Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Nilsen on June 21, 2004, 03:39:20 PM
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A friend of the family has to find a new skill because of an accident. He used to be a plummer, but after beeing in a car accident a while back he has to find something else to do. He likes tinkering with computers so he is thinking about messing around with those for a living but he really does not want to spend years in school.
What would be the "easyest" thing to get good at... networking?, webdesign? programming or something else?. Im not very good at any of them so i cant really give him a good advise on the matter. He is leaning towards network stuff but he is not sure.
thx :)
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There exists a program that appears to be well recognized that only takes a few months of in class and at home teaching/homework. You end up with a MSCE diploma...(Microsoft Certified Engineer) and I think it prepares you for most common situations, including setting up a lan system for business use, etc.
I remember it being fairly expensive for the amount of classroom time, around $600. (that price as of 4 yrs ago)
This may be an excellent place to begin?
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Thx, ill look into it and pass it along :)
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well let he stay away from networking&security. Its kind most hard thing about computers. (biggest money in IT)
Programming is not that hard, but you must have character to stick with it for long time.
Administration of systems needs a lot studies forewer. If he love to learn new things every 6 months, it could suite him.
Maintaining of computers, easy administration jobs.
well its easy but could be boring after few years.
edit: btw whats plummer i didnt find it in dictationary
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Originally posted by lada
edit: btw whats plummer i didnt find it in dictationary
Because he didn't spell it correctly: plumber--repairs pipes and such.
h
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well I'm an MCSE and the market is very VERY competetive......
and it ain't so freakin easy....
but I'm back too working on AS/400's.....Golly-geen mid-range computer crap
your friends sounds more like the manuel type person.....I would choose gettin certified A+ (repairing computers)
no matter how short his education is gonna be, he will have to learn much much more by himself....
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Originally posted by SLO
but I'm back too working on AS/400's.....Golly-geen mid-range computer crap
one of my friends got a new job in Bank house. He were supposed to administrative AS/400
friend: " How to shutdown this crap"
his colegue: " you will never need it and you do not have permitions to shut it down, but its SHUTDOWN command"
friend: " Ok i will check it."
colegue: " OMG watermelon who gave you permition ? "
Another day he got many and many email with subject.: Thank you
he become very famous
:D
ps.: im not sure about command, im not AS nerd :)
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Easiest way into computers: building them. Set up a nice little store and sell custom computers with all the modding options.
Water cooling, neons and all the stuff. Easy to learn, and he knows how to work with tools anyway :)
Daniel
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Originally posted by lada
one of my friends got a new job in Bank house. He were supposed to administrative AS/400
friend: " How to shutdown this crap"
his colegue: " you will never need it and you do not have permitions to shut it down, but its SHUTDOWN command"
friend: " Ok i will check it."
colegue: " OMG watermelon who gave you permition ? "
Another day he got many and many email with subject.: Thank you
he become very famous
:D
ps.: im not sure about command, im not AS nerd :)
lol:D
you don't have too shutdown them computers...they run 7/24....and very very stable
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SLO. Sounds like your not using your MSCE.
If your friend was good at plumbing I would advise him to stay in trades of some kind. Work at a plumbing store of something.
Systems is getting very very cut throat.
Just an MCSE is going to leave you bottom feeding.
Anything you can do in just 6 months will leave you in a very bad postition.
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nt
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Programming is probably the easiest. Im average at programming, but when my dad ask me to do something for our LAN, i will litterally spend 3 hours before i find it. (happened with DnZ on my our router) From expirence id say network makes the most cash even though i dont make any.
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Originally posted by B17Skull12
Programming is probably the easiest.
This is somewhat true nowadays. Tools such as RationalRose practically write the code for you. I know a few guys who are doing quite well designing software. They don't write code.
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lol, yes.....plumBer :D
He now has a back that is useless so he would be best off if he could work from home if he can, or sit as much still as possible. When i think about it he should maybe stay away from network stuff cause they need to climb and crawl around laying cables and stuff. He is a nightmare to talk to on the phone so salesman is also a big no. :D
He is very smart but not creative. He is just 40 so he didnt want to retire and and live of his insurance even if he could.
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I agree sandman. CASE is the way to go.
