Please don't just say "we can't help you, its your decision" I know it is, I just want your opinion.

I'm trying to figure out what I want to do for a career, and have narrowed it down to two things. I'm graduating soon and still need to figure out what I need to do.
I'm thinking between Computer Specialist or Elementary School Teacher.

I'm good with computers and I enjoy all aspects of them. I've been building my own rigs for a few years and I get a lot of satisfaction from OCing my rig.
What I do hate however, is fixing stupid peoples computers. I've fixed a lot of them, and if its for a good reason (accidental virus, Drive failure, etc) I don't mind. But the majority of repairs I do are for people who are just plain stupid (downloading "smilies", removing their antivirus, etc) I even had a mom freak out when I told her it wasn't her son's use of steam and was actually her "custom cursors" that wacked her comp.

I'd most likely get my BS in Computer Science and try to find an entry level job. This will probably lead to a higher up job a few years down the road. Starting wages is around 60k were I want to live.


My other path I'm thinking about is teaching. Preferably elementary school. I love working with kids and I really like teaching people. (teaching people about computers is one of the main reasons I like it). I realize that teaching is way harder than it seems. What with all the work you don't get paid for (lesson planning, grading papers, meetings, etc). But it really sounds like something I'd love to do. The only real downside would be the less pay compared to a computer specialist. Starting salary is around 40k where I live. Thats with retirement plans, health, sick leave, etc.

I'd probably get my BA in Education, get certified, and try to find a job. After a few years of saving I could get my Masters in Educational Administration and try to get a possition as a principle.

Another downside is having to get recertified if I move to a different state. And also the trouble of finding a job since the rollover rate for teachers is really low.
My career councelor says this might not be much of a problem though, since I can speak spanish and know sign language, also since there is (apparently) a shortage of pre-secondary male teachers.



I know you're not qualified to give me life advise, but please say something. Anything. I'm the type that worries alot.

It's probably easier to get a job (and higher wages) with a CS degree.

If you love building and working on computers then go be a school teacher.

If you end up doing what you love for a living you will soon hate it. Keep it as a hobby.

As much as I'd like to say "go for the teacher job" this is true. Teaching jobs are way over-saturated right now.

Unfortunately so are CS and IT jobs, so neither will be a guaranteed ticket to a livlihood. That said you'll have a much easier time in CS because there are a wide variety of jobs related to the field that you can get if you have the right certificates.

Yeah exactly, you can go pretty much anywhere from CS. You can even go from there to game development.

teacher

Check out the specialities/jobs within the field of computer science. See what appeals to you. Then look at your prospects if you follow that path.

Bear in mind that it would probably be easier to switch from a tech career to a teaching career than the other way around. Not only would it be easier to save up money for any re-education, but you'd also find your skills/experience easier to re-purpose.

Also bear in mind that this is all based on the bits and pieces I've picked up over the years and chucked on the mental pile .

None of those careers are useful. Run away from home and be a circus clown.

Then run away from the circus and start jumping into people's psyches.

Why don't you become self-employed?

Good sir, I like the way you think.

Go for the Computer Specialist more doors will be open to you and it has good benefits in the long run I think, specially in todays computer driven society. Teaching little screaming brats only leads to headachs and shot nerves---plus in some states you might not get good pay or benefits as a teacher.

I'd go with Computer Guy.

You could be a teacher, but for the love of god, don't teach Elementary.

Can't stress this enough. Don't teach Elementary---all you'll get is migranes and shot nerves! You're better off taking an arrow to the knee then dealing with someone elses hyper, kicking & screaming children!!!!

I recommend seeing if you could get a part-time job or volunteer work at some sort of daycare center or youth center before settling on education. While I would commend you for making that personal sacrifice and bolstering our nation's collection of teachers, the school enviroment is where kids can be at their worst.

Also, you should probably minor in psychology if you go with the education route. One of the biggest causes of misbehaved kids in schools is that their conditioned to continue bad behaviors (by accident) in their early school years and at home. Learning techniques for classical and operant conditioning will be vital to your efficacy as a teacher.

Computer Specialist, I worked as a 1st grade teachers assistant during some career week thing and it was horrible.

Computers are the future, and with any luck, they will have replaced those remaining antiquated "teachers" you speak of within the next 10-15 years.

I'll agree with this. The people who I know that are trying to get a job in teaching right now are struggling to find one.

Computer Specialist.

If you dont already have it, it would open more doors to get as many certifications as you can. A+, CCENT/CCNA, Net+ (I plan on taking the Net+ soon as it will renew my A+ for life).

Stupid people are just something that you have to deal with, especially when you deal in computers. Often times they know what they did wrong, but they are too embarrassed to admit it and so they make you go the hard way of troubleshooting their PCs.

What this guy said.

Either way, don't expect it to be easy to get into either one.

If you like working with kids, I'd definitely go for teacher. There'll be tons of stupid parents to deal with as well of course, but when dealing in computers fixing the mistakes of retards is probably all you'll do. I think computers can be fun as a hobby, but I definitely wouldn't want to work with them. I don't know about employment in your area, but if it's anything like it is around here it'll probably be easier to get a job as a teacher as well, given how you're male and there's a huge shortage of those in elementary schools. Also, depending on the schools you end up on, the knowledge of computers you already possess can be a big plus. My father is a principal in two elementary schools, and the teachers that handle the computer-related stuff there get a nice bonus on their pay checks, even though they don't have any computer-related degrees.

So do a good deed and give the generation of tomorrow a male role model. When I was a little kid about half of my teachers were male. In elementary schools today, almost all teachers seem to be women. I don't know if or how that affects boys growing up, but I think it's important for them to have had some male teachers as well. Regardless of whether or not it does make a difference, enough people believe it does for it to positively affect your chances of getting a job. And since you said you love working with kids, why not?

I know several (Elementary) Education majors who are going to be Elementary school teachers, and I can say that it certainly doesn't look interesting to me. Not that CS does either, but it seems like Elementary Ed, and even Secondary Ed are really just a bunch of bogus hoops to jump through to prep you for the certification. The other issue is that Elementary Ed is so demanding on a schedule that you probably won't have time to double major or enjoy electives (in CS if you so desired). Not only are the classes full of busy-work (from what I hear), but you also have to make serious out of class commitments (like observing, or assisting classes at local schools).

I suppose it depends on your location. My ex wanted to teach elementary, but as she works In a daycare she found out that teaching jobs were super competitive to get and maintain because even one complaint and the school board will fire your ass and try someone else.

On the other hand it seems like there will always be a need for computer people, though is it possible this profession will become over-saturated too?

I despise children though, so I'd personally go for the computer job, because you can always make fun of the stupid people as you fix their computers and walk into their homes with a smug sense of superiority as you explain why they broke their computer with that hammer-drill combo fix.

I'd go with Computing, put what you enjoy doing to good use and get paid doing it.

Teaching is not a very stable job right now from what I can tell.

Since you already have experience with computers, I'd say continue with that. You'll have to deal with stupid people in education too, but you can't embarrass children about their porm usage.