.
lol - with the bullshit permissions in Sharepoint, and the files all located in the database instead of file-structure, Sharepoint might edge out Win Me..:laugh:
I don't know...Windows Me was pretty bad...:)
/true, I can tell you with 100% certainty, the insurance industry, sux.. :gossip:
Well he hard part of IT is sometimes the path you take is dictated by the type of businesses you want to work for or where there tech is pointing. I did a lot of oracle working one peoplesoft in the payroll/finance world, before that I was a GIS and logistics software person. Both were ok, but I have a great love/hate life the last 5 years with SIS (School Information System). I also do networking and help desk, but more cause I miss it. It's like some of the guys mentioned, some businesses like the army are moving to Sharepoint, crap or not.
DOCCUPCAKE
04-18-2012, 12:09
Well my 2cents is only hiring through military is for share point since They ditched cold fusion...:(
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Yup go for the cloud certs(citrix zenapps, and Microsoft terminal services). My new job just so happens to be administration of cloud based services and networks. They are sending me to citrix boot camp to get me educated and certed up on all the citrix stuff.
The industry is pushing tourds this in a big way, big money is pushing it allong.
DB, in my personal experience I would go with networking, there are so many different directions you can go with that degree.
Sent from my Galaxy SII Skyrocket using Tapatalk 2
Keep in mind that if you go Networking, it will involve much more physical labor than programming.
I still wouldn't change to programming though.
iamthesgt
04-21-2012, 15:30
Keep in mind that if you go Networking, it will involve much more physical labor than programming.
I still wouldn't change to programming though.
That's why programmers are fat...they eat lots of candy and drink lots of soda...
Keep in mind that if you go Networking, it will involve much more physical labor than programming.
I still wouldn't change to programming though.
Really depends on where you get your first job, whether its field tech or help desk or both. Everywhere I've worked hired outside contractors to do the cable runs.
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It seems no matter how far I've come over the last two decades that I still somehow find myself adding a drop somewhere or carrying new equipment. Just the tech in me I guess.
David_3033
04-21-2012, 17:22
I am not worried about physical labor :painkiller:
CrzyChinook
04-21-2012, 23:00
physical labor = GOOD!!! lol
MK-82_1_EACH
04-30-2012, 21:30
A little late on this thread but my 2 peso's
Stick to networking, get certs if you can across multiple vendors, Cisco and Juniper Networks would be a good start, F5 Networks is another. Were I am at, all code development (programming) is outsourced which in turn is outsourced overseas. Networking has the greatest flexibility and in most cases you will get some programing knowledge on the side anyway. Many vendors have scripting functions for certain tasks. For example our F5 load balancers for our DNS servers and other nodes, have scripting to monitor application function. Even though this is an network appliance, we do coding for DNS queries, SOAP, SIP etc... to monitor all this stuff.
Another thing is Security/Firewalls - get what you can on that ..
Comnet FTW! :redface:
Really depends on where you get your first job, whether its field tech or help desk or both. Everywhere I've worked hired outside contractors to do the cable runs.
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