IT / Computer Technology fields besides programming

[EyeSeeCold]

I notice a severe lack of discussion of computer technology besides programming and robotics. Is there anyone here who works in a profession that is not exclusively programming, or is interested in computing fields besides programming?


Some other fields:

• 3D modeling / Animation
• Internet security
• Database management / Systems administration
• Network administration
• Informatics / Computational informatics
• Hardware R&D (computer engineering)
• Game development
• Inventions

I am most interested in the hardware/applied side of computer technology, and am working towards a career in network and systems administration, but I have a general interest in computer technology. Security is another field I think I would like but I don't know too much about programming to get involved.

 

[Architect]

The better jobs let you move between fields in my opinion. I've worked in security the last year at mine, now I'm going part time into FPGA programming which is your "Hardware R&D" I guess.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Yeah, it seems programming as a core would be a huge benefit that allows career flexibility. I wouldn't be opposed to it but so far I haven't stuck an interest in it.

I do find it hard to believe that you're the only one here involved in the broad field of computing though, this is why NT career stereotypes aren't reliable/accurate.

 

[Architect]

Yeah, it seems programming as a core would be a huge benefit that allows career flexibility. I wouldn't be opposed to it but so far I haven't stuck an interest in it.

I do find it hard to believe that you're the only one here involved in the broad field of computing though, this is why NT career stereotypes aren't reliable/accurate.

Stepping outside of AA for a moment ...

I think you have to understand what the stereotypes are meant for. They aren't supposed to represent a statistical sampling of the type, or what all of the type should like, but all else being equal fields that the type would most probably enjoy.

There are a lot of things that go into why people end up in the careers they get. For you, for example, that interest in programming was never sparked. Why not? Who knows? But presumably you found something else in an entirely different field that you get a pleasure from.

"all else being equal" means that, for example, if you were to take a petri dish of an INTP (100 individuals say), and introduced them equally to several different careers (i.e. send them to a cooking class, to a hacking class, and to a fishing class say) then you might expect that a majority would find programming more interesting than cooking.

 

[Mediatekk]

I'm an elementary school media specialist. I teach love of books, technology and research skills. The faculty all come to me to fix their tech. We have a school technology specialist. He hates me...

 

[pgibbons]

The hardware side is also programming, with the added benefit of electronics and an extra portion of logic to indulge in. A lot of the other fields you posted are mundane kind of jobs. 3D modeling is fun stuff. Game development is also programming.
Anything with the words administration or database in it is in my opinion boring. I really like doing stuff that hasn't been done before, so that's why.
The bottom line is that you do what you like. If you're doing something you don't like, you try to get something different at your next job.

 

[Trebuchet]

I worked in IT for seven years. It was pretty fun. Programming didn't suit me, though I tried it for a while. It was more fun to muck about with the insides of a computer or make ethernet cables. I taught basic electronics for people learning to fix computers, too. That was also fun.

IT doesn't pay as much as programming, and it is kind of dusty work, but it has a pleasant amount of social interaction and is satisfying. My coworker (also INTP) said it was like being a bartender. People wanted to complain about how their computer problem was making them miss a deadline, or how frustrated they were, and get some validation from the technician. I agreed. Listening sympathetically to the user, and believing them when they say "it's making a strange noise" that you can't hear, is simply part of the job. You can be Nick Burns - your company's computer guy - and be rude and arrogant, but then you miss most of the joy of making someone's day go better.

IT also requires patience. The users always ask why something happened, and sometimes you don't know. Sometimes it takes a while to tease out what is wrong. And you have to look confident in front of the user when this happens, so they don't get worried or complain about you. I found that was easily done by explaining what I did know in straightforward, non-condescending terms, to invite the user into the search for a solution. And sometimes they even came up with a good idea.

I only left because of politics, not the job itself. Also, I didn't love dealing with Microsoft. They were sort of bullies.

 

[Lacplesis]

3D modeling is fun stuff.

NO, it is NOT. I have done it for years now, have tried just about every technique there is. I tried polymodeling, nurbs, CAD, subivision modeling, tried BIM and even simulations, but I have not tried sculpting with something like Zbrush or Mudbox. It is my work now, sort of. I make a living this way. There is nothing "fun" about this.

