Does such a job exist?
Discussion
From a young age I have always been interested in computers/gadgets/mobiles etc, and I seem to be the one person who is called upon by friends, family and random people to help solve a problem with their computer, or recommend a product to fit a particular need - be it to do with the above. Now I enjoy doing this, and I feel that if I could do it for a living I would be much better off (job satisfaction-wise) than where I am now.
My question is - does such a job exist? Is there an employer out there who ticks my boxes, and designs and implements a technological solution to a problem?
I call upon the PH knowledge base for your help!
Andy
My question is - does such a job exist? Is there an employer out there who ticks my boxes, and designs and implements a technological solution to a problem?
I call upon the PH knowledge base for your help!
Andy
How about getting a job working as a Sales Consultant at a Home entertainments Custom Installation company, such as Sevenoaks for example. There are some companies that would be better suited to take advantage of you IT knowledge, check out What Hifi and look through the ads and classified ads to see who they are.
I know it's a little different to mobiles, etc... however there are plenty of gadgets there, including massive home theatre/cinema types of equipment. Ppl buying this sort of stuff think nothing of a solution that will cost around £20k for a single room, and you'll get to play with cool bits of kits from the likes of Denon, Kef, Sim 2 Harman Kardon, Arcam, Lexicon and NAD to name a few.
Well it's an idea to get the ball rolling.
I know it's a little different to mobiles, etc... however there are plenty of gadgets there, including massive home theatre/cinema types of equipment. Ppl buying this sort of stuff think nothing of a solution that will cost around £20k for a single room, and you'll get to play with cool bits of kits from the likes of Denon, Kef, Sim 2 Harman Kardon, Arcam, Lexicon and NAD to name a few.
Well it's an idea to get the ball rolling.
Edited by TheKeyboardDemon on Monday 15th January 23:54
Edited by TheKeyboardDemon on Tuesday 16th January 00:02
TheKeyboardDemon said:
Well it's an idea to get the ball rolling.
And a good one at that. Something along those lines would be good fun to do, I know on here there are a few PHers that specialise (Beaver for one), so it might be worth seeing what they have to say. I guess there is no harm in walking into my local stereo store either?
Any more ideas to do with computers and such like?
Cheers
You rang?
I do whats been mentioned, custom AV installations with various computery bits on the side, hangover from a long time in IT. Not a core part of the business but something which always gets used. Custom is going more IP based and the top end stuff is practically a distributed computing network a bit like a residential implementation of whats been in distributed business systems for many years. The downside for someone starting out is that the knowledge at that end of the market requires serious investment to attain.
I did look at setting up as a 'computer mr fixit' initially but its a tough market and theres ALWAYS someone willing to undercut you. IT repairs is a cost sensitive market in so much as the customer wants it fixed, as long as its fixed then price is the most important factor behind that.
Have a look at your local competition, pick a decent family area and leaflet drop selectively. Its something you can do outside of your dayjob initially and will be a good way to guage the market need. Its not going to be hard to undercut PC World and travelling to your clients trumps little shops so theres definately an opening.
I do whats been mentioned, custom AV installations with various computery bits on the side, hangover from a long time in IT. Not a core part of the business but something which always gets used. Custom is going more IP based and the top end stuff is practically a distributed computing network a bit like a residential implementation of whats been in distributed business systems for many years. The downside for someone starting out is that the knowledge at that end of the market requires serious investment to attain.
I did look at setting up as a 'computer mr fixit' initially but its a tough market and theres ALWAYS someone willing to undercut you. IT repairs is a cost sensitive market in so much as the customer wants it fixed, as long as its fixed then price is the most important factor behind that.
Have a look at your local competition, pick a decent family area and leaflet drop selectively. Its something you can do outside of your dayjob initially and will be a good way to guage the market need. Its not going to be hard to undercut PC World and travelling to your clients trumps little shops so theres definately an opening.
