Need new skills

[Sparks]

I currently work in a very niche IT area (Remedy ARS development, if that means anything) and there isn't much work about. I previously did several years of UNIX Admin/Support and a bit of Sybase. This was too long ago (6 years) to enable me to get back into it, without taking an unacceptable (to the wife ) paycut, although it was my most enjoyable job.

What skills do you suggest I look at aquiring? I am trying to teach myself javascript, as it is very relevant to my current line of work.
I want something long term, bearing in mind i'm a geek, so manager is something I don't want to be.

Sorry for the ramble, and thanks in advance

Sparks

[dontlift]

Given the state of the IT industry in general in the UK, may I suggest plumbing.....

[plotloss]

Telecoms is where I would be looking...

[docevi1]

dontlift said:

Given the state of the IT industry in general in the UK, may I suggest plumbing.....

and there's me doing a CS degree

Still, I'm not planning on going into CS industry directly, more using the CS as a degree.

Stefan

[Sparks]

dontlift said:

Given the state of the IT industry in general in the UK, may I suggest plumbing.....

I had considered that, although my DIY ability leaves alot to be desired.

If I had the time, I would do an evening class, and start off doing weekends. If it seemed profitable, I might take it up. There was an art graduate that had done a course, and was on track for 70K in his first year

Sparks

[plotloss]

IIRC 22,000 plumbing course places in 2002 - 78,000 applicants.

I think we can safely say that boat has left dock...

[Sparks]

plotloss said:

Telecoms is where I would be looking...

Anything specific? I did an elec/elec engineering degree, but tried getting back into that about 9-10 years ago and no one was interested, even as graduate trainee.

Life would be so much easier if I was single. Not that I would give up the family for anything........

Sparks

[squirrelz]

Sparks said:

I currently work in a very niche IT area (Remedy ARS development, if that means anything) and there isn't much work about.

Yeah - we use that here, but I don't know for how much longer....

Sparks said:

I previously did several years of UNIX Admin/Support and a bit of Sybase. This was too long ago (6 years) to enable me to get back into it, without taking an unacceptable (to the wife ) paycut, although it was my most enjoyable job.

I started in IT 9 years ago, doing Unix support (2nd line), then after 4 years, moved to an NT Technical Support team (3rd line), then after 3 years of that moved to an Internet Technical support team - firewalls/proxy/dns/mail - for a couple of years.
Now moving into Networks (Cisco routers, switches, firewalls, VPNs) for a bit of a change

Sparks said:

What skills do you suggest I look at aquiring? I am trying to teach myself javascript, as it is very relevant to my current line of work. I want something long term, bearing in mind i'm a geek, so manager is something I don't want to be.

With you there on the manager thing - they tried to do that to me a while ago, but I squirmed out of it . My suggestion is you should do something you think you'll enjoy, as there's more to life than money. If you're asking what's going to be the Next Big Thing, then nobody really knows, but there's a prediction of big camera phone sales this Christmas, so skills in that area might be in big demand. Or they might not. YMMV IMHO

[Sparks]

squirrelz

Hmm think I know where you work (could be a 'Royal' company )

I would love to change my skills often, but never got a job anywhere that allowed me to do it.

Not looking for the next big thing, just something that is likely to be around for a long while. I thought Remedy would be, but there have been a couple of take-overs that have screwed things rather.
I fancy getting into networks and back to a more support orientated roll, but it isn't easy, and everyone and their mother is heading that way.

Maybe time to lay down the law at home

Sparks

[squirrelz]

Sparks said:

Hmm think I know where you work (could be a 'Royal' company )

Spot on, although outsourced to CSC now...

[Gaffer]

I'm in the same boat at the moment.

Work on a helpdesk but we have been market rated at desktop level but had no desktop training.

About to be outsorced to a company beginning with I and ends in M so no movement wthin the company or funding for training.

Tried looking for other work but like I said we have been priced out of the market etc.

Anyone want to employ me...? Dad works at TVR dont you know

Claire

[Li'l Pugs]

Sparks said:

plotloss said: Telecoms is where I would be looking... Anything specific? I did an elec/elec engineering degree, but tried getting back into that about 9-10 years ago and no one was interested, even as graduate trainee. Life would be so much easier if I was single. Not that I would give up the family for anything........ Sparks

Telecomms and IT are moving together, ie all telecomms protocols are based on IT protocols and all future telecomms advances are based on these protocols.

I agree with earlier comments........plumbing.......the telecomms staffing boom is deff over (unless you're near Newbury)..........
(See recent press releases from Orange, 3, Vodafone regarding redundencies.......)

>> Edited by Li'l Pugs on Tuesday 19th August 19:59

[jvaughan]

plotloss said:

Telecoms is where I would be looking...

Im in Telecoms (network management), not much work here either.

If you r looking at the Telecomms sector, would suggest the following

Netcool,SMARTS Incharge, InfoVista, Network Health, Orchestream, HPOV NNM.
Knowledge of UNIX (Solaris & Linux)
Windoz 2000
understanding of SQL, Oracle, RDBMS
Pearl.

Indepth knowledge of Cisco, Datacomms basics, Frame Relay, ATM, SDH, Ethernet, and Token ring

[Sparks]

Thanks for all your suggestions.

I really would like to get out of IT completely, but with a family (about to get bigger too!) I have to earn the money. Just not sure how much longer I can continue to earn it at the moment.

Cheers

Sparks