All it basically boils down is a routine where by applying tiny (TINY) amount of brainpower, you translate the needed form in a set of commands for a computer to do whatever. You build the darn thing one command after another, until your eyes bleed, and then some more. Or you could fall asleep at work.

Yeah, because I dislike it so much, I am about to change "career" very soon

 

[pgibbons]

NO, it is NOT.

I believe you. I only did it for a little while for fun and art. I guess I enjoyed learning 3ds max and perhaps when you are forced to do it all the time it may suck.

 

[Analyzer]

Marketing/SEO/Web Analytics

 

[EyeSeeCold]

I'm an elementary school media specialist. I teach love of books, technology and research skills. The faculty all come to me to fix their tech. We have a school technology specialist. He hates me...

That sounds like a pretty cool gig. Does the school have an allocated budget for that or do you have to supply everything?

The hardware side is also programming, with the added benefit of electronics and an extra portion of logic to indulge in. A lot of the other fields you posted are mundane kind of jobs. 3D modeling is fun stuff. Game development is also programming.
Anything with the words administration or database in it is in my opinion boring. I really like doing stuff that hasn't been done before, so that's why.
The bottom line is that you do what you like. If you're doing something you don't like, you try to get something different at your next job.

Game development would include a lot of programming, but also various types of modeling(concepts, mocap, level design, animation etc).

I worked in IT for seven years. It was pretty fun. Programming didn't suit me, though I tried it for a while. It was more fun to muck about with the insides of a computer or make ethernet cables. I taught basic electronics for people learning to fix computers, too. That was also fun.

IT doesn't pay as much as programming, and it is kind of dusty work, but it has a pleasant amount of social interaction and is satisfying. My coworker (also INTP) said it was like being a bartender. People wanted to complain about how their computer problem was making them miss a deadline, or how frustrated they were, and get some validation from the technician. I agreed. Listening sympathetically to the user, and believing them when they say "it's making a strange noise" that you can't hear, is simply part of the job. You can be Nick Burns - your company's computer guy - and be rude and arrogant, but then you miss most of the joy of making someone's day go better.

Yeah the bartender bit is accurate, generally I don't mind the conversation. I like the networking prospects, especially if you freelance you can meet all sorts of people or get a commission for a special job.

IT also requires patience. The users always ask why something happened, and sometimes you don't know. Sometimes it takes a while to tease out what is wrong. And you have to look confident in front of the user when this happens, so they don't get worried or complain about you. I found that was easily done by explaining what I did know in straightforward, non-condescending terms, to invite the user into the search for a solution. And sometimes they even came up with a good idea.

I only left because of politics, not the job itself. Also, I didn't love dealing with Microsoft. They were sort of bullies.

I've been thinking it isn't a good idea to let people linger and observe you work. Not everyone appreciates the time/effort put into it, especially since sometimes it can seem like you're not doing anything at all.

NO, it is NOT. I have done it for years now, have tried just about every technique there is. I tried polymodeling, nurbs, CAD, subivision modeling, tried BIM and even simulations, but I have not tried sculpting with something like Zbrush or Mudbox. It is my work now, sort of. I make a living this way. There is nothing "fun" about this.

All it basically boils down is a routine where by applying tiny (TINY) amount of brainpower, you translate the needed form in a set of commands for a computer to do whatever. You build the darn thing one command after another, until your eyes bleed, and then some more. Or you could fall asleep at work.

Yeah, because I dislike it so much, I am about to change "career" very soon

I was including any kind of literal 3D modeling, not necessarily for systems development. If you're referring to that also then I'm surprised, I didn't know it was generally exhausting.

Marketing/SEO/Web Analytics

Freelance?

 

[Jaffa]

Yes, I suppose that it depends on your history and introduction to computing/IT as to which flavor you end becoming an expert in.

I do agree that it seems disproportionate that so many INTP's are programmers, next we'll be finding out that all INFJ's are psychologists and all ENTJ's are millionaires.

I work with mobile devices (enterprise mobility solutions, as the business likes to call them) - namely Windows Mobile 6.1 and the Motorola MC7596 (google it), it's kind of a technical Project Management/BA role. Not really something that you go to university for.