Zarf's Journal: All around Geek

So what kind of geek will survive in the new-new economy? I wonder. It seems there's little room for the merely competent and average techie anymore. You must be exceptional. Huh? Okay fine... so you want exceptional. I can do that. But what is exceptional anyhow? What will businesses need in two, three, or five years? You've got to realize that nobody knows and only the prescient ala Mau'dib know for sure.

I'm going to be taking work as a Database Programmer state-side... my last project was a C code port from Solaris to Linux... and I have a strong intrest in Linux Digital Video Editing and I've been working on DVD software at home (nothing good yet) but what kind of geek does that make me?

Perfect job: a C/C++, Database, Perl job with Digital video? Huh? Makes no sense I'm all over the map. Plus I'm going to take my CCNA sometime when I get settled again. Crazy, that's what that makes me.

The Tech Guy

[Oculus Habent]

You become "The Tech Guy" at a small-business. Aim for 150 employees & holding - that should be fairly stable, and have at least 2 techs, to make your life easier.

You'll be the guy who maintains the servers, keeps the network running, creates reporting software, makes the web site interactive in all the messed-up ways the company wants, and helps create & edit training videos, commercials (if you have them), and sales materials (a video-mini-CD?)

Alternately, you could become an important part of a

Re:The Tech Guy

[Zarf]

Interesting. See, this is why we write slashdot journals. I never would have thought in that direction. Hmmm...

Well, I would have said 'multigeek'...

[MonTemplar]

...but some bloke by the name of Rustin [slashdot.org] beat you to it already. :-)

-MT.

I think of that myself

[fractaltiger]

A Computer Science degree prepares you in a way that is marketably negligible. Certifications do make a stride in getting you a job, but to be certified you need to get your foot in the "beforehand experience door" somehow or the courses/books will feel like you're going for yet another college degree. Volunteer work is good. Try a small employment agency and you'll be aware of what's moving and do random stuff to help around. That way you can start a bit of helpdesk in case your resume doesn't include any

Re:I think of that myself

[Zarf]

Pay cuts for job security? Hmmm... it seems to me that the more stable the job is the less it pays. The more dynamic and dangerous the job the better it pays. At least that's my impression.

Re:I think of that myself

[fractaltiger]

Well, you're right, but I'll argue that where I live it's not worth it to take a cheap job. I wasn't refering to pay cuts in my post, just cheap job rates: You'll easily find other openings making 1.5x more than the bare minimum salaries. Because of the small company / greedy small business owner, you'll see many worthless salary offers and be hired and stuck with a job that isn't "jobmarket-safe" and that pays too little to be taken seriously by real employers in the future. I'm still hurting from my rece