help

Nari · #1 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 12:30 AM

Hi everyone
i am a new graduate student and i need advise.
i have two options software or database, what should i choose because i am new to this field and don't know which one is good for me.
i mean which one is easy.

I have changed my major.

Eranga · #2 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 04:27 AM

Actually nothing is easy, at the same time if you get the right point it is not much difficult.

In Software stream basically you have this path. Junior Software Engineer, Senior Software Engineer and Project manager. To be a project manager you had to have at least 5-6 years touched experience in programming. In that case my advice is, don't hang on a one language. Rather learning one language try to get the common concepts in languages. But be careful, select few languages which are related to each other(OOP etc..) and mostly used/advanced language in the industry at the time. Actual ly doing programming 2-3 years it is not difficult. Nowadays there are lots of facilities you have for coding, I mean IDEs and stuff. In the past time there is not much. Just think about coding Java on notepad and run it on command prompt, and how much it is easy now. Who is use the notepad now. And if you need a higher salary, yes they pay you.

In database, start as a Database Administrator. Major responsibility is admin the databases. Actually you have to deal with creating database and stuff. Should keen on queries as well, that mean you should have a ability to get the correct logic to your mind in most simple way. Why I say is, running large number of queries in a application may cause lots of performance issue. And also I don't think that just knowing databases it is not easy to find a job. You should have a good knowledge on web development languages as well. Because databases are heavily used in the web applications rather than customized softwares.

Hope this help to you.

CaptainMorgan · #3 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008, 06:09 AM

Welcome!

See you around!

Nari · #4 (**permalink**) 04-02-2008, 09:34 PM

Thanks
it is helpful.

Java Tip · #5 (**permalink**) 04-02-2008, 10:44 PM

I am a phd student too and i can easily tell you this will be the most important decision in your phd: your advisor and your field.

I think you should think about both selecting the advisor and the topic carefully. They are not independent. Make sure that your advisor knows the field you plan to choose. Then later think about the field in more detail. Discuss it with your possible advisors and ask them what are the possible thesis topics they are interested in. Then make a small research on these topics and decide both the advisor and the topic together!

Good luck. It is a long journey

Eranga · #6 (**permalink**) 04-03-2008, 04:55 AM

Yes Java Tip, you are right. Don't ever depend on an advisor if he/she doesn't know about your strength ans capabilities. Be independent your self. Think twice.

As Java Tip says, a research may help you to get the idea about the field. A simple thing you can do is, meet more people who has touched experienced in the industry, I mean in both software and web(database) at least more than five years. From them you can collect more details, and try to make a judgment with your requirement.

Some people worried about the salary, while others worried about the profession and be a key point relevant field. What you want to be?