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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that computing/IT is a poor career choice?

167 replies

iamarobot · 20/10/2011 16:09

Hi,

In terms of earning potential and barrier to entry, is IT as a career path really a bad one in 2011? I see the news report that there is a shortage, and then there is a story about Indians being shipped in by foreign companies. It's a shame really, as I quite like computers. Maybe I should take a look at the green energy careers leaflet i have around here somewhere....:s

OP posts:

ohgoditssunday · 20/10/2011 19:02

MrsHeffley, but that's just like in any other sector which is crying out for good people from all walks of life. DH has gone to a talk at the local uni to encourage more girls into the technical areas of IT - when he was prepping his talk he was told some stats for the dept... i honestly don't know numbers off the top of my head but it was something stupid like, out of 250 software engineering students, they only had 4 girls.

now that is just a part of working in the science, engineering and technology sector - if you're part of a wanted minority you're quids in.

IT isn't especially unique in that way.

unfortunately in my own sector it's women-domiated, there's probably a grant for getting more blokes into it (in fact i'm pretty certain there will be).

ho hum!

PigletJohn · 20/10/2011 19:02

"We're considering him doing a London stint and coming back at weekends."

I wouldn't recommend it. It's very damaging to relationships.

WetAugust · 20/10/2011 19:03

I spent 23 years in 'IT' or as we called it in those days EDP - Electronic Data Processing. I worked as a programmer, systems analyst, database designer, systems manager, development team leader etc etc on a variety of mainframes.

I got out in 2001 as I could see the writing on the wall for in-house IT systems staff, as the vogue ws for out-sourcing and a lot of the development work went abroad to India.

Back in the late 70's, when I started in IT, there were 2 females in an office of 40! Now it's much more gender equal.

I enjoyed it - a bit like solving puzzles all day and great when the code I wrote worked - but quite happy to leave to get into project management.

MrsHeffley · 20/10/2011 19:07

Piglet he needs to move on for fear of stagnating he's early 40s(got to keep up with the young guys). Still wants good projects and yet more bloody training,as I said you have to keep one step ahead even if you are good at your job like he is and it's slim pickings in Devon. Would never move the kids from here. We've been together 22 years and been through far worse(pre kids) so I think we'd cope.

pigletmania · 20/10/2011 19:12

My dh is into the higher tax bracket and he works in MK.

PigletJohn · 20/10/2011 19:13

'mmmmm.

mummytime · 20/10/2011 19:13

There always have been Computer Science degrees and Computer Science degrees, the best ones and the ones where you are headhunted from Uni are the ones that demand Maths and good Maths. There is an A'level in Computing (which is more like the Computer Science A'level of my day) which requires programming, understanding how computers work and binary/hexidecimal. However ICT A'level is a very different creature, much more about customer focussed skills, and designing databases.
The problem is we don't really train enough people with the right skills, which actually seem to be pretty similar to what they've always been.

pigletmania · 20/10/2011 19:16

My dh graduated from DeMontfort with a 2.1 and he did not need Maths, I know its not a red brick uni, but he is damn good at what he does and has a lot of talent which is recognised by his current employer and previous ones.

pigletmania · 20/10/2011 19:17

wish I was interested in it, my field is psychology which I am trying to break into and the money is rubbish when your training.

BecauseImAWerewolefIt · 20/10/2011 19:17

I think OP is a journo fishing for a story ...

pigletmania · 20/10/2011 19:18

The fact that he did not go to a red brick uni has not hindered his career path really.

pigletmania · 20/10/2011 19:20

Dh (touch) wood has always earned very good money. So it sounds like its variable really. I know my friends dh who is a software programmer from India who moved to the UK about 8-9 years ago and has not held down a proper job in the field.

ouryve · 20/10/2011 19:30

DH has a good, stable job as a software developer and the pay is decent, if not fabulous (but more than mode up for by his working conditions.)

The large company he works for have tried to outsource routine tasks a couple of times and its been an unmitigated disaster. I don't think it's any worse than any other industry, particularly for geeks like DH someone with real talent.

