Unemployment

[atsp]

So i just lost my job today =/
im thinking of doing programming...anyone here know what its like?
i am seriously lost atm

[schwinn]

Sorry to hear about the job man. These days are tough, I've got a few friends who are out of work already and I feel for ya.

I work in an IT company. I'm not a fan of programming myself, but first thing I'd like to say is not to be taken in by those 'excom - graduate IT express' ads. Those ads are a cleverly strung together bunch of facts aimed at presenting highly profitable mistruths.

How old are ya, and how much programming do u know now? This I say because the time it takes to be a good programmer from scratch might be up until the economic recession is over, depending on how much effort you put in etc. Furthermore, you will be competing with again, heaps of other programmers that are out of uni, tafe, high school prodigies every now and then.

I hang around whirlpool.net a lot, if you're looking to find some debate, some help etc, do a search for similar related topics, and once you've gone through the gist of it, maybe start another thread there (in the IT Jobs/Industry sub section) asking for advice.

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au

Programming is great if you're into it, but not if otherwise. If you've done a little bit and like it, slowly delve a little deeper. What I'm trying to say is, like everything else, don't be in a rush to spend money to train yourself in something you're not too sure you like yet.

[Aaron]

Most programmers I know have been in the game for 10+ years now - and are stuck doing it. ie the money is there and the job satisfaction isn't, but they are stuck becuase of the money. Those on contract do seem to spend periods of months looking for the next contract.

If you're in IT and currently not a programmer I'd look at other areas that will let you have a more flexible career and let you move around a bit more without having to completely reskill.

A. (ITSM Geek)

[Dogo]

Programming can be great if you like solving problems and the most successful ones are usually some kind of perfectionist because they take the time to make sure they write their code 'properly'.

Web programming is relatively quick to pick up but there's a lot of competition. Software or data tier programming takes longer to know really well but the rewards are greater and the jobs are more stable.

I came from a design and animation background and started to follow a programming career because I found a talent for it and followed the money. It was great fun and after I progressed into bigger projects it opened the door to higher levels of management, leadership and IT strategies.

What was ur job before you lost it ? You need to have stable capital if you want to train for a change in career.

[atsp]

i worked at HP - Computers but now they are cutting back on ppl

[Rupewrecht]

Sorry to hear! A mate just lost his after Strathfield Car Audio went under, too. Everybody is trying to downsize atm, and it sucks!

[derb]

IT support will always be needed no matter what the economic times. it's also your best foot in the door if you aren't skilled in IT yet. i'd recommend you get a support role in a larger company so you have room to move into other departments. i've been in IT professionally for 5 years now and even i hate programming.

[bourbon]

IT is one of the over crowded proffesions atm i must say...everyone is in it...and it can get hard to find a job in it if everyone is looking...its a good profesion to have knowledge for specially with how technologic **** everything is going...but atm i dont think it will be easy to find a job in IT

[DavoAust]

IT is one of the over crowded proffesions atm i must say...everyone is in it...and it can get hard to find a job in it if everyone is looking...its a good profesion to have knowledge for specially with how technologic **** everything is going...but atm i dont think it will be easy to find a job in IT

looked around brisbane recently? decent IT staff are hard to find. theres a shortage of people with knowledge of server admin and programming.

biggest problem i could see with a change of profession like this is you'd spend 3+ years getting trained for it, by which time the economy will have probably bounced back

[bourbon]

6months ago i know there was too many IT people kicking around...and heaps of people were after jobs in the industry...

[mussing]

Sorry to hear it dude. I know a couple in the same job. Not to mention the hard time my friends who've just graduated uni are having finding employment.

Can you give a few bits of info though? Namely:

What qualifications do you have?
How much experience do you have?
What exactly did you do at HP Computers?

[atsp]

i have a certificate in business services cert I & II
i worked at hp for 1 year and abit
i mainly did hardware stuff

haha who wants to employ me? mussing?

[Bear]

hmmm sorry about the job loss there ... it always sucks ... i've known only too well ... i've be in the IT game for the last 13 years and i've been unemployed for up to 6 months at a stretch in that ... it's just a part of the game

if you have mostly had experience in hardware, and you are interested in getting into coding, i'd suggest you see about sitting in with some coders for a while ... it's a VERY different world ... while i'm qualified as a software engineer, i'd taken my experience through a number of fields ... IT security, voice communications, contract management, project management, consulting ... in the end I'm back in IT sec and honestly, i wouldn't be interested in working as a coder even if the money was awesome

if you want to stay in IT (and yes, it's a flooded market) you should look at how you want to take your career and what you're interested in . it'll shorten the process of getting upskilled and into that field ... and it'll leave you less likely to end up in a pidgeon hole you don't like

[mrpayner]

What about an entirely different vocation?

What about a trade? Do something with those hands! Everyone knows there's a trade shortage out there.

What age are you?

[Ice88]

I deliver pizzas as part of my part time job atm (Last shift tonight). And i can say that the people i deliver in the more affuluent areas are not people who wear suits, but council workers or tradies.

