Hi, I am self studying c++ and currently I am having a great time. I am not an IT graduate (i'm an economics grad) but I now realize I'm really for programming and stuff. However, whenever I continue studying c++, I always think if self studying programming is still worth it. Is it still like before that I could survive by just self studying programming? I'd like to make this as my primary career. However, I don't have the luxury of going back to school. I like to know if I should continue self studying programming or just stick with economics...
These thoughts always hamper my studying of either programming or economics..
You can indeed make a career out of if by just self studying... if you know your stuff and you are driven. It is rather difficult however to get a C++ programming job without a degree or an impressive portfolio as there is no industry certification to prove competancy. My suggesting is if you cannot get back into school is to study more than one language. I know a lot of developers with no degrees that just have certifications, but they all fall under C# or Java.
Just don't expect to be truly proficient for a while. It takes a long time to improve your skills to be career worthy, but keep at it and stay the hell away from economics! Interesting though... are you currently employed in a position that utilizes your economics degree? There are few economic majors with programming skills. That might actually give you an edge on developing certain financial applications.
I think I am enjoying programming more than I enjoyed economics.
There are few economic majors with programming skills. That might actually give you an edge on developing certain financial applications.
Interestingly, my brother who is a software engineer also said the same to me. But I can't seem to see how because my job currently does not utilize any economics or programming at all!! I would really love to use economics and programming in my job. That would be the perfect job for me. But right now, I think the only jobs my country can give us economists are BPO jobs..
Can you give me examples of jobs that utilizes both economics and programming? It would enlighten me not to totally junk what I learned in economics, but instead, complement it with some programming skills. :)
It would clarify and somehow concretize what I really want to be :)
Securities software companies in particular look for programmers with some sort of economics education/certification. An example is tradestation.com. What country are you in?
I'm from the Philippines. Economics jobs are very competitive and I must confess, I am not very well versed in economics. And those kinds of jobs are very hard to come by here. That is why I wanted to make programming and IT in general as my primary career. Being in IT has more opportunities given this country's situation.
I also want to go to another country, but with little experience related to either economics or IT, I don't think I would not be competitive enough, resume-wise.. damn..