Plotloss said:
You rang?
I do whats been mentioned, custom AV installations with various computery bits on the side, hangover from a long time in IT. Not a core part of the business but something which always gets used. Custom is going more IP based and the top end stuff is practically a distributed computing network a bit like a residential implementation of whats been in distributed business systems for many years. The downside for someone starting out is that the knowledge at that end of the market requires serious investment to attain.
I did look at setting up as a 'computer mr fixit' initially but its a tough market and theres ALWAYS someone willing to undercut you. IT repairs is a cost sensitive market in so much as the customer wants it fixed, as long as its fixed then price is the most important factor behind that.
Have a look at your local competition, pick a decent family area and leaflet drop selectively. Its something you can do outside of your dayjob initially and will be a good way to guage the market need. Its not going to be hard to undercut PC World and travelling to your clients trumps little shops so theres definately an opening.
That sounds interesting, where are you based? Who do you work for? I do whats been mentioned, custom AV installations with various computery bits on the side, hangover from a long time in IT. Not a core part of the business but something which always gets used. Custom is going more IP based and the top end stuff is practically a distributed computing network a bit like a residential implementation of whats been in distributed business systems for many years. The downside for someone starting out is that the knowledge at that end of the market requires serious investment to attain.
I did look at setting up as a 'computer mr fixit' initially but its a tough market and theres ALWAYS someone willing to undercut you. IT repairs is a cost sensitive market in so much as the customer wants it fixed, as long as its fixed then price is the most important factor behind that.
Have a look at your local competition, pick a decent family area and leaflet drop selectively. Its something you can do outside of your dayjob initially and will be a good way to guage the market need. Its not going to be hard to undercut PC World and travelling to your clients trumps little shops so theres definately an opening.
Note: I have just read this, and it looks like a rant. Well, it *is* a rant, but the basic idea there. IT pays crap, you need to pay out quite a lot of £££ each year to stay there, and someone in Bangalore will probably undercut you.
I did this when I was at school / sixth form. If anyone had a computer problem (or an electronics one) they came to me. After school and the 3 most difficult A levels, I went on to do an IT Degree, working my arse off on a B.Sc.(Hons) for 4 years. IT support was ok for 2 or 3 years after graduating, but work got more difficult to find and the pay got lower and lower.
A couple of years ago when West Yorks had another influx of immigrants, they put lots of them on basic IT courses. The result being that everyone and his dog "can do" (i.e. thinks they can do) web sites, PC support and they require somewhat less than the national minimum wage to do so. Unfortunately, not only is the market saturated with doleys who have "done a course" but the big boys like PC World mop up almost all the private individual and small business work. The staff haven't a clue, and they charge a fortune, but Joe Public doesn't know that, and PC World have big shiny shops and big budgets.
And yet the government and "industry" keep telling us that there aren't enough trained and experienced IT people. Don't believe a word of it. What they are actually saying is "There aren't enough qualified experienced people out there that want to work stupid hours for the minimum wage".
So, what have they done? They have opened a training centre near here that takes 16 year olds through 10-15 grands worth of Microsoft and Cisco certification. Network design, installation, management, development, repair. The whole lot. Thus, I find myself with a Degree and experience, out-qualified by several hundred 17 year olds who, of course, work for less than the minimum adult wage.
Getting a foot in the door of system design will require upwards of 10 grand invested in the aforementioned Microsoft and Cisco quals (which expire by the way, you have to resit the exams after a certain time). So if you want a job that eventually pays well, don't do IT. In fact don't do a technical job at all. Get a suit, get a desk, get a job with "manager" in the title, and spend all day bullshitting. Nobody gets rewarded for having a brain now, only for selling, talking and schmoozing.
*Gets off soapbox*
I did this when I was at school / sixth form. If anyone had a computer problem (or an electronics one) they came to me. After school and the 3 most difficult A levels, I went on to do an IT Degree, working my arse off on a B.Sc.(Hons) for 4 years. IT support was ok for 2 or 3 years after graduating, but work got more difficult to find and the pay got lower and lower.
