United States

As I said. Nothing is happening in NJ.

Chippy, take a Midol and shut up./

One heck of a good realistic and sad story Kramer. I didn't know you were IT?

Yeah, I do a lot of IT and SQL stuff. Amazing that I'm only worth $40k in todays market.

In 1999, I was worth almost triple

Sounds like you just need to update your skills. Saying you know IT and SQL is very general and common. If you want to do development you need very specific skill sets; for example if you are targeting the Microsoft platform, you need ASP.NET, C#, Javascript, XML and knowledge of source code control and object relational mapping software in addition to SQL Server. Same deal if you're targeting the Java platform, etc. The MVC model is going to be huge so learn it (ASP.NET MVC or Ruby on Rails). I've been in IT for twenty years and things change rapidly; you have to work hard to keep up.

Dunkin Donuts, waiting on my usual & I saw plane#1 damage.
I thought "oh man, what a tragedy"

Then minutes later, standing in line at VIP auto, I saw plane #2 and thought "oh dear, this means something else/different is going on.."

Sounds like you just need to update your skills. Saying you know IT and SQL is very general and common. If you want to do development you need very specific skill sets; for example if you are targeting the Microsoft platform, you need ASP.NET, C#, Javascript, XML and knowledge of source code control and object relational mapping software in addition to SQL Server. Same deal if you're targeting the Java platform, etc. The MVC model is going to be huge so learn it (ASP.NET MVC or Ruby on Rails). I've been in IT for twenty years and things change rapidly; you have to work hard to keep up.

I figured I'd go for teh SQL DBA cert, that can pump me up to about 80k off the bat, but I took the first of 7-8 classes, which was close to $4000 for a 5-day class jeez..

And I just wasnt getting it at all. I wondered at the end of it if I had the aptitude at all for any of it.. The Sql alone was boggling, much less the XML, Java, coding .. I was totally lost through all of it in the application of sql. I'm good at what I've been trained to do which is only about 10% of what SQL can do.

Certification is good, but really only practicle if the company pays for it. Ask your HR department if they would pay for the classes. But there's nothing that you can't learn on your own if you're motivated. If you're not really into development go into networking, you don't make as much but there's a constant demand for qualified people.

Kramer I think JD has it about right really. "ASP.NET MVC or Ruby on Rails". Much of what I've seen while searching includes this requirements now, at least locally here anyway.

SSIIILVERLLIGHHHTTTT

my concern was more on the lines that I don't think I have the aptitude for it. I wish I could land a good janitor job at the city hall or something. Better pay and benefits and I think the learning curve is more suited to my mentality

Bet that was errie there Sentient.
We live only a few miles as the crow flies from the Gregg Co. Airpark.
We had no less air traffic however, Having one of the longest runways in the world, there was / is much military traffic.
That whole week the Helicopers were everywhere. Cargo planes, tankers, even A10s. Kinda creepy.

I was sitting in my 2nd period literature class...2 days later i joined the army.

jail

Ahhhhhhh.... roof over yer head......3 square meals a day.... free healthcare... safe from the elements.... life is good in jail