Don't eliminate Computer Programmer from your list so quickly.

As long as you're doing "real work" -- you're the one designing and creating websites, for example -- you will find plenty of Americans who want to have a local person meet with them and design a website for them.

Large companies might outsource something like programming, but not small companies or home businesses. It's not exactly easy to get up at 3 in the morning to phone your programmer in India!

This is coming from someone with personal experience.

However, before everyone runs off to start their Computer Programming career, I have to add:

Don't consider programming unless you:
A) enjoy it
B) have a talent for it
C) learn things quickly
D) exceed at self-study

...preferably all of the above. It's easy for someone like me (a "born programmer") to out-compete a mediocre programmer. Unless, of course, you're talking about large companies, but we're not talking about them. But even large companies want to know what you can do -- if you can't show them things you wrote in your spare time, etc. you have a small chance of being hired.

Real programmers not only program for a living, but they gladly spend their free time learning new programming languages and writing software for fun -- or at least they have a desire to (in the case of those who are hopelessly busy)

There are few careers that require as much continuing education as "Computer Programmer". In fact, I'd like someone to point out just one career that even comes close.

And you are definitely right about continuing education. My dad is a Network Analyst and spends a lot of time reading up on the latest technologies and going to training courses. That's what makes a career like that so interesting.

Ummm the last two posts were mine (brainglitch) Not too sure why I'm posting as guest when logged in....hmmm...

You have to click the little box at the bottom of the screen  :detective:

Quote from: Guest

Quote from: Guest

Ummm the last two posts were mine (brainglitch) Not too sure why I'm posting as guest when logged in....hmmm...

You have to click the little box at the bottom of the screen  :detective:

And when you do, people can see you!  

And when you don't, they can't!  

I wish the best to the original poster, may God and His Most Holy Mother be merciful to him. I hope that he is not in the same situation as I am, I'm considered to be quite literally good for nothing as far as work goes. Too sickly and debilitated to dig ditches, Simply standing up for more than an hour or so causes severe pain. I tried to help my uncle in his machine shop, it was very simple, all I had to do was mind one of the machines, but I had to stop after an hour and a half because the pain was so bad that I couldn't be sure of doing everything in the right order, if I did it in wrong order the machine would malfunction and break several tools, cutters and reamers and so forth, so I had to stop. I don't along with people very well, I guess that I'm a "weirdo" or whatever they call it now. As far as computers go I can barely get onto the internet. In the old days I could've worked as a mail sorter, now of course with the depression the Post Office is getting rid of people, not hiring. Assembly line work would've been good as well, of course there's nothing left of that sort of thing where I live. I've been on the dole for years. My father and uncle are after me to get a job, but they don't really understand how the combination of the depression and all of the new technology have rendered the situation hopeless, all of the jobs that I could've done have either gone to China, or else they're now done by machines or computers. Things will only get worse from here. Such is life.

I wish the best to the original poster, may God and His Most Holy Mother be merciful to him. I hope that he is not in the same situation as I am, I'm considered to be quite literally good for nothing as far as work goes. Too sickly and debilitated to dig ditches, Simply standing up for more than an hour or so causes severe pain. I tried to help my uncle in his machine shop, it was very simple, all I had to do was mind one of the machines, but I had to stop after an hour and a half because the pain was so bad that I couldn't be sure of doing everything in the right order, if I did it in wrong order the machine would malfunction and break several tools, cutters and reamers and so forth, so I had to stop. I don't along with people very well, I guess that I'm a "weirdo" or whatever they call it now. As far as computers go I can barely get onto the internet. In the old days I could've worked as a mail sorter, now of course with the depression the Post Office is getting rid of people, not hiring. Assembly line work would've been good as well, of course there's nothing left of that sort of thing where I live. I've been on the dole for years. My father and uncle are after me to get a job, but they don't really understand how the combination of the depression and all of the new technology have rendered the situation hopeless, all of the jobs that I could've done have either gone to China, or else they're now done by machines or computers. Things will only get worse from here. Such is life.

OP here. You are not alone. The devil wants you to lose hope, to despair. Resist! You can do it.

Don't eliminate Computer Programmer from your list so quickly.

As long as you're doing "real work" -- you're the one designing and creating websites, for example -- you will find plenty of Americans who want to have a local person meet with them and design a website for them.

Large companies might outsource something like programming, but not small companies or home businesses. It's not exactly easy to get up at 3 in the morning to phone your programmer in India!

This is coming from someone with personal experience.

However, before everyone runs off to start their Computer Programming career, I have to add:

Don't consider programming unless you:
A) enjoy it
B) have a talent for it
C) learn things quickly
D) exceed at self-study

...preferably all of the above. It's easy for someone like me (a "born programmer") to out-compete a mediocre programmer. Unless, of course, you're talking about large companies, but we're not talking about them. But even large companies want to know what you can do -- if you can't show them things you wrote in your spare time, etc. you have a small chance of being hired.

Real programmers not only program for a living, but they gladly spend their free time learning new programming languages and writing software for fun -- or at least they have a desire to (in the case of those who are hopelessly busy)

There are few careers that require as much continuing education as "Computer Programmer". In fact, I'd like someone to point out just one career that even comes close.

I actually think that dentists are required to do a lot of continuing education.