Word came down yesterday at the plant, production is going to Mexico on or around December 31st.

I have a severance package contingent on my staying that will likely include funds for re-training in a field of my choice.

Not a bad deal all in all, I'm grateful to have this much notice and anything more than a kick in the behind. I understand that I'm one of the lucky ones, but here's the thing...

What to do? I'm leaning towards IT in the realm of security or computer forensics. Those two specialties seem lucrative and unlikely to be outsourced, but I don't really know. If any of you are in this field and can offer tips as to how to go about the needed education and job hunting please do.

Right now all I have going for me is a twenty year old AAS in law enforcement and two years of OJT as a manufacturing engineer. Is online education viable, or a waste of time?

If the thread drifts a bit due to the giving of sound advice I'm ok with that.

I guess if I need to qualify this post, I can say that I use my Leatherman Wave almost everyday on the job...it has two knife blades on it and I like it a lot.

Thanks in advance-

just to get it out of the way, the yard looks out for its dogs so that's qualifying enough. the day you need more than that, many of us will be leaving.

second, if IT is what you want, then do it. if education is an open door, then pick what you LOVE.

Well, I can't say about the market in the US, but in Canada, IT is a booming thing.

I'm an LCIS technician in the Canadian Forces (LCIS = Land Communications & Informations Systems). I deal with everything from routers, switches, and protocol issues on a computer network, to telephony systems, to satellite communications equipment. I'll usually get a couple offers a month from civilian companies, because they're looking for competent IT guys who have experience.

I'm not planning to leave the military for one of those jobs anytime soon though; the health and travel benefits are a definite bonus in the army! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Back onto subject, everything is utilizing IT technology nowadays, so the demand for specialists who can set up, maintain, and resolve issues is getting larger and larger. IF you're serious about IT, you should consider also getting your MCSE qualifications. These are the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer exams.
They are expensive to take, and require regular recertifications; but the benefits are that they make you more desirable as an employable asset, and if they are required under the job description you're filling, they are tax deductible as a job expense (At least under Canadian Tax Law, you'd have to verify for yourself if American Tax Law allows this as well.) Fortunate for me, the military pays for me to do the exams and get the certifications redone. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I'd start by looking at available courses. I wouldn't bother with online, because they'll give you the "book smarts", but you won't get any hands on interaction. Look at courses that do class time, but also some hands on interactive lab time. I find the lab time to be critical for properly learning about the IT field; get your hands on the equipment, play with it, learn first hand about the capabilities of the gear. There's nothing better than learning this way, because the knowledge seems to become more concrete in your mind, IMHO. These might not have as fancy a diploma, but you'll come out farther ahead knowledge and experience wise.

Well, first I'd like to say that, I'm sorry to hear about your job. It's good that your company is at least trying to help you out. I understand what you're going through, because I lost my job last November without any notice and still haven't found one yet. Plus, I know several others in my same position. So, just remember that you're not alone in this.
As far as your ideas for your future, I would say that you seem to have some great ideas in mind. That's the first step. You have a little time to make up your mind, so do some research on some of your fields of interest. Take some days off and visit some of the companies in the fields that you're looking into. Couldn't hurt? I hope this helps you. It's good to hear also that you're grateful <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> for what you are getting, because it's sure better that being bitter. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Lastly, please try not to worry about what is happening. I know my faith in God is strong, and that's what is carrying me through all of this. Keep your head up. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

A lot depends on your learning style, but I would avoid online training and non-university tech training (i.e. "We can get you certified in as little as X months!!") classes. I believe many of those places are little more than hucksters working to separate you from your money. Even universities are businesses that sell a product; their product is education, and they do a lot better job of selling that than at job placement.

