Hanging Newbies

application programming is not a front end backend thing.
application programming is writing the code for... say oracle server, excel spreadsheet, microshaft word.
using the macro scripting language is business logic programmng.

embedded systems programming, aka cell phones, palm computers, most are using linux, most of the programming is application development, for a network device.
or the router/firewall/email filter. which is also usually linux based hardware, and agian, the embedded system's applications are network applications.

and this question has been asked repeately, and answered repeatedly.
look through archives before saying that you are left hanging.

right..i suggest looking for some free online classes to try out a few things, or look for a 1 year general IT course you can take which would touch on a little bit of everything, then maybe you would find your better at one or two items, or like them better.
i started out with a bit of web programming..then VB6 courses..why on earth did i spend 3 years as a Data Anylyst (in FoxPro for goodness sake)i'll never know..which has consequently taken me into DBA work..but am in a job as a DB Support / DBA right now. I've found I'm incredibly good as an anylyst, not sure if i enjoy it 100%, but i can say with no vanity that i can rip apart a database and give you statistics and anlysis like you have never seen. But i'll get to use my web programming in a short while..woo hoo..
(i think i've confused myself now..what am i again?)

stop with this proprietry stuff and choose a basic area of IT. There's no particular reason except talent skill and the market why you can't be all of admin, databases and coding during your career, I've been back and forth in all of them and on several different operating systems.

Don't learn MySQl or Oracle PL/SQL, learn SQL !.
I've lost count of how many different flavours of SQL, I've used, if you know the basics and the SQL standard, the rest will fall into place very easily.
If you are looking at it from a technical point of view then it depends on how far in the future you are talking about. Whatever the industry trends are now they won't be in a few years time, what's the in thing now won't be soon. Learn the underlying principles, how to use google and then apply them.
If you want to know what the in thing will be in two years time look for waht's required and invent it. Even if a reputable astrologer told waht it would be there wouldn't be any courses in it.

First get a degree in Computer Science or IT. Find your niche while you are in school.

Keep in mind, no matter how hard you plan, you'll never know where you are going to end up. I never planned on being an instructor, but I am VERY glad my career path has lead me here.

Thank You all for giving your valuable suggestions and guiding me in this field.

But I am not still clear.
As there is a point of a degree in computers , I am Bachelors in Computer Applications.

But leave that part apart, back to main discussions ,

The main ideas of guidance is guys like me have strong knowledge of ( Network administration CCNA , MCSE) , strong hold on C programming (Sun Certified), moderate Linux experience , have done projects in VB & Oracle , moderate experience in Java , craze for money (of course) .

But all this done during studies. Got no work exposure and not sure about which industry has got good money and will be stable.

I know I am changing the topic altogether ,but with guys like you who are working in industry right now , you can give me better advice than on any website or irrelevent discussions done in past ( in present scenerio).

I have searched a lot , asked from my teachers .
But couldn't get a light in dark .

If you can guide me , i will be thankfull to for this help and this will be relly appreciated.

Cheers ,

Get your degree in Computer Science. Certifications are only icing on the cake, and many employers today realize that certifications only point to whether you know how to study for an exam; they do not indicate real skill level. It doesn't take but an hour at the interview to determine if you are hiding behind your certifications or whether you actually know what to do in the field.

Security Security Security,is it. Yes get a degree.

Why, Because it can't be outsourced. Just type it in to Google- China, India etc.

JD

I don't think anybody here can guide you better than yourself.

Do what you are passionate about and take a unique angle. If you are in it for only money, then I can only beg you not to get deeply into the field. You won't be doing anyone "especially the users" a favor. Too many people have done this.

I would recommend a degree... not because it is going to teach you anything but because you have a better chance of exposure of different topics in the field. And that experience will help you choose a path that will fit you better.

Be careful about "choosing" a technology. Learn the concepts... the rest is syntax. If I settled on a path or language right out of college, I'd be in a pretty sad situation. Experiment with both closed source and open source and don't tie yourself down to one OS.

If you need specific guidance, get an informational interview at a place you would like to work someday. Find out what they use and what skills they want from their employees. Then learn it inside and out.

Well, IT is very cyclical in nature. One momement your hot in demand the next... your yesterdays news. Meaning that you really have to love what your doing as a career not the paycheck.

Helpfull hints:

- You want guaranteed employment, work for the government or go into geriatics. America like the rest of the world is getting older and we will need more skilled Geriatric practioners to care for us as our diapers fill up and we refuse to leave our keyboards.

- A four year degree is a must. Computer Science for development work. IT/Telecomm for Systems.

- A good designer is made from the best Admins and Engineers. You start off doing admin (MAC) work first then progress to higher levels of detail work. Actually, the help desk is probably the best place to start for admins as well.

- We only get ourselves into trouble when we say 'Engineers'. Though thats what we are when we design, build and maintain complex systems based on logic and mathematics. We only get into trouble with the Engineering societies of the world as they are really engineers backed with state licenses to practice, Engineering.

Work on the English skills. Not that I am the foremost practioner of the language, mind you. The need to communicate clearly will be one of your best assests to your career. This includes both oral and written skills. There was a time when you would have been almost frowned apon if you had great English skills in IT. Now, its a requirement.

- Certifications. Two years of post University experience and a cert or two won't hurt you. Too many people back in the 90's tried to use the cert process to circumvent getting a four year degree and are now unemployed. The cert field has been sorely tarnished overall and lost a good deal of its value, especially Micro Soft certs. A+ is a very good start. Getting a MCSE in college would be a definite turn-off to most employers. For that matter I have seen High School kids earn thier MCSEs and tell me they wanted $80k to start. That and there obviously inflated resume's got the door shown to them.

Good luck. Follow YOUR passions with zeal for the technology not the paycheck and you'll be fine.

- beads

I have had a lot hats in my life but I have found that computer hardware and software is where I belong. You need to go to school take classes in what you think you like. See how you feel after those classes. You need a hands on school because just reading a book and getting a good grade dont mean any thing in real life. You are looking into the IT area, ask your self what you want to do. We can tell you what we like but it is your life and it is up to you what you make of it!
Man I sound like my dad;) Do what you want and it all works out in the long run.

I just finished off the grant for the internship, havent even signed a contract for contracting :P but i'm going in on Tuesday to do it..Larry the contract guy should be there for the paperwork.

Cute

In the IT field you need great people skills. At a help desk you have to respond to people who have never used a computer and feel that computers are taking over their jobs. Which they are but you need to listen and turn their problems into things that they understand. If you are a break fix person (a person who is called in to fix a problem that can not be fixed through a phone or direct connect like remote or SMS) you need to be a person with a great personality. Because that person will be mad that there problem was not fixed fast.
This works for hardware and software, but if you just write software you get off easy to a point. The point is if you write bad software it will come back to you. A user, a boss or a company will always complain and it will come back to you.
The IT field is great and was a lot better in the 90?s but can still be a great place to work. But you need to find a field that can not be out sourced.

You will need to strengthen your skills in all areas unless you want to be a free-lancer/consultant. You will find that any company that finds you proficient in any IT area will grab a hold of you. You will find that you will be recruited for ANY electronic task because you can and no one else can.

ALWAYS consider the needs of the end-user, and you will succeed in anything IT related.

It is sort of like being a nurse: your first thought is to the "patient" and what they need to get the job done. If support people can do their job quickly, efficiently and with the tools to do that, the company prospers.

The company prospers
The customer prospers.
The workers prosper - without stress, headache and fear.

Our skills can make or break a company.