C +(+) and Java(script?)

(RIP) Jamie

(RIP) Jamie

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Some questions.

1. What are they?

2. What do they do?

3. Should I learn them?

4. Are they easy to learn?

5. What could I do with them once I learnt them?


I've been racking my brains lately, looking for a job, my skills base covers snippets of various jobs, yet manages to fully complement none. However, most, if not all of what I can do on pooters is self taught, so I figured, if I get some formal training, I could get a decent job, so I'll take the plunge and head the IT way.

6. What do I need?

I know this may not belong here, but there isnt a "careers advice" forum.

Cheers

Jamie
 
object oriented programming languages...

java and javascript would be the obvious first choice, c++ is a much more complex beast and requires a lot of experience to apply practically.

You could knock out the learning of procedural stuff in straight C pretty quickly and then move onto either, c++ or java for application development, or javascript for webmonkeying.

One thing you need to consider is the target market. If it's application development you'd probably be looking at MS visual studio for the c++ and their java development environment. If you want to learn it on the cheap then you'd be better off with a linux environment and the GNU toolset. The market is actually pretty good for decent linux developers too.

for what it's worth kernel driver development in windows is almost exclusively straight c. It's too easy to not make threadsafe re-entrant code in object oriented languages. So another thing to consider is if you want to do kernel stuff, application, or web.
 
Basically (sic) C, C+, C++ and Java are programming languages, to write stand-alone programs. JavaScript is a scripting language to write "interactive" web pages.

Probably the best way to learn and to make yourself employable at the same time is to do Open University modules, as even part time college courses are IME very time intensive (two full days a week for an HNC for example), and you haven't a hope of finding employment without qualifications.

HTH
 
Wizard said:
Basically (sic) C, C+, C++ and Java are programming languages, to write stand-alone programs. JavaScript is a scripting language to write "interactive" web pages.

Probably the best way to learn and to make yourself employable at the same time is to do Open University modules, as even part time college courses are IME very time intensive (two full days a week for an HNC for example), and you haven't a hope of finding employment without qualifications.

HTH
Click to expand...

Cheers Wiz,

Something like this?
 
Viscount Derbyshire said:
Cheers Wiz,

Something like this?
Click to expand...

The very things. The great thing about the OU is that you can take a course (Diploma in Computing looks like quite a good start for someone like yourself), and then expand it into a degree in whatever modules you like. That's particularly handy if you're in a job where you need different aspects of various subjects.
 
Jammy...both mean sitting on front of a computer screen all day getting bored out of your skull, and without a huge natural flare for it, probably being paid little and churning out standard boring stuff with zero excitement.

Good luck if you decide to go that route, but I just can't see it for you meself :nenau
 
my lord.
I was in a similar position to you a few years ago. What wizard says is spot on. I did an HNC in computer studies which gives you a good basic grounding in various computer related disciplines, I found it hard but I was 46 when I started so it was bound to be a steep learning curve. I did all evenings and weekends. Your local tech will help. I was a mature student so they loved me.
more info

http://www.uwic.ac.uk/courses/IT/computer_studies.asp?subsection=part-time

the good news with a broad based qualification is that it gets you the interview in more than one discipline.

programming is where the money is for sure but bear in mind there are kids coming out of university that do C++ and java at a speed that will make your eyes water. They "think" in programming language so unless you have a flair for it be a bit circumspect. Im not being negative. Take a little time to find what will suit.

and

good luck with whatever you choose. cant be a bad move whatever :thumb
 
Fanum said:
Good luck if you decide to go that route, but I just can't see it for you meself :nenau
Click to expand...

What would you suggest?

I'm a jack of all, and master of none, after all, I could probably replace most complex bits, barring electrics, on your ADV, does that make me a plumb choice for a BMW tech? who taught me? No-one. Most jobs I've fallen into by chance, then got stuck in a rut through lack of formal qualification.

I'm not in it for the big money, just enough to provide a decent life for meself.

TBH I dont even know what my dream job is - but computing, however boring, seems to have good growth prospects, and I'm good at it, considering I have no formal qualifications, at my last job I was unofficially first point of contact for local staff with any IT issues, nine times out of tne I sorted them.

I was toying with getting an HGV licence yesterday as well :nenau
 
Viscount Derbyshire said:
at my last job I was unofficially first point of contact for local staff with any IT issues, nine times out of tne I sorted them.
Click to expand...

In which case you could be more suited for the Tech Support side of things - good money to be made by Microsoft Certified engineers.

You may be able to get help with the cost of the courses through learndirect or the like.
 
Viscount Derbyshire said:
What would you suggest?


I was toying with getting an HGV licence yesterday as well :nenau
Click to expand...