:)
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if he want to work from home, he could be evil hacker :D
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When i think about it he should maybe stay away from network stuff cause they need to climb and crawl around laying cables and stuff.
Not true.
I work in the networking area, and i call people to do the crawl around and lay cables part... :)
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Originally posted by Maniac
Not true.
I work in the networking area, and i call people to do the crawl around and lay cables part... :)
you are lazy butt :D
when Maniac speak about networking he speak about this (http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/cisintwk/ito_doc/introint.htm)
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Nilsen,
You say that your friend is: smart, creative, interested in computers and used to be a plumber.
I think that he should make web sites/pages about plumbing. Web pages are easy to make. A smart creative person can make simple basic pages that are much more informative and useful than pages with lots of wizz-bang golly-gee graphics and effects.
Possibly a how-to site with pictures and descriptions; he can sell advertising space on his site to manufacturers.
He could build sites/pages directly for plumbing companies.
He could write and illustrate plumbing instruction manuals for products. Many manuals are poorly written and missing critical information.
The bottom line is that he should capitalize on his expertise and experience. There most certainly is a niche that needs to be filled related to plumbing and the Internet. Assuming that he is Norwegian I would think it would be even easier to find that niche.
eskimo
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I still think building computers is the way to go... good with his hands, creative, doesn't have to move much, and there's always someone who needs a new rig or having his cleaned or improved.
Daniel
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Interesting eskimo and cyrano, but as i said....he is NOT creative :D
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Then he can just repair them! :D
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Originally posted by Nilsen
Interesting eskimo and cyrano, but as i said....he is NOT creative :D
hmmm ... he could be great at Microsoft :D
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rofl professor....ill suggest microsoft to him :D
Repairing puters should not be any problem for him other than that people would have to drop them off at his house along with the parts. The poor sod can hardly walk or lift anything heavy.
If he had even a touch of creativity in him i would suggest webdesign or programming. Im leaning towards recomending him to do some e-mail based support from his house within networking (after he gets some training in it.) Finding a way for him to make use of his plumbing skills as you suggested could also work.
I wish he was pleasant to talk to on the phone, but he hates it and even his kids and former employers are scared of him when he use it :D Strange.....he is very polite and nice in person.
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yup web design is good stuff...and fun...but you did say he wasn't creative....so forget web design
MCSE is for System Admin's(servers).....changing cables is for Telecom guys.
yup right on pongo....
been looking for work as System Admin and its very hard....competition is way up there
got a call for a contract.... AS/400 Tech Support for a Client of IBM.....so I said why sure....hence my not using my MCSE:D
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not to slam ur friend but I don't know too many plumbers who would be comfortable enough around computers programming, admin, IT or web design/host to make a living out of it. If he doesn't need the cash and is just looking for something to fill his time and maybe make a buck or two, I'd go with Eskimos suggestion
teach himself basic html
contact his plumbing buddies and see if he can't host a bunch of very basic sites for them, selling them as 24/7 advertising.
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Hmmm a plumber would probably translate to networking and security quite well, cos its all about traffic flow.
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Bad programming is very easy and the market is saturated with bad programmers. Good programmers have excellent math skills, creatively open minds and an appreciation for elegant simplicity.
It's difficult to see your friend making a transition to any form of programming.
If he is reasonably capable with installing/replacing/troubleshooting hardware and familiar with most general business software, small to medium size business are always in need of someone to help them with their individual PCs or systems.
They don't have the resources to have someone full-time and if he knows 1% more than they do, he can become their 'computer guy.' He can set up contracts to perform a variety of monthly maintenance and troubleshooting services, i.e. software upgrades, virus scanning, data backup, etc.
If he can learn about small networks, I'm sure he could find a collection of small/mid size businesses.
Perhaps he could study at home now while his back gets strong enough to let him get out a few times a month later?
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Got injured in my old job aswell, and choosed GIS educations (3 years bachelor) with the possiblilty to master after 5 years.
Its Intresting and fun and now I only have 1 year left.
You basickly work with hightech equipment and computers.
And since im a hardware dweeb it suits me fine :)
link here Nilsen:
http://www2.hig.no/at/geomatikk/tilbud.html