What are you studying/what did you study?

Goat that statement is partially true. If you think computers have become a major part of life the last 30 years, just wait and see what the next 30 will bring. And there will always be ppl required to design, manufacture, plan install maintain, replace etc.

It isn't some shortcut to a well paying job though. You need qualifications and experience like any other vocation.

Deadgoat wrote: Seems like a lot of you fell for the "study IT and you'll be set for life" rubbish high school career counsellors used to spread back in the day

"Back in the day"(Code still stored on punch cards) Engineering paid crap.
You needed aptitude for programming to be successfull and guys with IT degrees who couldn't code were sent packing quickly. Nowadays there are plenty academics around who cant code. Those are the ones not set for life.

DG - I have quite a few buddies who are Civil Engineers. My Uncle is one as well. When do you think you will get paid properly?

BTW - I also worked with quite a few Engineers who became programmers - for the money!

@dryden if you look at the percentage of guys who got into IT thinking it'll open up doors for them, quite a lot of them aren't exactly where they thought they'd be. Probably because SA doesn't really have a large market for programmers and coders and when they go overseas they just aren't skilled enough

@JR, well depends on the definition of "getting paid properly", let's be conservative and say R35k? Depending on the size of the firm I'll work on and how quickly I can advance, I'd say 5-7 years and 2 of those years I'd still be classified as just a graduate engineer

You're right there can be quite a lot of money in programming. A friend of mine's brother did some 2 year course at New Horizons here in CT and is now a lecturer travelling and earning 50k and he's only 22 now :woohoo:

Legum Baccalaureus (LLB) 1st year

I'm studying social engineering on Facebook.

Deadgoat

Don't be fooled. If you are skilled and experienced enough, you can and will earn silly money. Please don't fall into the "I've got a fancy degree I probably earn a whole lot more than any IT geek with a few certificates to his name". You don't. There's a reason why so many of us do what we do.

@dryden fair enough mate, suppose I'm just bitter that I wont get paid to browse the forum all day (just to clarify, that last bit was a joke)

At the end of the day there's only so much money that can be made climbing the corporate ladder. The 'real' money only starts coming in when you successfully start your own business (emphasis on the word "successfully"). I don't know about you guys but I'm not going to work for a boss forever...

No worries DG...

I'd like to start my own business Stu. But I don't know how and I like the security of a monthly income. I'm not one of those risk takers that can take the plunge. I sometimes wish I had a vocation such as plumber or electrician or somesuch as those sorts are by far the easiest to start out on your own...

Yeah it would be awesome to be my own boss, so that I don't have to wake up early just to sit in traffic. Doubt I'd have the balls to take the risk of going bankrupt one day though

2nd Year information technology.
@N3rd I actually think a general IT degree is very useful for someone who wants to study something in IT but does not know what precisely.
But I also agree that you should specialize eventually!

Yes it can be a huge risk if you invest every penny you have into starting a new business venture. I don't think I would have the balls to do that. If and when I do, I will have to ensure that I have a rock solid strategy in place that will guarantee minimum risk of failure and also find a gap in the market that doesn't have fierce competition. I'm also not going to jump head first into something with no business experience and knowledge so I'm thinking about doing an MBA next year. A few of my mates who are also Engineers, a CA and Actuary have a similar idea so ideally we'll all partner up something together. It also spreads the load of the initial capital expenditure needed if a business is started with a team. Its either do that or do something like Koe and open a few small businesses on the side while still having a main job. I think he said he runs a few small water shops and then manages an engineering contract portfolio.

BSocSci Degree majoring in HR Management & Organisational Psych.
Graduated in 05.

STUARTF wrote: Yes it can be a huge risk if you invest every penny you have into starting a new business venture. I don't think I would have the balls to do that. If and when I do, I will have to ensure that I have a rock solid strategy in place that will guarantee minimum risk of failure and also find a gap in the market that doesn't have fierce competition. I'm also not going to jump head first into something with no business experience and knowledge so I'm thinking about doing an MBA next year. A few of my mates who are also Engineers, a CA and Actuary have a similar idea so ideally we'll all partner up something together. It also spreads the load of the initial capital expenditure needed if a business is started with a team. Its either do that or do something like Koe and open a few small businesses on the side while still having a main job. I think he said he runs a few small water shops and then manages an engineering contract portfolio.

For me that is the most secure, save up, see a need and meet the need. I must add you need to be aggressive by nature(not emotionally but emotively),in order to succeed in the market. Then pay somebody to run that portfolio for you while you specialize in what you do. I have recently bought shares in a civil construction company and my partner takes a bigger cut but I just invested in his ideas, with all my other endeavours I basically sold ideas and business strategies for share percentages which recently are taking off.

