So I’m getting my associates this semester, technically under compsci. Can’t really do much with an associates though, and I need a job in the mean time, so I’ve been studying CompTIA certs (A+, NET+, and soon I’ll be taking a course for Sec+).
Except, I don’t really know where to go from there. Like, sure I get my associates, then these certificates, and start my bachelor’s, except I’m lost in the sauce about anything after that. If I’m honest, I don’t even really know what I could do or what options are available to me with a CS degree. My relevant skills so far are basically none; I mean I grew up around computers and I’ve installed Linux mint on my daily laptop, but it’s not like I know how to do much other than surface level or just above surface level stuff. I don’t even really know how to code.
I guess, I’m just kinda lost. I don’t really know what to do and I’d like some answers but don’t even know where to start looking for them. Does anyone have any advice?
Check with your local Chamber of Commerce. They might have internships you qualify for.
You’d be surprised what you can do with an associates.
Just remember, you’re getting technical training, but your business social training is what you’ll learn in any job.
It’s a common saying in the business world that we can teach most anyone the technical stuff, it’s the social stuff that’s hard. Negotiation, leadership, team building, partnership, risk analysis, etc.
Since you really don’t know what you want to do, just go do something, anything, in the field. You’ll get exposure to how it really works (vs what school teaches), so you’ll have a better idea what direction to go.
Your career is anything but a straight line. It’s more a river, where you’ll cut some corners, and other corners you’ll hit granite and flow around it. You really never know what you’re going to run into.
love that last quote, pretty good.
I always thought an associates was like a mandatory pre req, that a bachelor’s is the real degree you need.
Any bachelor’s?
I would recommend trying coding, and see if you like it. There are a gazillion options out there to learn online. You don’t need to pay anyone. Here are some examples:
- Do a micro-controller project using Arduino. This is actually C++ which is a pretty advanced language, but they only use very simple C++ features so it’s still beginner friendly.
- Make a game of some kind. I’m not really a game developer so I don’t know what the good options are there, but maybe something like https://phaser.io/ ? Or Pygame if you hate yourself.
- Make a web site. I’ve used all sorts of things for this and my favourite method at the moment is Fresh.
Anyway, try and get a taste of it and you’ll probably know if you like it. If you do, definitely just work on a project in your free time. You don’t need any qualifications to get a programming job, just skill. (In fact I’d say they are a bit of a red flag.)
Programming is a great career if you like it - very high pay for very little responsibility (outside game development anyway).