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Ask HN: Backup plan(s) for a CS major?

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Re: Ask HN: Backup plan(s) for a CS major?

#11

Post by kiskis »

wikwocket wrote: post #10
kiskis wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

can you explain this a little deeper?

Not sure which part you mean, but the important bit for this thread is that even basic Excel formulas are black magic to non-techies, and that basic hacking skills can drive real business value. There are things you can do rather trivially, such as "Add 3 calendar months to this date, and if it's later than this other cell, color the cell red," which would be a) extremely helpful, and b) otherwise a task they'd have…

thank. I found few post where you mention ISO certification. Just curious, are you in that space?

Re: Ask HN: Backup plan(s) for a CS major?

#12

Post by throwaway1979 »

dzink wrote: post #4

Combining CS and Business can work well. 1. You would be able to translate between higher levels and the execution team, so if you ever get bored of coding you can have an escape trajectory. HR staff who pigeonhole techies won't have an excuse to stop you from getting into decision-making roles. 2. Most conveniently, if you ever decide to be your own boss, or jump into another field (from making bikes to delivering f…

How about an MBA?

Re: Ask HN: Backup plan(s) for a CS major?

#13

Post by dennisgorelik »

saturdayplace wrote: post #7
patio11 wrote: post #2

This deserves a longer response but it is quite early in the morning, so I'll write the short version: 1) The career of programming (specifically) has MANY options which are not concentrated in the tech bubble. I know that is not obvious being so close to the epicenter of it, but 90%+ of professional programmers work, in Silicon Valley parlance, boring companies doing boring things. Banks gotta bank, insurances compa…

Related: It occurs to me more and more that programming is a VERY valuable secondary skill. If you find your interests drawn to another domain, it will likely be useful to gain expertise in that domain. Once armed with knowledge of how people do things in that area, you'll be poised to apply programming skills towards solutions to their obvious problems. Like Patrick says above, to laypeople, someone who bangs out co…

Why not take programming as main skill and then pick something else as secondary skill?

Re: Ask HN: Backup plan(s) for a CS major?

#14

Post by dennisgorelik »

If you love programming - you should be fine. Occasional programming bubble bursts are inevitable, but they only wash away unskilled unmotivated programmers who do programming purely for money.

There is no reason why long term demand for programmers would decrease.

Re: Ask HN: Backup plan(s) for a CS major?

#15

Post by saturdayplace »

dennisgorelik wrote: post #13
saturdayplace wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Related: It occurs to me more and more that programming is a VERY valuable secondary skill. If you find your interests drawn to another domain, it will likely be useful to gain expertise in that domain. Once armed with knowledge of how people do things in that area, you'll be poised to apply programming skills towards solutions to their obvious problems. Like Patrick says above, to laypeople, someone who bangs out co…

Why not take programming as main skill and then pick something else as secondary skill?

That works too. Actually, I should probably re-word the advice along the lines of "know programming, and know something else really well too." Puts you at some pretty lucrative intersections.
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