Right now I think there are more tech people than the demand requires. So if wages do drop considerably because of the current surplus of tech people, then I would assume that many of these people would move into other professions, and therefore balance out the number of workers to the amount of demand. Once things balance out a bit, I think that the pay will begin to creep back up. In answer to your question, no, I don't think this is a good time to be considering a career change into the IT profession. There are thousands of IT people out there already with degrees/experience that can't get a decent tech job. ~M On Sun, 19 Aug 2001, Eric wrote: > Ok, so I am getting in on this a little late. But I have to ask: I have a > law degree, but I am basically in the middle of doing a career change to > Linux Sys Admin. Since I don't have a CS/BSEE/CIS, however, I am thinking > about taking the Sair or RHCE to give myself some "credibility." But I > ain't gonna do a career change where I top out at $40,000 per annum. > > From this whole thread, I am gettin' some pretty negative vibes about the > future of at least some techie jobs, esp. "Network Engineer." Is the gist > (sp?) here that it is not a good time to be career changin' into this type > of field? > > PS--Yes, I am very familiar with the opinions of some in re certifications, > but if you have any better advice for someone with no CS and high student > loan debt, I am listening. > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: plug-discuss-admin@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us > > [mailto:plug-discuss-admin@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us]On Behalf Of Linux > > Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2001 2:56 PM > > To: plug-discuss@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us > > Subject: Re: Network Engineer > > > > > > > Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2001 11:13:06 -0700 (PDT) > > > From: Matt Alexander > > > To: > > > Subject: Re: Network Engineer > > > Reply-To: plug-discuss@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us > > > > > > I like the part about needing 5 years of experience with > > > Win2K and other operating systems that haven't been > > > out that long. It reminds me of a few years back when > > > I was seeing job listings for "Senior Java Developer - > > > Must have 8-10 years experience with > > > Java programming in an Enterprise environment." > > > > > > > I find these ads very humorous myself! > > > > > But you do make an interesting point. I think that > > > those of us in this industry have been WAY overpaid > > > for quite a few years now. > > > > I disagree. One has a reasonable expectation of make a living. $35,000 a > > year is a start. There is a shortage of tech people why? Long Hours, Low > > Pay, HIGH level of Responsibility! I can hang around a car lot 50 hours a > > week and make $50,000 plus a year with little or no education. There is a > > skill however it is a "soft" skill. I think most people can sell > > a car with > > a couple weeks training and a few months coaching. Should you not make > > atleast as much as a car salesman? > > > > I personally would refuse working for that kind of money unless I am > > learning a ton. I hope we all refuse to work for $35,000 a year, > > post entry > > level. > > > > > > > As the carnage from the > > > dot-com bubble settles, I'm guessing that salaries > > > will shrink back down to a more reasonable level. > > > ~M > > > > Can you support your family in the Phoenix or Tucson area on > > $35,000 a year? > > > > Keith > > > > ________________________________________________ > > See http://PLUG.phoenix.az.us/navigator-mail.shtml if your mail > > doesn't post to the list quickly and you use Netscape to write mail. > > > > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us > > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > > > > ________________________________________________ > See http://PLUG.phoenix.az.us/navigator-mail.shtml if your mail doesn't post to the list quickly and you use Netscape to write mail. > > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >