From IT toI'm in my late 30s, have a MS in Computer Science and have been working as a software engineer for 10+ years now. As I am approaching 40, I keep wondering how long I can keep up with this fast pace industry and that gets me thinking to go back to schoold for another degree (so that I can bridge over to another career). I am looking for ideas on what other degree(s) would compliment well with a MS in CS. Care to share? Thanks for your input in advance. You could pursue an MBA if you're interested in the corporate route. Or you could leverage your software engineering experience and education to move into a Business Analyst role. You get to bridge the gap between IT and "the business." If you're a self starter, maybe consider being an independent consultant, or hook up with some collegues and start a business. Just some possibilities. Good luck! This may not be exactly your thing, but with your background in computers you may be able to transition well into the field of computerized forensic sciences and technology. Yes, it would involve taking some forensic sciences and medical based courses but it will pay off in the long term. Where you live will be a factor also. The bigger metropolitan cities are more apt to recognize your talents more so than the the suburban or rural areas.
There are really a lot of options. Some questions first: 1) Do you want to stay in IT but not be a frontline programmer? If so, getting an MBA and moving into something like project management could be a great choice. Also, teaching could be a great choice. There are lots of people out there teaching specific subjects like Oracle SQL or MS stuff that only require fairly minimal upkeep of skills. You could also try something like teaching at a community college, where a MS is typically all that is required. 2) Are you looking for another industry entirely? If so, I would recommend going to see a career counselor or taking some interest/personality tests to pinpoint something and getting suggestions. 3) What kinds of things outside of work are you interested in? Any more specific info on your change would be great. Thanks! Thank you all for your valuable inputs. I'm leaning more toward the business/financial world (like becoming a Business Analyst), where I can apply my analysis skill. So, does it require a MBA in finance, or a CFA to become a Business Analyst? I've never thought about becoming a computer forensic, and it definitely sounds interesting. I'll do some research online to see which schools offer such programs. I live near Boston, so I guess there are some opportunities around :). To Chris, I am not a manager material (I'd been a team lead before and I absolutely hated it). Teaching is a great suggestion. I always wanted to work over-sea for a change. Your suggestion (so as JL's and Kelly's) would open up that possibility. Thanks again for taking the time to reply my message.
"I'm leaning more toward the business/financial world (like becoming aBusiness Analyst), where I can apply my analysis skill. So, does itrequire a MBA in finance, or a CFA to become a Business Analyst?" There is no requirement that everyone follows, but from my experience if you want to break into the Business Analyst world and make good mone from the start you should first obtain an MBA. It is common today to find business analysts in the top firms with both a MS CS and an MBA. This would give you the most flexibility and mobility. The important thing is, as everyone points out, go to a respected school for your MBA. It doesn't have to be top 20, but it should be respected. Hi Seung Hui, Thanks for sharing your opinion/experience. After doing a quick search on the web, it turns out that Boston University (I live in Massachusetts) offers "Business Analyst Courses and Certificates" (here is the link: http://www.butrain.com/BusinessAnalyst/prgrmcourses.asp). I suspect Northeastern and other universities in the area would have similar programs. Now I found my new year's resolution :).
The Business Analyst certificate looks interesting. One thing I'd be interested in is if you can continue on after the certificate and use those credits for a master's degree or an MBA. MBA is a good idea. With an MS in CS though you could find your way into IT management. Just a thought. I know you said your not management material.
What about a Master's in Library Science? I'm not an expert in the field, but it is a degree I've considered pursuing in the past, and it seems having a technical background is very valuable. An MLS is no longer just for librarians as technology advances and the need to catalouge information increases. You can check out possible career options at The American Library Association, www.ala.org, if you're interested. | |
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