A couple of years ago when West Yorks had another influx of immigrants, they put lots of them on basic IT courses. The result being that everyone and his dog "can do" (i.e. thinks they can do) web sites, PC support and they require somewhat less than the national minimum wage to do so. Unfortunately, not only is the market saturated with doleys who have "done a course" but the big boys like PC World mop up almost all the private individual and small business work. The staff haven't a clue, and they charge a fortune, but Joe Public doesn't know that, and PC World have big shiny shops and big budgets.
And yet the government and "industry" keep telling us that there aren't enough trained and experienced IT people. Don't believe a word of it. What they are actually saying is "There aren't enough qualified experienced people out there that want to work stupid hours for the minimum wage".
So, what have they done? They have opened a training centre near here that takes 16 year olds through 10-15 grands worth of Microsoft and Cisco certification. Network design, installation, management, development, repair. The whole lot. Thus, I find myself with a Degree and experience, out-qualified by several hundred 17 year olds who, of course, work for less than the minimum adult wage.
Getting a foot in the door of system design will require upwards of 10 grand invested in the aforementioned Microsoft and Cisco quals (which expire by the way, you have to resit the exams after a certain time). So if you want a job that eventually pays well, don't do IT. In fact don't do a technical job at all. Get a suit, get a desk, get a job with "manager" in the title, and spend all day bullshitting. Nobody gets rewarded for having a brain now, only for selling, talking and schmoozing.
*Gets off soapbox*
If you want to make money in IT you have to own your own Company. And the money you make is sod all to do with IT - its to do with the service you offer.
Computer MrFixit work does not pay enough IMO to successfully run a business doing it for the general public. There are literally thousands of guys out there doing this in the evenings and weekends for beer and pretzels. If they're charging they're doing it at £40 a pop and can do two a night. If you get all honest about it and tell the Revenue they'll want half the money. It is soooo not worth it for a pro. My bro-in-law does some of this work - and claims its a very nicely paid hobby. He also has a full time job. No mistake - he also needs a full time job.
If there is any money in IT it is in providing a total service to business. Either software development or (like us) selling and deploying our own software. Trust me - our software has tens of man-years of development behind it and we can sell it for a couple of hundred quid a "seat". You need a LOT of people at a Company to need to use it for a worthwhile sale.
To put this into perspective Microsoft put thousands of man-years into Windows and sell it for £80. Bill is only a billionaire because absolutely everyone uses it.
Then there is bespoke software development. Customers are less and less likely to buy this these days. Why? Because the best software in the world is either Microsoft and dirt cheap or Open Source and FREE. So they look at what a bespoke development would cost and go "whaaaaat????"
Don't go into IT. Unless you're the guy who can do it with the amazing new idea you certainly won't be getting rich! There again...its treated me OK...but I DO own the Company...
Computer MrFixit work does not pay enough IMO to successfully run a business doing it for the general public. There are literally thousands of guys out there doing this in the evenings and weekends for beer and pretzels. If they're charging they're doing it at £40 a pop and can do two a night. If you get all honest about it and tell the Revenue they'll want half the money. It is soooo not worth it for a pro. My bro-in-law does some of this work - and claims its a very nicely paid hobby. He also has a full time job. No mistake - he also needs a full time job.
If there is any money in IT it is in providing a total service to business. Either software development or (like us) selling and deploying our own software. Trust me - our software has tens of man-years of development behind it and we can sell it for a couple of hundred quid a "seat". You need a LOT of people at a Company to need to use it for a worthwhile sale.
To put this into perspective Microsoft put thousands of man-years into Windows and sell it for £80. Bill is only a billionaire because absolutely everyone uses it.
