AS/400 career path — Am I redundant?
I left the IT Department 15 years ago as a Project Leader, controlled and developed new software systems from scratch after liaising directly with executive levels.What are my chances of getting back into programming? Is there some sort of refresher course that I can do?
Software/Hardware used:
AS400
Software/Hardware used:
AS400
ASKED:
January 31, 2010 3:18 PM
UPDATED:
February 2, 2010 7:02 PM
Answer Wiki:
I don't see why not...There are new languages, managed code, and this thing we call security these days but most of the underlying concepts are still the same. I'd recommend checking out some of the training vendors (an Internet search will turn up all you need) and also check out the resources that <a href="http://searchsoftwarequality.com">SearchSoftwareQuality.com</a> has to offer. Best of luck!
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Programming is 80% analysis and 20% language skils. Sounds like you’re strong in the important stuff.
Phil
Can any kid who has no background get into programming? Generally there are courses in languages that you might not know (yet), along with training in techniques and methods.
How much of what you learned before leaving the profession would stand in place of training?
I’ve never heard of a refresher course for this. But I suppose it depends on how you approach things. I’d guess that you weren’t standing still in the past 15 years. You’ve experienced the rise of PCs, the web, web services, everything surrounding all of it. You probably absorbed some knowledge just by having a background.
Consider that a refresher course might be little more than taking a couple significant courses in a couple general languages or technologies such as Java or web development. A qualified project leader for software development should have sufficient fundamentals. The fundamentals haven’t changed — there are only new coverings for them, new interfaces.
Dive into a couple selected courses that appeal to you. Your confidence is the only thing that can get in the way.
Tom
The one thing I would add is try and contract your services. That at least will get your feet wet again. I know we kill to have more contract programmers available for the i series especially ones that may still have a good working knowledge of (believe it or not) system 36 programming.