Looking to change careers - Computer Technical Help

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Looking to change careers

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09-18-2014 , 06:24 PM

Huskalator

adept

Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 775

I'm thinking of changing my career and getting into coding.

What are the best options with regards to schooling? I live near the University of Missouri so there's that. Also, are there any recommended online schools? I realize that self-study is a viable way to learn but I have the GI Bill from military service which will pay for much of college so I might as well look into my options there.

If self-study is the best way to go then maybe another degree might be very helpful? Mathematics or statistics?

I'd like to freelance or at least do something where I am not tied down if that makes any difference.

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09-18-2014 , 07:33 PM

MarcoSilva92

adept

Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 734

The coding industry doesn't pay as much as it used to, companies even start to outsource some coding to India. If you want a field with high propects for the next decade or so, either data mining, data recovery, security & network.
If you want to go the coding way anyway,and you should always know how to code in this industry, you can either learn by yourself or get a degree.
I guess it'll be easier to be taken more seriously for a job position if you have a degree,unless you have a big portofolio.

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09-22-2014 , 07:16 PM

maxtower

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 7,996

Do you know that you already have an aptitude for it? If not, I would try a basic online course and see if you like it. If that goes well, then you can decide if self-study or physical classes are better for you.

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09-24-2014 , 11:22 AM

Johnny Douglas

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 8,480

If you're able to take advantage of the GI bill and get a good chunk of College paid for, do it. Self study is great (and it really helps in college/uni) but it's more of a gamble than the structure and reputation of a decent school.

If you have incredible self discipline and excellent hustle (for finding jobs down the road), you might do well to save the money/time you'd spend on college, but I think it's an easier road with college, purely speaking in terms of EV.

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09-24-2014 , 07:05 PM

Stack-Rack

stranger

Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 8

As said above, move coding these days gets outsourced to India. But that does not mean you can't still earn some good money from it. I am freelance and find most of my work comes from word of mouth, once you have a few happy customers you then get most work from referrals.

I think it would be better to go to college if you can and with the build up to going to college you could always use something like http://www.codecademy.com/ in the mean time.

If you like creating things I think its a great game to be in, to take someones ideas and then turn them into web pages is always a good feeling.

Best of luck with it all and if I can be of any help just let me know.

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09-25-2014 , 10:15 AM

splashpot

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 8,203

Lol at getting outsourced. There is huge demand for coders in the states.

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09-25-2014 , 08:02 PM

Johnny Douglas

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 8,480

Quote:

Originally Posted by splashpot

Lol at getting outsourced. There is huge demand for coders in the states.

This. I don't know if I've heard of a project that was outsourced that didn't come back (to NA) halfway through the project timeline (or crash and burn). I think projects where it's a one or two coders tends to go OK, but anything to scale seems to go sideways fast.

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