I always wonder the same thing and then I realize I'm bad with computers and don't really like them... But damn it would be nice to be making that money
It's definitely not a requirement to know how to code. It helps if you can read code and understand what it's doing, but even that's not strictly a requirement. If you're computer/technology savvy and can write well, that's often enough (or so I've heard). Knowing how to use XML really helps, though. I don't think it's necessarily a requirement to live in a city with a big IT presence, either, but it can only help. And if you're willing to look outside IT, lots of other industries also use tech writers--medical device, architecture, heavy equipment manufacturing, etc. Not sure where you're located, but these are the top 20 states for tech writers: 1. California 2. Texas 3. Virginia 4. Massachusetts 5. Maryland 6. New York 7. North Carolina 8. Florida 9. Illinois 10. New Jersey 11. Pennsylvania 12. Colorado 13. Ohio 14. Wisconsin 15. Minnesota 16. Washington 17. Georgia 18. Michigan 19. Arizona 20. Missouri Keep in mind, though, that this list is for all industries combined and isn't exclusive to IT.
Used to work for a fiber to the home cable company doing programming/video editing/you name it. Now stay at home dad while my wife makes the bacon.
I'm on a federal committee that works to keep pineapple off pizzas. We've been severely understaffed for a long time (it's just me) and it's very difficult to keep up with the work load. Many, many blasphemous pies continue to slip through the cracks.
Nice! My wife currently makes more, but I'm in the process of interviewing for a position that will double my salary and she's already talking about cutting back hours.
What did everyone "major" in in college vs. what they do now? If it's a different field, how'd that transition happen?
I majored in Political Science, graduated last May, and started my first job in January as the Assistant City Clerk for a suburb of KC,MO
I majored in sociology and I am an advocate that works with children and families. When I graduated I had no idea what I wanted to do so it's def not anything I expected. Especially since I expected to not find a job and thought I'd go back to my old dead end one
Got my degree in exercise science. Really hard to find a job where I live, most available jobs you need to have a cls/phlebotomy license or be RN. Still at my shitty food service job. Need to get out...fast! Don't ask me about personal training. Not something I'm interested in.
Majored in Computer Science. I'm a programmer for a video game company, been there for almost 3 yrs. Worked for McDonald's for 2 yrs during college, which might have been the worst 2 yrs of my life, but it gave me perspective.
You can do all sorts of things with the degree. Cardiac rehab, pt, teaching, exercise physiologist (so like working with patients in a hospital or clinic) etc
I can't sit in an office all day. Just not my thing. But anyway, I was just offered an apprenticeship with the carpenters Union. It'd be a big paycut but I'd be able to have a life again. I don't know what to do. I have a week to decide.
That's one of my things. I don't want to be in an office/in front of a computer all day. I would love to find the perfect balance of office and out and about but I have no idea what that could be
i have a 30-minute phone interview tomorrow with a really large, fancy, uptight company for a great (sounding) position in which i would run their connectivity branches throughout the entire U.S., including Mexico and Canada. needless to say, it sounds very busy and vital to day to day operations and i love a challenge so i'm super excited / hoping it goes well. i think i do well in phone interviews since in person i tend to flail my arms a lot and i'm not good at making eye contact. now i gotta plan for questions and think of my own.
When you find out what that is, let me know haha. I sit in front of a computer all day but would love to eventually be able to get out some. Its sucking my soul!
Be a social worker! I have like half the day running around with kids and the other half is office stuff but I go out all the time for home visits and shopping for family nights