--- nick velevelezlevelezk@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Hello All,
> I seek your opinions.
>
> I come from a poor background. Growing up, I enjoyed
> learning as much as possible about everything. I
> would spend much of my time at the local public
> library as this was the only source of free
> education available to me outside of the public
> school system. It was there
> that I developed a love for technology, especially
> computers and programming.
>
>
>
> I am now a young man preparing for college. I want
> to factor in my love for technology and also ensure
> that the past never repeats itself so that my kids
> never have to go through what I went through growing
> up in a poor household. I want to give them more
> than I could
> ever have hoped for when I was growing up. I have
> two options that I am considering which can fulfill
> both these factors. These are as follows:
>
>
>
> Option#1: I can pursue a career in software
> engineering by obtaining a Computer Science degree.
> It is my understanding that this is a financially
> lucrative career option. But I ask myself: is this a
> stable career venue in today's job market? Am I
> correct in my
> financial analysis of this career option?
>
>
>
> Option#2: I can run my own technology-based
> business. But then, what degree would best
> compliment my hard work and determination? I can get
> a Computer Science degree and develop my business
> administration skills as I go along. Or, I can
> obtain a Business Administration degree and hire
> people with CS degrees to develop the company's
> technology.
>
>
> I am not seeking advice, but rather am interested in
> hearing your opinions on what you would do given
> these circumstances. What would you do and why? Any
> feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
>
>
>
Hi Nick,
First off, go ahead and get a degree. If it were me, I
would dual-major in "anything" and "Computer science"
or get a degree in "anything" and minor in "CS". My
degree is in Business Psychology... it's been very
helphelpfulfiguring out the "people" element, but it
is more important Who you know than anything else.
That said here are a few things I see that affect what
you are asking:
1. The American Business culture and to some extent
the rest of the world has not figured out, yet, that
computer technology isn't good for replacing people.
You hear over and over again that Business is People
and People are Business, but when it comes to
technology, every manager out there is still trying to
replace employees with a box or some automated
process.
2. Computer Science should not be a pure science.
Many of the interviews I've been on and the jobs that
I've had focus on Industry knowledge. I'd say about
%90 of the "computer jobs" out there are not actually
"technology jobs" but are instead "jobs that use
technology". This is an important
destdistinctionooking at the technology crash and our
economy over the past 15 years, it's easier to
understand what has happened if you have a good
understanding of this concept. So, even if you have a
job programming Java for XYZ XYZpany, you can't just
sit back and think "all I have to do is code". A good
understanding of the business processes is a must.
Here's and example: I recently went on an interview
for a System Admin position at a niche large format
printing company. The people interviewing me asked a
few questions about what I knew tehctechnologye, but
grilled me on what I knew about the ContConstruction
Large format printing machines... What kinds of ink
does xyz xyzhine use... What would you use to print a
blueprint?
3. To a large extent businesses are still trying to
figure out how to hire people when it comes to
techtechnology company looking for someone to "take
care" of all the technology related to a print shop
might advertise the position as a "print operator",
"Systems Admin", "Network Admin", "Print Technology
Manager", or a half a dozen other job titles. Just of
it is, They don't know for certain what they are
asking for or how much it's likely to cost them. Lots
of the interviews I've been on lately are fishing
expeditions. That can be very frustrating.
So one question that should be answered before you
make a decision is this: Are you going into the
technology industry, or Are you going to use
technology in a different industry. My industry was
Banking and Finance at the begibeginningmy career and
has been Education for the past 5 years. I don't
recommend Education.. there's no money and no sanity
there. My suggestion: Choose an industry early, and
stick to it. The longer you are immersed in a
particular industry to more respect and money you will
get. On the other hand, if you are going to try to
work in the Technology industry then a degree...
multiple degrees are going to be necessary. A BS
today is like a High School depldiploma 50 years ago.
Everyone has a BS. Keep in mind that when I say
technology industry, I mean actually producing,
designing, or programming technology to be used by
someone else.
As for starting a business; They say that over 90% of
the business out there are small-businesses
eakietching a meager existence. Generally speaking it
takes three years to start making a profit. There are
ways around that though. If you have a novel idea and
can show a lot of potential then you might be able to
attract some venture capitalists to invest in you and
your idea. Or you could apply for a business loan.
One of the most interesting to me is the idea that our
economy is now service based instead of product based.
Take for example your local hair stylist. For $60
dollars a month business license, $1000 a month rent,
you too could start and run your own business.
CurrCurrentlym starting and running my own Technology
Consulting business( insert shameless plugpluge....
First Electronic Business Services ). I don't produce
anything, and I don't make anything. What I do is
provide services to businesses that are using
technology. I don't have any overhead. I don't have
a place of business. What I do have is a Name, a PO
Box, a home address, a phone number, a website, an
answansweringhine, and a lot of marketing material.
Every dollar I bring in is profit. It's still a lot
of work, and I'm running uphill, as the saying goes,
trying to prove to my customers that I am a real
business. So there are always costs (in money or
effort) to the business decisions you make. For me,
as I do not have any money, I prefer to "pay my dues"
in effort.
Good Luck,
Robert EaneEanes
__________________________________
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