Let's assume you had no degree and you are getting ready to go get one right now.
What would you chose?
14 replies (most recent on top)
X-Ray tech is 2 yr certificate and they can clear 6 figures after a few years.
IT related jobs already had their heyday and now its bust pretty much.
Don't get a degree, get skills. Programming is becoming a trade more than a profession, and there's much more cost effective ways to get skilled than a four year degree with its overinflated cost and substantial portion of unrelated requirements.
If you have any interest in medicine, but don't want to spend the next 7 years in med school/residency training, you might look into a Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner program.
Underwater basket weaving because it's the most relevant skill currently needed at IBM. LOL
Just kidding. An MBA seems to be a safe choice these days because the workplace is so dynamic and companies need people who can help them navigate through today's constantly changing business ecosystem.
It is not entirely unrelated .. if you have been part of an RA one option is to go back to school before your next gig.
This is a cool post but unrelated to layoffs. Maybe you should try joining Fishbowl to get some broader perspective on your questions.
It depend how much effort and time you want to put in degree. Also with exponential growth in technology there is no one specific technology or degree will last you for whole life. One has to be always learning and evolving. Only thing you can look at this time is next 10 years. If you are looking for next 10 year only,then go with latest technology which is in demand(demand is more then supply).
At this time below technology is really hot and anyone having any experience working on these technologies can get good job and it will last for at least next 10 years till some other technology overtake it.
Degree in Artificial Intelligence
or
Degree in Big Data(Hadoop ecosystem ,spark etc)
If you already have some other degree and don't want to spend 4 years or 2 years degree program and spend $50k to $100k then I suggest you can also look into industry standard certifications.
Other hot area where demand is more then supply at this time is "security"
Go with Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and do other security certification.And if you are on east coast specially on Virginia side ,there are lot of security clearance federal jobs opening.
If any of above area looks more techie or tough then one can look into Program management or Project management area and do short certification in
PMP: Project Management Professional
CAPM: Certified Associate in Project Management
CSM: Certified ScrumMaster
If you have some experience and not fresher I suggest go with various certifications and do self learning by taking training,reading books and self practice and put in your resume all these industry standard certifications and skills set which are employers are looking for. Degree only give you basic foundation but not job in this cut throat competition.Go with what market demands.
A smart kid working for the government will go far - will take some time and patience and learning hot to play the game - but... early retirement, job safety, etc.
It's all about "New Collar" ... no need for a degree now.
Just step into an executive or strategic position at IBM in no time kids ....
Nothing in Tech, nothing in the corporate world. If my kids had an interest in medicine, I would steer them to med school; huge demand and huge pay. But they don't. So I tell them to work for the government. Doesn't matter so much the field; they just need the benefits and security that only a government job provides now.
It would definitely not be an IT related degree. The "techie" field is a bust.
A barber has more job security than anyone working in IT these days.
Learn how to cut hair, vanity will never go away.
Doctors all the time. Don't waste your time with coding!
CS will prep you good...
Soft minor, history or philosophy- helps with communication
I have a degree in Computer Science. I think it is still a good one to get, I'm considering going back for a PhD now that it seems I'll have time for one. It has always been a long term personal goal.
While a big company like IBM may not value a CS degree as much as it used to and treat it as a commodity, there has never been more opportunity to apply these skills in the world. You can go into business for yourself.
20 years ago if you wanted to sell your own software you had to figure out how to get it produced, distributed and placed on a retail shelf. 11 years ago you no longer needed to produce a physical copy but you still had to figure out how to deliver it and receive payment over the internet. Now with the proliferation of smart phones in everyone's pocket and app stores taking care of the delivery/payment it's never been easier. There is cheap cloud services available if you need to setup your software infrastructure, you no longer need to buy the hardware and get physical space to house it etc.
A CS degree may not help you come up with an idea that will become profitable software, but it could give you a solid foundation to execute that idea when you do get it. That foundation will help you keep up with changes in technology which is generally evolutionary. More so that if you just went to a coder bootcamp for web design or what not.
That's my opinion, but world will always need doctors and nurses as well :)