Then there is bespoke software development. Customers are less and less likely to buy this these days. Why? Because the best software in the world is either Microsoft and dirt cheap or Open Source and FREE. So they look at what a bespoke development would cost and go "whaaaaat????"
Don't go into IT. Unless you're the guy who can do it with the amazing new idea you certainly won't be getting rich! There again...its treated me OK...but I DO own the Company...
where are you based Andy?
Our industry (I supply plotty with stuff) is ripe for a boom soon so there are a few companies out there looking for people.
Central London is always good, but they are looking at Crestron / AMX (50K plus) projects.
Have a look at avforums, they have a jobs section and it seems to get your sort of requirements. But do expect to start from the ground up and prove yourself.
Chris
Our industry (I supply plotty with stuff) is ripe for a boom soon so there are a few companies out there looking for people.
Central London is always good, but they are looking at Crestron / AMX (50K plus) projects.
Have a look at avforums, they have a jobs section and it seems to get your sort of requirements. But do expect to start from the ground up and prove yourself.
Chris
miniandy said:
From a young age I have always been interested in computers/gadgets/mobiles etc, and I seem to be the one person who is called upon by friends, family and random people to help solve a problem with their computer, or recommend a product to fit a particular need - be it to do with the above. Now I enjoy doing this, and I feel that if I could do it for a living I would be much better off (job satisfaction-wise) than where I am now.
Having experienced it myself and seen a lot of others in a similar boat... it is inadvisable to convert a hobby in to a profession (this seems to be a universal rule rather than an ITo only thing). If you enjoy tinkering, fixing in your own time (or with lax deadlines) and recommending products to people you might well find some aspects of 'puka' IT to be a bit eye watering.
Worse case: Next time someone calls you to fix a problem. Work in these conditions, 1hr to resolve the fault, your mobile phone is ringing constantly with people wanting updates (each conversation takes 5min - 10min) and if you don't fix it in an hour you have to start paying that person say £50 an hour. If someone wants a recommendation for an all singing all dancing product, it must cost no more than 50p work perfectly for 5 years and require zero support from yourself or others.
It can be a lot better than that obviously, however prepare for the worst and all that.
Well thanks for the replies everyone.
Perhaps I was a tad unclear - I don't want to be Mr Fix-It because like you all say the pay is hopeless and you will not be able to compete effectively. What I want to be is part of a company that puts the solution in place - such as an ISV that Chris suggested. I don't mind starting from the bottom and working my way up because if it's something I want to do, then it will be worth it. Currently I work within a large 3rd generation telecoms company and despite being involved with technology there is no chance of a different role coming up. Plus I frequently feel like the statue!
So do ISV's work in the AV industry as well, or is it just big offices?
Perhaps I was a tad unclear - I don't want to be Mr Fix-It because like you all say the pay is hopeless and you will not be able to compete effectively. What I want to be is part of a company that puts the solution in place - such as an ISV that Chris suggested. I don't mind starting from the bottom and working my way up because if it's something I want to do, then it will be worth it. Currently I work within a large 3rd generation telecoms company and despite being involved with technology there is no chance of a different role coming up. Plus I frequently feel like the statue!
So do ISV's work in the AV industry as well, or is it just big offices?
Zad said:
Note: I have just read this, and it looks like a rant. Well, it *is* a rant, but the basic idea there. IT pays crap, you need to pay out quite a lot of £££ each year to stay there, and someone in Bangalore will probably undercut you.
I did this when I was at school / sixth form. If anyone had a computer problem (or an electronics one) they came to me. After school and the 3 most difficult A levels, I went on to do an IT Degree, working my arse off on a B.Sc.(Hons) for 4 years. IT support was ok for 2 or 3 years after graduating, but work got more difficult to find and the pay got lower and lower.