If you want money thats where its at atm. Its funny when i started my IT degree there was tonnes and tonnes of jobs, now there are very few. Worrysome tbh.

EDIT: BTW unless you have a degree of some sort in IT, be it Diploma, or Bachaelor you will find it hard to get a job other then maybe a entry level help desk support role.

[Nate]

do a trade - instant cash, even if it is **** for the first year, but its better than paying someone to train you! Your employer pays for your tafe fee's and pays you to go there plus the gov is offering huge cash bonuses plus tool vouchers. there are heaps of different trades around. the ones earning the big dollars are the obvious ones, plumbing, electrical ( :D ) etc but there are heaps of other options were you dont even get dirty (radio tech for example)

[TieNN89]

do a trade - instant cash, even if it is **** for the first year, but its better than paying someone to train you! Your employer pays for your tafe fee's and pays you to go there plus the gov is offering huge cash bonuses plus tool vouchers. there are heaps of different trades around. the ones earning the big dollars are the obvious ones, plumbing, electrical ( :D ) etc but there are heaps of other options were you dont even get dirty (radio tech for example)

exactly what I'm thinking of doing

well I've been wanting to an electrical apprenticeship

BUT not sure if i could live on crap all pay

but while work is not looking so good my way :( I think I might jump into that

[marcs_sp20]

I've been wanting to go into an apprenticeship to do with body work etc, but trying to find somewhere that'll take someone thats now 22 is a little hard. seeing that im now classed as a "mature" adult, its bloody hard to find somewhere!

[rodhog]

well coming from someone who's done a fair bit

I did a bit of trade a Qantas just before and during the great downturn. My trainneeship was part of a massive cutting. due to my Hate of Queenslanders - (sorry but nothing personal just don't like being called A Wog when I'm more Asian blood)
So I didn't move to Virgin.

I went back to IT- Went down Management but it then was websiteproduction management 1st year I did it part time ontop of a Computer Engineering course. - A 20 year old with time between tagfe no Job - fast car equelled alot of late nights - making money fast blowing it fast.

then about 5-6 years ago I saw one new teacher he was so fat from sitting on chair at his IT desk. I was scared. Then friend got me job at this place for IBM. If they were slim they were born that way, other then that more wannabe virgins then I could handle- sitting on the PC programming 2 hours -4 hours then playing games between them. I moved so quickly I was there BOSS, for 1 week - I killed the position - but found Lazy IT people don't like to be pushed. Problem is - I'm use to hitting things.
I got the sack the best.
So went where I belonged - Back to a Old school mans world. - My weekends were similar enough. You don't leanr how to rebuild a R33 garret turbo and fit on and off a ET pulsar reading the internet.


I used what I had started to get an apprentiship - or in effect told the company this advanced rate for me ( was good with in 6 months I was no.2 in my section )
So I became a qualified plastics Fitter - but Fitter machinest by trade

Over that apprenticeship - overtime - etc etc.
So in effect I have alot on my card already

I have had at one stage had 7 cars to my name at one time.
Spent hours on ends at club-pubs and Gentlemans clubs - either buying drinks spilling drinks, buying my way out.

So yes TRADES ARE GREAT

but here is the little bit.
to make money -
You kill yourself.
It means late nights sometimes - and they aint' EASY nights.
I have scars on me healing being developed or still visable from 5 years ago. Everyone else in my mixed industries has missing fingers 1 minimal.
To move up it takes longer but you do get more respect from both a production and Management point of veiw.

But the problem is the social life it can take out of you.
I get home I'm dead tired - NO A/C in my work enviroment.
If I get road rage on the way home - I get out of the car. (never pick on a tradesman )

The worse the conditions the more you get paid.

True if I could go back I would do better in school and become a Proffesional sports person.


IMO this is only be begining. I myself am just making sure I secure myself into my position.
Mainly by keepign my productivity levels above 90%. but also taking up more work.

Qualifications are important but So are contacts, and experience.
2years ago I was being head hunted both interestate - Vic and Qld.
Remember wen oportunity knocks rings the bell or runs over you - Jump on board.

look long term and not short term. As the Sea is about to get rough.

[Pettos]

Well, 2 weeks out from quitting my job... But I was sick of their **** and wasn't taking it anymore. I'm going back to tafe to get more qualifications...

I guess I was lucky, as I found what I loved in school, which was media (camera's, editing, productions, [audio/visual engineering)... Straight out of school, got head hunted by a horse racing website, just finished their 'traineeship' after 2 years, walking out of it with a Cert IV in Digital Media...

Now? I'll be getting my ABN, working Freelance and Casual for multiple companies here and there... whilst at tafe doing my cert IV/Diploma in Screen.

Do what you love, and Love what you do! It helps, believe me...

[Nate]

exactly what I'm thinking of doing

well I've been wanting to an electrical apprenticeship

BUT not sure if i could live on crap all pay

but while work is not looking so good my way :( I think I might jump into that

the pay isnt that bad ... you will find that there are places offer a good wage and those that pay you base wage offer heaps of overtime cause you are cheap to employ.