BestIsWest · 20/10/2011 19:39

Pigletmania My last company had a big site in MK, I had loads of colleagues working there. They all got paid more than us down in Wales! My job would pay double if I was in London - though it would proabably cost me double to live there!

KaFayOLay · 20/10/2011 19:48

I worked as an IT Unix techy prior to being a SAHM, my OH is a program manager.

It plays extremely well .
We paid off our mortgage in 10 years thanks to IT .

I now work in school (skilled job) and do 32.5 hours. I would only have to do 2 days in my previous job to earn the same money .

slug · 20/10/2011 19:48

I did a conversion MSc in computing when DD was two. I did an unhappy year in coding then moved sideways. I now manage a mission critical IT system in a medium to large Public Sector organization. My area is very niche, I'm recruiting an assistant at the moment and know personally the majority of the applicants. But IT is full of these niches. Find one that suits you and can have a fascinating and exciting career.

I am just into the higher tax bracket. I could leave and earn more but I like what I do. I have a fair degree of autonomy, a lot of responsibility and the good terms and conditions that come with Public Sector employment.

When I did my degree there were 5 women in a class of 50. I'm told that for the last 5 years the top student has always been female (including moi) so despite the male bias women do shine. I keep in contact with some of my classmates. Most are earning more than me but are a bit jealous about where I've ended up.

AmazingBouncingFerret · 20/10/2011 20:07

Funny you should start a thread like this now. My DH is "in IT" has just been offered a new job and also this week been taking phone calls from a talent scout from microsoft.
Considering we are in our twenties and I do a paltry 12 hours a week minimum wage as a sales assistant and we are able to own more than one property and still afford luxuries I would say it's a firm YABU from me.

bruffin · 20/10/2011 20:08

My niece is study computer science at uni at the moment, she is one of handful of girls on a course with over a hundred men and is doing brilliantly.
She didn't have the maths qualifications but took a DIDA. Originally the uni wouldn't take her, but her tutor appealed and they changed their minds on condition of distinctions and passing their maths test, which she did.

eslteacher · 20/10/2011 20:10

My DP earns three times my salary in his IT job. But he's worked hard to get where he is, and to make the big bucks obviously you have to take on management responsibilities as well, like most jobs. Or become very specialised in a certain type of technology so that all the different companies fight over employing you.

It's the providing IT-solutions-to-big-businesses where the big money is to be made, as I understand it. Consultancy work, etc. I'm sure there are other areas of IT as well, but that's the one I'm most aware of.

nocake · 20/10/2011 20:19

The key to a successful career in IT is having a path out of being a developer and knowing when to take it. Development (i.e. Programming) is a young persons game as the technology changes very quickly. I got out last year and am now a business analyst.

sieglinde · 20/10/2011 20:24

My Dh is in IT, juuust int he higher tax bracket, but is retraining as a finance IT specialist as his firm think there's not much future for business analysis. Sorry, nocake, maybe it's not generally true!

pigletmania · 20/10/2011 21:00

Oh bestie its not in Crownhill and begins with a P is it? If it is my dh used to work for them.

CaptainNancy · 20/10/2011 21:07

exactly what barriers to entry are there?

IT is very highly paid, providing you have scarce enough skills.

pigletmania · 20/10/2011 21:08

KayFa snap IT has paid off our mortgage nearly, though dh salary is good its not wonderful, just above the high income tax bracket, he has managed to save a lot. He is a bit of a tightwad though

ohgoditssunday · 20/10/2011 21:13

Captain - there are some barriers to entry, but it's certainly not as black and white as other professional / high income careers.

E.g. my DH's company generally recruits graduates. But he has interviewed people completely without degrees if they can prove they have a nugget of talent in the right area - I know for a fact, for example, that one of the young analysts that he mentors didn't have a traditional degree when he joined them, he'd done something affiliated with IT (no idea what, sorry) and sort of sideways moved into it and done an OU degree. not the "traditional" route as you'd think it.

There are certainly places out there if you're keen and able! The key is being able to communicate your talent and show it to those in the hiring posts.

Same as a lot of other careers I guess - IT isn't anything special!

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