A couple of years ago when West Yorks had another influx of immigrants, they put lots of them on basic IT courses. The result being that everyone and his dog "can do" (i.e. thinks they can do) web sites, PC support and they require somewhat less than the national minimum wage to do so. Unfortunately, not only is the market saturated with doleys who have "done a course" but the big boys like PC World mop up almost all the private individual and small business work. The staff haven't a clue, and they charge a fortune, but Joe Public doesn't know that, and PC World have big shiny shops and big budgets.
And yet the government and "industry" keep telling us that there aren't enough trained and experienced IT people. Don't believe a word of it. What they are actually saying is "There aren't enough qualified experienced people out there that want to work stupid hours for the minimum wage".
So, what have they done? They have opened a training centre near here that takes 16 year olds through 10-15 grands worth of Microsoft and Cisco certification. Network design, installation, management, development, repair. The whole lot. Thus, I find myself with a Degree and experience, out-qualified by several hundred 17 year olds who, of course, work for less than the minimum adult wage.
Getting a foot in the door of system design will require upwards of 10 grand invested in the aforementioned Microsoft and Cisco quals (which expire by the way, you have to resit the exams after a certain time). So if you want a job that eventually pays well, don't do IT. In fact don't do a technical job at all. Get a suit, get a desk, get a job with "manager" in the title, and spend all day bullshitting. Nobody gets rewarded for having a brain now, only for selling, talking and schmoozing.
*Gets off soapbox*
Sorry but that's bollox. If you are having trouble making money from something then it suggests that a large number of people can do it despite your beliefs and that it why the pay is low. A large number of people can do web sites and tech support because it isn't rocket science in the grand scheme of things. Push yourself harder and use your IT degree properly, get in to software design and development and earn more money. The only person you have to blame is yourself. You can't expect to choose a job which is perceived as relatively cushy, perceived as being well paid and isn't that difficult to do and expect other not to want some of that which dilutes the market. Push yourself to the next level and stop blaming everyone else. Before you flame me I have done tech support and while I know it can be stressful it isn't difficult. Neither is web development. My main focus is software design and development, I haven't been on any courses and I do relatively well out of it and find it relatively satisfying. I did this when I was at school / sixth form. If anyone had a computer problem (or an electronics one) they came to me. After school and the 3 most difficult A levels, I went on to do an IT Degree, working my arse off on a B.Sc.(Hons) for 4 years. IT support was ok for 2 or 3 years after graduating, but work got more difficult to find and the pay got lower and lower.
A couple of years ago when West Yorks had another influx of immigrants, they put lots of them on basic IT courses. The result being that everyone and his dog "can do" (i.e. thinks they can do) web sites, PC support and they require somewhat less than the national minimum wage to do so. Unfortunately, not only is the market saturated with doleys who have "done a course" but the big boys like PC World mop up almost all the private individual and small business work. The staff haven't a clue, and they charge a fortune, but Joe Public doesn't know that, and PC World have big shiny shops and big budgets.
And yet the government and "industry" keep telling us that there aren't enough trained and experienced IT people. Don't believe a word of it. What they are actually saying is "There aren't enough qualified experienced people out there that want to work stupid hours for the minimum wage".
So, what have they done? They have opened a training centre near here that takes 16 year olds through 10-15 grands worth of Microsoft and Cisco certification. Network design, installation, management, development, repair. The whole lot. Thus, I find myself with a Degree and experience, out-qualified by several hundred 17 year olds who, of course, work for less than the minimum adult wage.
Getting a foot in the door of system design will require upwards of 10 grand invested in the aforementioned Microsoft and Cisco quals (which expire by the way, you have to resit the exams after a certain time). So if you want a job that eventually pays well, don't do IT. In fact don't do a technical job at all. Get a suit, get a desk, get a job with "manager" in the title, and spend all day bullshitting. Nobody gets rewarded for having a brain now, only for selling, talking and schmoozing.
*Gets off soapbox*
Regards,
Mark
miniandy said:
Well thanks for the replies everyone.