DG: The average market price cost for Civil Engineer graduates is R25 000.00/month.

My qualifications Advanced Diploma Project Management
NEC specialisation in ECC, TSC, ECSC, PSC contracts.
Currently busy with National Diploma in Electrical Engineering, last 4 subjects to go.

I must add im totally impressed at the level of qualifications I see before me. Clearly the juice stigmas are horribly wrong. After all it takes brains to calculate daily caloric values, Chemical reactions and plan cycles.

Never study a field because you want to make money, "If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life".

Mostly agree with you on your last point there Koe but if you study a nonsense degree like The History of Maori Rock Art, that's not exactly gonna feed the kids now will it?

Deadgoat wrote: Mostly agree with you on your last point there Koe but if you study a nonsense degree like The History of Maori Rock Art, that's not exactly gonna feed the kids now will it?

Lol, good point however as a society we need versatility with the various career paths people follow, too many of us are shoved into a field of study or practise not because we love it or are passionate about it but are just trying to please our parents, or your G/F fell pregnant and all this responsibility forces you in one direction, you wake up one day and take the regret and frustration out on your kids, wife etc, deliver poor service in your job and the vicious cycle continues.

Koe007 wrote: Lol, good point however as a society we need versatility with the various career paths people follow, too many of us are shoved into a field of study or practise not because we love it or are passionate about it but are just trying to please our parents, or your G/F fell pregnant and all this responsibility forces you in one direction, you wake up one day and take the regret and frustration out on your kids, wife etc, deliver poor service in your job and the vicious cycle continues.

Yeah that's one of my worst nightmares, having a kid while I'm still young my life would effectively be over :confused: wish I didn't have to conform to societies norms, then I could spend my life living my dream as a disposable-lighter repairman

Koe007 wrote:

Deadgoat wrote: Mostly agree with you on your last point there Koe but if you study a nonsense degree like The History of Maori Rock Art, that's not exactly gonna feed the kids now will it?

Lol, good point however as a society we need versatility with the various career paths people follow, too many of us are shoved into a field of study or practise not because we love it or are passionate about it but are just trying to please our parents, or your G/F fell pregnant and all this responsibility forces you in one direction, you wake up one day and take the regret and frustration out on your kids, wife etc, deliver poor service in your job and the vicious cycle continues.

Eish! Add forced army service and you have my history! IT paying nicely, i have the aptitude but only part passion.

currently an apprentice plumber 6 months in

studied the fundementals of project management
level 1 rope access technician
offshore survival , firefighting and first aid course

there's a saying i quite enjoy and i hope you guys appreciate it : at university they teach you how to properly and thoroughly sanitise your hands after going to the toilet , at tech they teach you to not pee on youre hands

Well I got roped into this Dodgy IT college when I first came to Cape Town and studied A+, N+, MCSE2000 which I could do Jack with as I had the theory but no prac and trying to find a job and have 2yrs experience after a 1 year course was impossible but I can understand that they need someone who can come in and just do it instead of having to train that person. I then worked in the Restaurant industry where at two places I worked, worked myself up into managerial position but wow what a draining industry kak pay for heavy responsibility. For the last couple of years I have been doing plumbing and for the last two years have been in the Solar Industry, getting to the point - last week I finally went for my trade test and passed. Next year I want to do either an engineering degree or B.com through Unisa just not sure which one yet, difficult decision. IMO a degree is the only way you can make a proper living in SA unless you have your own business

Chartered accountant - qualified 2000

Surely I can't be the only accountant here

beemer wrote: Chartered accountant - qualified 2000

Surely I can't be the only accountant here

Perhaps you are not.... :whistle:

Bpharm 2005..currently in pharmaceutical manufacturing and RnD..hopefully wil have my own pharmacy next yr!
Project management
starting 2nd yr MBA next yr.

another plumber , represent

David.biohazard wrote: Well I got roped into this Dodgy IT college when I first came to Cape Town and studied A+, N+, MCSE2000 which I could do Jack with as I had the theory but no prac and trying to find a job and have 2yrs experience after a 1 year course was impossible but I can understand that they need someone who can come in and just do it instead of having to train that person. I then worked in the Restaurant industry where at two places I worked, worked myself up into managerial position but wow what a draining industry kak pay for heavy responsibility. For the last couple of years I have been doing plumbing and for the last two years have been in the Solar Industry, getting to the point - last week I finally went for my trade test and passed. Next year I want to do either an engineering degree or B.com through Unisa just not sure which one yet, difficult decision. IMO a degree is the only way you can make a proper living in SA unless you have your own business