Secrets of Changing to a Computer Career Ebook

Computer Career

• The very best field for mid-life career changers to switch to a high tech career. You'll probably want to target this one . . . See page 66

• The only 2 absolute barriers to changing to a computer career, and how to get over them . . . See page 26

• The one IT job field where you may be able to get a decent part time moonlighting job. Keep your day job and make the extra money you need . . . See page 123

• How to make money by playing new computer games . . . See page 107

• The IT skill that attracts many career changers but is difficult to impossible for anyone but 22 year olds with fresh Computer Science degrees to get an entry level job in. Don't waste your time or money . . . See pages 55-57

• The IT job field where you may be able to make money because you know popular software packages well. Use your current on the job experience with Microsoft Office and others. (For most people, using Word or Access is just a way of doing their jobs, not actual IT skills.) . . . See page 98

• The Top 10 Info-Tech Using Industries . . . See page 31

• Learn the ultimate computer careers change secret. In 1999 I wrote that the ultimate computer careers change secret was experience, since so many people without experience were paying $5000+ for a piece of paper they thought was going to guarantee them a high paying job.

• Although people are still falling into that trap, I now reveal the *real* ULTIMATE computer careers change secret. It's old, yet all of us must be reminded of it . . . See page 123

• Best IT certification for mid-life career changers . . . See page 69

• Why you can't time your career switch. In 1975 everybody knew that the money in computers was in hardware. Software was just part of the package. They told Bill Gates he was a fool to start a software company. . . . See page 21

• The only question to ask yourself to get everything you want out of life . . . See page 125

• A comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of various ways to get your IT education, so you'll save time and money while learning what you need . . . See page 37

• The vital business skill few techies possess -- but you probably do . . . See page 32

• Why I now stress the self-employment options of the various computer careers IT fields I describe for career-changers. You can win financial independence in your spare time if necessary. For lots of us, this is better than giving up our current jobs (for now) -- and can lead to a rewarding "retirement" from your current rat race . . . See page 5

• The only REAL financial security you can count on in good times and bad . . . See page 19

• How to make a lot more money with your computer careers skills, once you have 2+ years of experience. How you can combine the advantages of being an employee with the freedom to take vacations between projects and avoid the necessity to market yourself evenings and weekends . . . See page 93

• Why a 4 year, B.S. in Computer Science isn't a good option for most computer career changers -- not if you want a higher income, fast . . . See pages 37-38

• The "hot" IT skills to learn now . . . See page 119

• Don't fall for computer school hype. Why the MCSE certification is now worth so much less than it was in the beginning, yet is now a necessity for anyone hoping to switch into the network engineering field . . . See page 23

• The biggest trend in IT now and for years to come -- and how to get in on it . . . See page 68

• The IT job that can make you some extra money for your entire life, because it will always be necessary. It's a good foundation for other computer careers but it doesn't pay much so treat it as a stepping stone. It now requires one popular certification, which itself is a good beginning for more complex IT skills . . . See pages 15-17

• Don't blindly pay the $9,000 training schools want you to. And yet that is usually the minimum charged for certification training. Throughout Secrets of Changing to a Computer Career I strive to clue you in on ways to save money on the training where possible. You weren't born yesterday and you know you can't learn what you need without expending some time and money. But why pay too much? . . . See page 40

• Going for your MCSE? Great, but first get this other Microsoft certification - it can get your career started while you keep studying for your MCSE . . . See page 70

• How you must deal with the changed IT economic climate since the 1999 boom. No matter what career you're already in or change to. Not understanding this can lead to financial disaster for you and your family . . . See page 1

• What if there are alternatives to spending that $9,000+, don't you want to hear about them? And if you still decide to spend that $9,000+ (which some of you should do), you will do so knowing that you are making the best possible decision for you and your future. . . . See page 40

• Why not all computer certifications are created equal. I've sen books that listed every high tech certification on the market, without pointing out that many of them were a total waste of time and money except for a few specialists already working in that particular field. I tell you the ones you need now . . . See pages 38-39

• Learn the technologies coming down the pike, which could put you far ahead of the computer careers demand curves. By the time they are on "hot" job skills lists, the pioneers who already know those skills will be making the big money. Why not you? . . . Included in many chapters

• Learn the unsuspected computer job skills you are bringing to the table - employers wish all techies had these, but most techies don't. The youth and geekiness that makes them good techies, makes them poor at other important business skills . . . See page 28

• One suggestion for succeeding despite all the obstacles. If you can't take this suggestion for yourself, that's OK. It works even better when you include your loved ones. . . . See page 126

• Why networking certifications help established pros more than beginners. And why beginners must still have the RIGHT certifications, so don't expect to get off easy! . . . See page 67

• How to make a lot of money if you can think of an idea for software that either solves problems or is fun for people. You don't have to duplicate Microsoft -- If you sold just 1,000 copies a year of a $29.95 software program, wouldn't that pay off a few bills? Who's stopping you from creating ten such programs? . . . See pages 102-106

• Want to stay ahead of your younger coworkers by competing effectively in the 21st century? -- learn the skills you must have in addition to IT skills . . . See page 33

• What must happen in business for you and everyone else to have a job. You can fight it -- most techies do -- but getting over your psychological bias against it will help your understand your employer, whether it's a mega international corporation, a small shop or your own business. Learning it yourself will greatly enhance your career and financial status. . . . See page 34

• Why there is a large consumer demand for computer consultants. One example of a man who for health reasons cannot hold down a regular job, but who has made $40-$100 an hour teaching newbies how to send email and surf the Net. His daily dose of pain pills would kill you and me. . . . See page 95

• Just want a hot job? Learn three other career fields that are now booming . . . See page 3

• Who does your ultimate success or failure depends on? (Hint: Look in the mirror, bucko) . . . See page 17

• Why companies should thank you if you can bring customer-focused communication skills to their Help Desks and IT departments. In reality, not all of them will thank you, but their customers will . . . See page 30

• Why I admire those techies who had the guts and vision to start their own companies during the dot com boom years more than I do employee-minded techies who just want management to leave them alone to "code in peace." You may not have any plans now to start your own NASDAQ -listed corporation, but thinking like an entrepreneur is how to make the real money. The work of "code monkeys" is moving to countries where hunger and desperate poverty is the rule . . . See page 114

• Where can you fit yourself into the big picture of worldwide economic changes? Why were so many techies -- who know the capabilities of computer networks better than anyone else -- surprised by the outsourcing of routine programming work to India? Would they expect anyone in the U.S.A. to dig a ditch with a shovel and pick . . . See page 20

• You want income for life. The first step is, don't fall for lies. Why "lifetime job security" is media propaganda. NO generation in history has ever had it, so it's unrealistic for you think you will. And nobody pays you to believe myths - or the people who call phone psychics would be rich . . . See page 17-19

• You can join them - examples of how people are using the Internet to make part-time, full-time and, for a few, extremely large incomes . . . See page 20

• What you must know and do to have a lifetime computer career . . . See page 33

• The business software that is transforming big companies. Training for it is extremely limited and in America not easily available to anyone not already working for a company using this software. So if you have experience with it, you've got a marketable skill . . . See page 87

• Where many current IT job skills will be in 2-5 years . . . See page 33

• Check out four outstanding books to teach you true financial freedom. . . . See page 25

• The best reason to take an IT -- or any -- job. (Hint: it's why the rich take jobs.) . . . See page 24

• The only retirement income you can really count on -- and yes, it's NOT Social Security or a pension or even an IRA or 401(k) plan . . . See page 19

• The career helping computers do what computers do best and how to get started in it . . . See page 75

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