CathInfo.com

Is there anybody who is interested in statistics?
I did a bachelor's degree in computing science. Later, I thought a programming career is not beneficial to 
me because of some reasons, so I enrolled in a statistics course, I felt in love with it immediately. 

There's IT (Information Technology), SE (Software Engineering) and CS (Computer Science, more theoretical stuff). 
Most of the non-technical people just call it IT.  I've done a little of all kinds, starting in 1969.
.
I NEVER recommend IT careers to anybody, unless you just have to do it or can't do anything else. 
.
Why?  Because every 5 years half of what you know becomes obsolete.  There are some exceptions, (e.i. staying
at one company for 20 years and the company avoids upgrading to newer programming languages). 
Working for state or federal government is like this, slow to change.
.
Problem.  You started working at age 25.  Now you are 50.  You are obsolete, a dinosaur.  New college graduates
are applying to your company who know the latest stuff and ready to work for a starting wage.  
. 
Problem.  You don't get retirement benefits, unless you are lucky to get hired by one of the big companies.
.
Problem.  As a programmer or developer, there are deadlines, fast-paced environments, and free coffee.
.
Problem.  A photographic memory of the most dry technical, human poorly-designed stuff is required.  If you are
a creative artistic person, you will go insane.  Source code can be very ugly and nearly unreadable.  You are
always working with somebody else's ugly code. 
.
Problem.  A new trend is that you work on contract and maybe work from home (no benefits, no eating lunch with
the guys).  The bad part of this is that you have to compete with guys in India who are happy to work for $10/hr.
BTW, Microsofts 2nd largest software development facility is in Hyderbhad, India.
.
Problem.  A recruiter calls and wants to fill a position in Silicon Valley.  He wants to know when was the last time
you worked for a corporation.  You say, 6 months ago.  He says, Thank you, bye.  Hey, it's technology.  You have
to keep up to date.  He is assuming that a corporation will keep you up to date (which may not happen) and you
haven't worked for 6 months and forgot everything.
.
Problem.  There are at least 100 computer language is use today.  Most jobs require that you know at least 5 of
them, preferably 10.  Each company has a different 10 that they want you to know.  So, you thought all programming
jobs were basically the same, easy to move from one company to another.  WRONG. 
.
There are jobs in Silicon Valley, New York City, Chicago, etc., wherever the cost of living is sky high. 
.
At one of my high-points financially, I was working in Houston.  I met a guy who was a hair stylist (part time)
who was making more that I did, and he will be better at 50.  You will be obsolete at 50.
.
I could write a book about this subject.  There are some exceptions.  There are some good jobs out there. 
There are some good bosses out there.  But there are other good professions, also.   Pick one in which you will
be better at 50.
.