What would you spend your spare time "refreshing" or studying?

I can currently program reasonably well in PHP, Visual Basic, Javascript...
I was planning to refresh Java, UML, and finally go deep into Linux...

Any advice appreciated

I've been doing Unix admin work for about 6 years now (Linux, *BSD, Solaris) but the demand (and salary) seems to have dropped consistently since then, so you're better off with programming I reckon.

-dave

Depends on what country you're in. The big talk in the U.S. is about outsourcing programmers to other countries, such as India or some of the eastern European nations, where there's lots of programming talent and much cheaper labor. In a few years, unless you're a very good programmer versed in the latest in-demand technology, you might risk losing your job or having to take a huge paycut. Time to share the wealth, I guess.

So for you, the biggest IT skill right now might be "lives in a poor country".

OT: It's not hard for people to specify their country in the control panel, and it would make discussions like this easier to conduct... Edit: Oops, sorry Kblood, didn't realize that the forum hasn't re-enabled flag displays yet!

Also depends on what part of the United States you wish to work in. The midwest (where I live) is a horrible place to be an IT person.

I make decent money as a sysadmin, but I will either need to become a DBA, or go into management if I wish to further my career.

I'm actually looking at other occupations that could lead to someday owning my own business. I have a degree in electronics. Thinking about training to become an electrician in my sparetime. Doesn't sound very glamorous, but if you own your own business and get your own contracts, it can be very lucrative.

I'm actually starting to think that the days of big money in IT are almost over, and not coming back.

Edit : spelling

Oops... Yeah I also forgot that the country flags are not showing...

I am from Spain, but currently live in the Netherlands, and I'm planning to stay here and so my next job should also be around here.

I have been doing Tech Support for the last 1.5 years, and it's enough for now (hopefully for the rest of my life, it's just not my thing...).

So I am planning to move back to the software development side.

In any case, the "buzzwords" are the same all around the globe, or so I think.

I have some experience with Application Servers, so I should move on to strengthen my Java skills, I think.

I have already the College Degree in Computer Science (the Major in Computer Science for U.S., I think).

What do you guys think?

Let's get some brainstorming going on that will end up getting us fatter cheques at the end of the month! B)

Oh, the days of IT glamour are most definitely over or almost so, at least for now... now that the dotcom mad dash is over.

Yeah, I agree with that. Now I just aim for a job that will keep my life standard at a decent level, nothing fancy.

Regarding the "buzzwords", for now it seems I'll focus on:
Java, UML, Web Services (XML, SOAP, Application Servers...)

Keep your fingers crossed for me, I hope to choose right!

EDIT: In any case, all tips are appreciated! So don't consider this thread over just yet!

Look in the unlikely places for IT work... hospitals, contractors, schools, etc. I recently landed a very nice IT specialist position with an engineering firm. Not only are these types of places stable, they instill a sense of company loyalty--something that I feel is lacking.

As for what to brush up on, brush up on what you like to do. If you're just getting into the IT field to make hordes of money that are falsely promised to you by schools and job placement firms, then you're doomed to fail.

The last tip I can offer is get experience. Take every internship oppurtunity that comes your way. With the job market they way it is, experience is a must.

Having a multi purprose IT-skills is very useful these days. I can imagine that one would get employed quite good if you can do many things well: being admin, programming, web publishing, tech/user support.... The other option is to take one of these areas and specialize as much as you can. Programmers usually don't stay unemployed very long so that's one good area. No need to fret about specific programming language or tool. If you know one you can always learn others.

Experience is a "must" these days so doing something (and maybe getting paid something) is better than doing nothing and it will good on your CV when you apply for a better position in the future.

THe only genres that seem to be hiring well are ones that can't be outsourced overseas..

Healthcare has consistantly been around 50% of help wanted ads here over
the last year.

Restaurant etc.

Construction.

School teachers.

A major R&D center in the US where I used to work has outsourced their IT support and now the "help desk" is in India. Contacts I still have in the company tell me that the
"help" people try hard, but are often not successful.

Well, luckily I already have a Major Degree, and also some experience. I will work on improving my Java and UML skills, which is where I would like to work.

As time goes by, my expectations will decrease, and I will gradually settle for less. Hopefully, I will find what I like before having to accept anything that will keep me fed and with a bed to sleep in.

The tip about looking in non-IT-specific companies sounds interesting... I'll think about it, and how to do it...

Actually, I am from Bangalore,India-the IT hub of this country. Although one might assume that there are a lot of programming jobs here, I would say that the assumption is wrong. There are thousands of programmers with excellent programming skills but there are no jobs. I know people who work for companies for FREE in order to gain relevant expeience, so that one day they can actually work for real money. It's the same old story everywhere-sometimes, life sucks.

One of the best tips I ever heard was from an Indian spiritual guru who died in the early 1980's (Nisargadatta Maharaj). The questioner asked (paraphrased) "I don't want what I've got, and can't seem to get what I want. What should I do?"

The guru says, "Why not turn it around? Want what you have, and care not what you don't have."

It could change your life.

Hello, back again...

I have been suggested that maybe trying for the Sun Certified Java Programmer exam would be a good idea. It is currently affordable for me, and it should help to diminish the "weight" of my last 1.5 years doing Tech Support.

I have been reviewing the topics, and the Programmer exam certainly looks feasible, with my current knowledge and some studying and refreshing I was already planning to do.

Actually, even the Certified Java Developer, that includes UML and some more advanced topics would be feasible, but probably in a longer time frame.

Does anybody know what is the reputation of these Certifications right now? I know that the MSCE has lost much of the respect it used to gather, but I don´t know about this one...

Since I have already some Java programming experience, UML and Object Oriented were major topics in College, and so on, this title seems to be an easy and cheap (relatively) way to improve my Resume (CV).

Any thoughts?