How many here have degrees in IT?

[xmas74]

Just thinking of changing my major. I need a field where I can actually get a job right out of school.

[Chan790]

1. If that's your only concern...

look at any non-computer engineering field (but especially civil or mechanical) or accounting or business. Those have the highest % rate of first-year placements into jobs >$40K.

I knew that and chose a Political Theory B.A./Gen. Humanities BFA anyways...and that has made all the difference. I was happy with my maximum earning potential being under $30K and being able to work with my mind and create things with an additional P/T job at Starbucks to make ends meet. When I needed to make more money, I found that banks will pay a lot of money to anyone who can think and is NOT a business major to supervise linear-thinking business and accounting majors who can't even find "creative" in the dictionary and lead them out of the shithole they made of the economy. (Rule #1: Fire all the MBAs and JDs. Rule #2: Keep HR out of choosing their replacements.)

Now I have enough and I'm looking to return to navel-gazing professionally.

(Not an IT graduate but I thought that might be insightful.)

[xmas74]

2. Money and a job has to be my top concern.

I'm not a kid anymore. :) I have a kid to support so I have to have a job when I complete my degree.

My local university doesn't offer much in the way of engineering so that's out. I cannot afford to relocate for school and wouldn't dream of doing something like that to my child, only to relocate her yet again after graduation.

Business degrees in my area are a dime a dozen. I know plenty of MBAs working for $12 an hour around here. It's a very competitive market when it comes to business degrees in my neck of the woods. Can I relocate? It would have to be worth relocating, since a court battle will be necessary in order to do so. (I must have consent from her father, who is not in her life, in order to move more than 50 miles from our current residence. This was a very recent update, which was once just any move outside of the state. In my state, the court battle isn't all that easy-I know a few who have lost, even though they had good jobs waiting for them and a better situation.)

If I could do whatever I wanted I'd get a degree in history. It's what I've always loved. The problem is that this is no longer about "what I want". It's about what is best for my child.

[Chan790]

3. You might want to go with the history degree anyways...

it's considered desirable for any number of jobs because it requires one to be a strong researcher and writer. Those are in-demand skills, you'd be a leg up on a great many people if you can find the time to volunteer or intern a few hours a month someplace like the library, museum, historical society or even legal-aid (I hung-out with the history majors in college. I think an honest half of them are paralegals now.) because you'd have applied experience relevant to your job-hunt. (Also, those places like to hire their best collegiate volunteers whenever possible in order to not lose them.)

Those sorts of degrees are only useless if you have no experience to point to as application of your attained skills. It's not the history major that's valuable, it's the things it shows that you can do which are valuable.

[xmas74]

4. I've spoken with people with history degrees at work.

They're working on graduate courses and still making only about $8.00 an hour.

No one wants them around here. They want teachers but don't want to pay them and they all advertise for business degrees offering them "entry level" work at about $10 an hour.

Out here there is no use for it and I cannot relocate unless I can prove that the job would be a huge step up.

[Kali]

5. nursing?

other medical fields? sorry not what you asked, thinking of "demand"

[xmas74]

6. Good luck getting into the nursing program around here.

Very competitive, long wait list. Same with the other med fields offered on my campus. Plus, they demand that you are not employed the entire time you are in school. I can't afford it.

Another problem with nursing: I'm a single mom. I have no one to really help out. Many entry level nursing jobs are for evenings/overnights and weekends. It's hard to get a babysitter for those shifts.

[BlueJazz]

7. A degree in computer science, MCSE, A+ here BUT.....I (long ago)....

...(6 years).. decided to do what Best Buy, Compusa and other places do but at a cheaper price plus I
do it better.
I ran ads in local flyers and our major newspaper.
Within 2 months I had a following and since I treated my customers with respect and saved them money
AND did/do things that stores will not do (8:00PM "Bluejazz, can you help me get on the internet..I installed
XXX tool-bar and now the damn thing won't connect" ME: Sure, no problem...here's what you do", my customers tell other people and it's been wonderful. :)

(I LOVE not being tied down to always getting up at 7:00) :)

[meegbear]

8. C'mon, she hasn't been big in years ...

[Zorro]

9. What about a pharmacy degree?

That always seemed to be a good profession to me, if one is looking for good pay and working hours/locations.

And I think it's not one that will be getting outsourced anytime soon.