Computer Consultant jobs

[Warthog]

Recently, my highschool (yes, I'm one of the few in this board who are in highschool) had a career day. I went to the "Computers" part. The guy who was there was a Computer Consultant. He described it as going around to different businesses and fixing or setting up whatever needed to be done with the computers. Some examples are: setting up a network, installing software/hardware, repairing computers, etc. He said he usually charged $35 per hour and that comp. consultants can make up to $100 per hour and $80,000 to $200,000 per year depending on what they know and college experience. Is this right? It sounds like a fun and financially secure job. The best part about it is I get to do what I like most (and everybody else on this board): play with computers! So, to get to the point of this post, do any of you have a career like this or know about it? I'm a sophomore and I'm really starting to think about life after highschool. Thanks!

Warthog

[JeffD78]

Definitely start thinking now. I slacked off in highschool, barely graduated 4 years ago, and now I have to scramble to put myself through school (no scholarships), and pay my bills. All through highschool everybody kept telling us that the real world would take us by suprise and we'd better be prepared. Take it from someone who wasn't. THEY'RE RIGHT. I don't know if this applies to you or not, but there are other highscoolers around and it might apply to them.

As for the computer consultant job, that's what I want to do also. I'm currently studying for the A+ certification, and hope to have an entry level job sometime soon. I'm currently programming databases with Access, which I kinda stumbled into and don't really enjoy. Life's a lot more enjoyable when you like your job. I hope.

[InsaneMorphius]

Just to give ya some incentive, check this....guy my wife works with is the IT Manager for her company (very large) the management is re-negotiating his contract as we speak, so until its completed he is making $80.00 an hour. After the contract is complete, he will be making $200,000 per year. Now if that isnt incentive, I sure dont know what is

Morphius

[tonym]

Warthog,

Computer consultant is a good, solid career with a very positive upside. The only negative that I see is that *eventually* (you're in high school -- certainly before you reach your 30's!!) there will become a glut of folks on the market and your potential fees will become compressed proportional to the level of your competition.

You might want to get a technical degree and learn how to design computers and electronics -- that's where the future really is! I'm a design consultant and make >$X,XXX/day (God is good) and have lots of clients and I'm booked until August with business (and beyond if there were 40 hours per day!!). There isn't much viable competition and companies will be "outsourcing" their engineering for the forseeable future. I know folks that are "computer consultants" and make $100/hour but they work few hours due to competition from many sources (that wasn't so just 2 months ago in anticipation of Y2K).
Another area to consider would be the design of custom software -- a Software Consultant! This is a wide open area that is required by most companies at one time or another. Learn C and Basic and you'd be amazed at the opportunities that present themselves to you.

Keep all your options open, but strongly consider technical engineering (BSEE or BSCS) for your future...


tony

[Warthog]

Wow! Thanks for all info and tips! Jeff, I'll definately try my best in highschool. You're right: they do say that we should be prepared for the real world. Tony, I'll look into the job. I still have a few more years to confirm any decision. And Morphius, I wasn't sure I believed the guy when he was talking about $200,000/year. Apparently it's true!

Thanks VERY much for the advice.

Warthog

[Butler]

Warthog, Just a note to let you know my feelings. I am 22, and I currently am in college, part time, and work part time. I have a good job, but it's not the one I want. My story: when I was in H.S. I knew my parents wanted me to go to college...I didn't really want to, but I saw it as a necessary evil. Even though my (wise) father always told me to 'do something you'll like' I never really BELIEVED I could have a job that I would enjoy. SO...I started college studying for a degree in Business Administration....It wasn't what I wanted, but heck, it's a peice of paper right, and that's all anybody wants is to see a diploma. WRONG...ya, the piece of paper would be nice, but I found that since I was uninterested in my school studies, I was failing. So, last year I switched to Computer Science major, now I like (most of) my classes, and am doing alright. I am looking forward to getting an entry level position in computers soon, and am EXCITED about where I'm headed.

Lesson learned: GO FOR IT!!! don't think it's impossible, or that you'd be better off with a 'more useful' degree. YOU can make it happen. I have found, in a few short years of being out of H.S. that it's more important to me to be doing something I like than to be getting paid well to do something I don't.

DO WHAT'CHA WANNA DO...

~Butler~

[shnikey]

I, like Warthog, am trying to decide what career to go into. What I am trying to decide is, do I want to go hardware or software side. Is there more of a market software (programming) side? I've looked at hot jobs and typed in programming and there are gobs of jobs. I have taken a few programming classes (BASIC, PASCAL, and I'm learning C++ on my own) I enjoyed them, but I also enjoy messing with the hardware in me PC's. Wow I went of a little there. My question is what has more of a future, a career in hardware or software?
Shnikey


[This message has been edited by shnikey (edited 01-27-2000).]