That's not a bad idea regardless of what you end up doing mate......you'll never be unemployed as long as you keep the license up to date......agencies are crying out for drivers and there are always lots of jobs in the paper/websites......

Even if you only use it 'in between jobs', you'll always have something decent to fall back on...and TBH I can see you doing a bit of that , rather than sitting behind a desk typing C++ code all day.

Peak district park warden?? (Give Gav a Bell ;) )
Outward bounds /working with kids activities type thing ?? (Lots of centres up there)
Freelance van courier?? http://www.postalandcourier.co.uk/
RSPCA inspector???


Or think of it from the other direction....rather than trying to find something that you could do that wouldn't be too bad to tolerate as a job, decide what you'd REALLY like to do, in an ideal world, then work your way backwards to the closest fit. :nenau
 
I'd think very carefully before taking the plunge. Your talking about skills which you will have to refresh pepertually in order to keep up and where people straight out of uni will be looking for the same jobs... and thats if the whole lot doesn't move out to India :thumb

Hopefully that doesn't dishearten you too much :P as there is definite money to be made, but it isn't about being a bog basic coder. Learning the language is the very first step, which I would consider being 1% of what it is to be an IT professional.

Some specific advice is to bin the javascript, and concentrate on a proper language like C(++) or as your just starting out I would go for C# which is a dotnet language.

and my 0.02 is that you can probably make as much money being a plumber or tradesmen as you could working in IT. Food for thought.

Another option which would perhaps suit is to be a project manager. The skills here are obviously softer and the actual project management accreditations are transferable across industries etc. You could get PRINCE2 certified quite quickly and enter into IT that way. Might suite you if your not in your twenties anymore :beer:
 
If you'regoing in to IT - you'd want to be doing at least a Network based job - you'll need a microsoft cert - as said before.

At least you get to look after a group of people - not sat on your own in a dark room.

HGV driver sounds good :

How about bike mechanic - you can get qualifications for that to complete your self learned stuff.
 
Whatton said:
A change of job? I could be your pimp :thumb
Click to expand...

How's that gonna work? Will I have to stop being your pimp? You know our client base is made up of old ladies who like your sausage fingers up 'em :cool:
 
and my 0.02 is that you can probably make as much money being a plumber or tradesmen as you could working in IT. Food for thought.
Click to expand...

Plumber:thumb

Another job for life......independant, little van, put put put around the peaks fixing people's pipes....£80 call out, stand there and suck yer teeth a bit, charge £200 for changing a washer, back home for mid day :thumb

(PS if you're a plumber, ignore all that ;) )
 
If you are organised and good with people you could consider Project Management - there seem to be a fair number of jobs in the IT area for good PM's pretty good money as well.
 
Hi Viscount,

I too have been thinking about learning to program etc and have some experience in Visual Basic.net and Crystal Reports, Excel macros etc. Some of the programmers who work in our office are straight out of school but pretty much designing the companies databases etc! Not fair on the old folks ehy.

Anyway I think I’m going to concentrate on the reporting side of things like Crystal Reports or Excel/Macros etc, which seem easier to learn than full on coding.

Our old friend Bill gates has some great stuff on the Microsoft website for free and you can download “express” versions of the new .Net languages Visual Basic. C# and ASP.net (for coding websites) and ADO.net for coding databases.

They also have free tutorials you can download.

One last website to check out if you are still keen is learnvisualstudio.net (the same guy who done the MS tutorials above) they have over 400 videos which you can download and watch, which is sometimes easier than reading a book etc. Anyway I joined last year and downloaded everything to do with ADO.net VB.net and ASP.net so PM me if you want me to send you a CD over. I also have a CD full of PDF versions of VB programming books etc if you want any.

The MS website link is http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/

Cheers
Gazzr
 
James, forget all about IT work. You're too late. Europe is full of young people getting IT training to uni level only to then realise that the WORLD is full of intelligent people in third world countries who can do the same job for 1 fifith of the price. Its called outsourcing (I think).

On the other hand HGV drivers are in short supply and plumbers are incredibly difficult to come by.

Do the HGV thingy and then go to evening school and brush up on what you don't know about plumbing. I agree with Bill.

Being self employed at your/my age has to be the way to go.

Lastly I have a brother with IBM. 45 years old and he is sure to be laid off by the age of fifty. Coz he will no longer be cost effective. He will do the plumber thing as where he lives its impossible to get a plumber, to do the easy stuff like re plumb a sink or install a bath coz they are not interested in doing that type of work.

Good luck.

BTW I became self employed at thirty and it was the best career move I ever made. More free time, more money, no stupid boss.
 
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