Making a career out of hackerdom?

[xXKelbaXx]

Right now I sit in my dorm room wondering what I'm going to be doing 5 years from now. I'm an undergrad majoring in Info. Systems, but I have no clue how I can make a lucrative career out of what I know. Everyone is pushing me to just go get an MBA because it "can be a ticket to a good salary," but it's not what I want to do. Anyone have any suggestions, advice, or any type of input on how to live a comfortable life yet still relate to what I love?

[DJ Jackalope]

Re: Making a career out of hackerdom?

So being that you're sitting in a dorm room wondering what is going on with the rest of the world, what in the world are you doing?

[xXKelbaXx]

Re: Making a career out of hackerdom?

I've been alternating between homework and researching my question posed here. I've been finding some pretty interesting stuff but I still want the perspectives of the people here.

[noid]

Re: Making a career out of hackerdom?

Well, the question ultimately is 'what do *you* want to do?'. Put aside what your friends and family are pushing you to do, push aside salaries, push aside the 'well, its a good prudent decision' thoughts. Say 'what do I want to do? and how is what I am doing now helping me?' the make changes based on that. Revisit the plan every year or so.

[streaker69]

Re: Making a career out of hackerdom?

The Industrial Automation field desperately needs good people.

[DaKahuna]

Re: Making a career out of hackerdom?

What noid said ! What is it you enjoy doing, what does it take to be successful at it and will it support you and an eventual family. Once you know those answers then do what it takes to find and grow doing something you enjoy.

One of the best feelings is getting up in the morning and looking forward to going to work because you will be getting paid to enjoy something you do.

[streaker69]

Re: Making a career out of hackerdom?

What noid said ! What is it you enjoy doing, what does it take to be successful at it and will it support you and an eventual family. Once you know those answers then do what it takes to find and grow doing something you enjoy.

One of the best feelings is getting up in the morning and looking forward to going to work because you will be getting paid to enjoy something you do.

While I generally do agree with this, how many of us have a degree in one thing and are working in our careers in something completely different from our degrees?

But getting paid to do something you enjoy is probably the most important thing, regardless of what you end up getting a degree in.

[disablmalfunc]

Re: Making a career out of hackerdom?


Thats the problem with colleges, universities w/e you want to call them. They only hand you the information needed for a job but not showing or teaching methods needed to get the job you want. Sadly thats the truth. But the way I see it if your sitting there trying to figure out what to do, id say figure out how to get the job you want

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: Making a career out of hackerdom?

With names like xXKelbaXx and The3l33tOne i'd say you're well on your way already to being professional h4x0rz. Just be careful if Tony Soprano's psychiatrist hires you to 0wn the Gibson and mess with oil tankers. I hear that's not all it's cracked up to be.

[xXKelbaXx]

Re: Making a career out of hackerdom?

With names like xXKelbaXx and The3l33tOne i'd say you're well on your way already to being professional h4x0rz. Just be careful if Tony Soprano's psychiatrist hires you to 0wn the Gibson and mess with oil tankers. I hear that's not all it's cracked up to be.

I made my account in 2005, when I was 16. Give me a break.

Oh, and thanks for your wonderful input.

[disablmalfunc]

Re: Making a career out of hackerdom?


ha im laughing historically. Im not worried about what people say about my nick doesn't matter what they say. I ve already been through the whole making fun of the nick phase and that got old and boring quick. people respect me for who I am and what I learn and know not my nick because thats irrelevant. any way thats another topic ^_^

[streaker69]

Re: Making a career out of hackerdom?

With names like xXKelbaXx and The3l33tOne i'd say you're well on your way already to being professional h4x0rz. Just be careful if Tony Soprano's psychiatrist hires you to 0wn the Gibson and mess with oil tankers. I hear that's not all it's cracked up to be.

I saw a movie where someone was hax0ring the Gibson.. Braveheart wasn't it?

[noid]

Re: Making a career out of hackerdom?

ha im laughing historically. Im not worried about what people say about my nick doesn't matter what they say. I ve already been through the whole making fun of the nick phase and that got old and boring quick. people respect me for who I am and what I learn and know not my nick because thats irrelevant. any way thats another topic ^_^

Yes yes, we all know about your handle and how you don't care, and how you don't care so much that you went and created another thread just to talk about it. Keep it on topic, sport.

[noid]

Re: Making a career out of hackerdom?

Well, the question ultimately is 'what do *you* want to do?'. Put aside what your friends and family are pushing you to do, push aside salaries, push aside the 'well, its a good prudent decision' thoughts. Say 'what do I want to do? and how is what I am doing now helping me?' the make changes based on that. Revisit the plan every year or so.

To add to this, don't think about it in specifics like 'I want to be a coder or a fireman' think about it more of a strategic manner.

'I like helping people and want to do something that allows me to do that'
'I like solving problems, the more complex the better'
'I like technology and want to play with cutting-edge next-gen stuff'

That'll help you begin to narrow it down. For example, I don't necessarily do Information Assurance because I like it specifically, but rather because I like solving problems and IA related problems are what I have gotten good at resolving. That said, I know folks that do IA because they like thwarting the 'bad guy' or because they get to go 'under the hood' more when it comes to networking.

I don't do Search and Rescue because I get a thrill from being in harms way, but rather because I have a really intense desire to help other people. That said, I know other folks that do it because they like 'saving the day' or the thrill of being in harms way.

How I ended up in S&R is I sat down and said 'I have a strong desire to help people, what can I do that meets that need?' and S&R is what I ultimately arrived at.

So, don't pigeon-hole yourself right out the gate by saying 'I want to be a ___', let that come as a conclusion to the process.

[Second]

Re: Making a career out of hackerdom?

ha im laughing historically.

You laughing historically made me laugh hysterically.