Perhaps I was a tad unclear - I don't want to be Mr Fix-It because like you all say the pay is hopeless and you will not be able to compete effectively. What I want to be is part of a company that puts the solution in place - such as an ISV that Chris suggested. I don't mind starting from the bottom and working my way up because if it's something I want to do, then it will be worth it. Currently I work within a large 3rd generation telecoms company and despite being involved with technology there is no chance of a different role coming up. Plus I frequently feel like the statue!
So do ISV's work in the AV industry as well, or is it just big offices?
Perhaps I was a tad unclear - I don't want to be Mr Fix-It because like you all say the pay is hopeless and you will not be able to compete effectively. What I want to be is part of a company that puts the solution in place - such as an ISV that Chris suggested. I don't mind starting from the bottom and working my way up because if it's something I want to do, then it will be worth it. Currently I work within a large 3rd generation telecoms company and despite being involved with technology there is no chance of a different role coming up. Plus I frequently feel like the statue!
So do ISV's work in the AV industry as well, or is it just big offices?
ISVs generally code a solution that targets a market reusing a proportion of the core code and customising it to fit the needs of the latest customer.
With Custom AV whilst you may use the same physical hardware on more than one job each job is custom, you start from effectively scratch with a list of requirements and provide exactly what the customer wants so they arent comparable really.
A bit further up you said you would like to work with computers more than other electronics. If you want to work in computers is your leaning more towards hardware or software?
We are an ISV but also do Network/Server solutions and Telephone systems (land line / mobile) . This enables us to offer our clients a one stop solution where we meet all their IT requirements. I used to work on call for a local computer shop from time to time (when I needed £
If a customer called up with a problem such as the pc is broke, my video won't turn on or my printer won't print they would send us. This was in addition to a "day job".
The customer paid £45 an hour + VAT, of which the shop took £20, and £25 went to the fixer upper. Parts were supplied by the shop. If a long term solution was needed, then everyone got a job and a cut of the profit
If a customer called up with a problem such as the pc is broke, my video won't turn on or my printer won't print they would send us. This was in addition to a "day job".
The customer paid £45 an hour + VAT, of which the shop took £20, and £25 went to the fixer upper. Parts were supplied by the shop. If a long term solution was needed, then everyone got a job and a cut of the profit
dern is correct.
IT is a good job, and pays well so long as you do the right thing.
For a start, if you want to get certified (a good thing) it doesn't have to cost tens of thousands, it costs the price of a few books, some long hours studying, and the exam fees - oh and a few years at the coalface don't hurt either.
The most important thing to do is to decide what you're interested in - there are so many areas - software development, PC support, windows admin, unix, web, AV, security, storage, back-ups, DR, networking and so on, there are then many disciplines within each of those categories, then you have different sectors, each with its own demands and requirements.
I can only tell you what I did:
Started doing PC support in a large office (wasn't very good at it)
got into "network admin" i.e Novel then NT, worked hard and got CNE and MCSE, got into firewall admin, got checkpoint certified (did a couple of courses, but mostly did it off my own back).
Went contracting, frankly still busking a bit...
Got into IP networking (Cisco), got into the telco/ISP sector and was exposed to much more serious technologies. Worked REALLY hard to get thru Cisco certs (I reckon to get CCIE takes .....
£30 book to get CCNA (one month study) - should know basics of IP before starting - £75 exam fee
maybe £120 on books to get CCNP, probably 6 months after CCNA, 4x £75 fees.
£30 book to get CCDA/DP, another months study - 2 x £75 fees.
Another (maybe) £200 on CCIE books, at least a years hard study, buy a "lab" off ebay - £500-£1500, expect to have to take the lab 2-3 times AT LEAST, $1500 a pop.
However, you should be earning for most of this... if you can get a job at Cisco or someone that has a vested interest in you gaining certs it will be easier, cheaper and quicker (as you don't have to study in your spare time).
Finally ended up working on high end IP networking stuff with Juniper doing MPLS, looking to jump into Investment banking / management.
Basically it's all down to how much effort you want to put in....
Also, currently looking to set up some kind of consultancy (or add another level to an existing business), either providing high level solutions to large companies (telcos ?) for networking (IP/voice convergence etc) and security - or providing Enterprise/carrier class solutions to smaller businesses that wouldn't normally have access to that kind of thing ..... working on various ideas (if anyone has any suggestions/proposals...lol)
IT is a good job, and pays well so long as you do the right thing.
For a start, if you want to get certified (a good thing) it doesn't have to cost tens of thousands, it costs the price of a few books, some long hours studying, and the exam fees - oh and a few years at the coalface don't hurt either.
The most important thing to do is to decide what you're interested in - there are so many areas - software development, PC support, windows admin, unix, web, AV, security, storage, back-ups, DR, networking and so on, there are then many disciplines within each of those categories, then you have different sectors, each with its own demands and requirements.
I can only tell you what I did:
Started doing PC support in a large office (wasn't very good at it)
got into "network admin" i.e Novel then NT, worked hard and got CNE and MCSE, got into firewall admin, got checkpoint certified (did a couple of courses, but mostly did it off my own back).
Went contracting, frankly still busking a bit...
Got into IP networking (Cisco), got into the telco/ISP sector and was exposed to much more serious technologies. Worked REALLY hard to get thru Cisco certs (I reckon to get CCIE takes .....
£30 book to get CCNA (one month study) - should know basics of IP before starting - £75 exam fee
maybe £120 on books to get CCNP, probably 6 months after CCNA, 4x £75 fees.
£30 book to get CCDA/DP, another months study - 2 x £75 fees.
Another (maybe) £200 on CCIE books, at least a years hard study, buy a "lab" off ebay - £500-£1500, expect to have to take the lab 2-3 times AT LEAST, $1500 a pop.
However, you should be earning for most of this... if you can get a job at Cisco or someone that has a vested interest in you gaining certs it will be easier, cheaper and quicker (as you don't have to study in your spare time).
Finally ended up working on high end IP networking stuff with Juniper doing MPLS, looking to jump into Investment banking / management.
Basically it's all down to how much effort you want to put in....
Also, currently looking to set up some kind of consultancy (or add another level to an existing business), either providing high level solutions to large companies (telcos ?) for networking (IP/voice convergence etc) and security - or providing Enterprise/carrier class solutions to smaller businesses that wouldn't normally have access to that kind of thing ..... working on various ideas (if anyone has any suggestions/proposals...lol)
Edited by guydw on Tuesday 16th January 13:52
Don said:
Then there is bespoke software development. Customers are less and less likely to buy this these days. Why? Because the best software in the world is either Microsoft and dirt cheap or Open Source and FREE. So they look at what a bespoke development would cost and go "whaaaaat????"
Or you take advantage of a nich skill-set and use open source (or similar) to provide a solution where the customer pays for your expertise and specific business-focussed functionality rather than the more traditional licences and customisation of COTS packages/systems.
Don said:
Don't go into IT. Unless you're the guy who can do it with the amazing new idea you certainly won't be getting rich! There again...its treated me OK...but I DO own the Company...
Contracting is a way forward but very unlikelt that a role will be available doing 'tinkering' as a contractor. Systems Architecture/Design/Implementation is about the closest you'd get but that takes a decent level of experience to earn good money in.
Don's right in that the PC Odd Job 'Man' isn't a big earner but that's relative. It may be that you can earn £30k a year doing it and that's more cash and more satisfying than your current role. You won't compete with a salary of £50k+ though so it's largely about expectations.
ETA: as an itinerant Miss-Fix-IT (tm) your unique business benefit could be your gender - how many women feel happy inviting some random bloke into their homes to fix their broken computer/internet connection/whatever? A bit like those all-woman taxi companies...
Edited by iaint on Tuesday 16th January 13:53
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