I'm a programmer, specializing in writing Java (JSP/Servlet) webapps, and due to cutbacks (our DBAs were all RIFed) I've also been doing a lot of database design lately. I analyze processes, and then automate them -- it can be challenging at times (I can't say that I really like "challenging", I enjoy satisfaction when "challenging" is successful, but I'm usually quite frustrated while it's actually happening). I prefer projects that are straightforward enough that I know what I'm doing and can be confident I'll make deadline. Anyway, I enjoy analyzing processes, modeling data, designing components and combining them -- it's like solving a puzzle -- when I'm "in the zone" I can see how everything fits together and visualize a clockwork-like mechanism as data flows through my programs. I see programming as a very creative activity -- at the end of a project, I've created a new autonomous entity, like Athena springing forth from the mind of Zeus; other people feel differently and that's why I'm a programmer and they aren't.

There are a couple things I did that were probably mistakes. While going to IU, I worked in the computer labs and I did tech support on campus. The work was quite easy, often little more than making sure equipment didn't walk away, and it was convenient; I could literally walk down the hall from work to my classes. However, when I started searching for a job, working on campus got no respect -- I should have taken an internship instead. I wasn't ambitious enough about how my experience, or lack thereof, would look in interviews. I didn't network, expecting that a degree alone would open all the doors. It doesn't; an Associate degree got no nibbles whatsoever, so I continued through to a Bachelor's with a minor in Business, and even then had trouble landing a job with no outside programming experience on my resume.

Also, I enjoyed going to college in my late 30s, but things were tight -- I worked part-time and was really only able to go to school because I had no major debts or dependents. However, I also had no medical coverage, and I was very... VERY... [color:"red"]VERY...[/color] lucky to have avoided a medical or financial crisis during that period.

Finally, as others have said, take a little while to figure out what you want to do. Before going back to school, I was fired from my previous job with the words, "Your job's not to think, it's to do what you're told!" Initially, I just wanted to go back to work and start earning a check again. It was only after quite a bit of soul-searching that I decided I never wanted to be told that again. I took aptitude surveys and personality assessments before deciding that I needed to be a programmer -- I fit into that job like no other work I'd done before.

Personally I have done really well w/ online classes, but I wouldn't recommend it to everyone. If you go that route I would say SET A TIME that you will sit and do nothing but work on that class. Online is convenient (and expensive), but it is really easy to get behind if you're not careful. Good luck.

Be grateful your employer has been good to you <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />. I have heard many tales of woe out here in Oregon-Cally-AZ etc <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />.I am getting more applications for work than ever before and really tough to turn folks down as I am full up on employees. Best get trained in something that is NEEDED which is tough to tell at this time. Sounds like you are getting some sound advice here.Good Luck <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I have worked on the legal side of some high end contracts which involve IT systems...the area is not easy to get into regarding security or computer forensics...the ability to have systems checked out online has a lot of competition issues which have skills and outsourcing to India and other "cheap labour" "high IT skill" countries...the "maintenance" aspect seems to start local on hard ware and end up abroad if it is software...things may be different in the US but the companies I acted for were US based...mainly in the medical area for our NHS.

I made the decision to have "Law" as a back up profession when I was young...so had the degree and the professional exams done before leaving the Army full time...in hind sight I made an error in terms of "international" flexibility of moving my skills as these are all different in each country and involve different legal systems and more exams if I wanted to travel and work.

I had a friend who decided his "back up" plan would be in the medical area and he did'nt have medicine qualifications but chose to train as a "dental technician" making dental bridges...braces for teeth...caps etc...if you have a skill base as a manufacturering engineer this "trade" may well be worthwhile. The benefits are that it is specialised and always "local" as moulds are used and supplied by dentists...plus you can travel anywhere in the world and easily get work permits as the trade is always in demand...it is fairly well paid as well and is an "uncommon" choice of trade and getting the qualifications can be done through specialist courses which your present employer seems able to pay for.

We both love "sailing" and whilst I have taken it to "coastal skipper" level my friend managed to take it to "yachtmaster" and travel the world and gain good employment where ever he went due to having this "trade". I think this was a good move for him and might work well for you....my friend pulls in some pretty good money on some of the technical work he can now do. Good luck with the career change <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> I hope it turns out well!

IT is a mature industry for the most part. As such I would avoid it especially since you will be entering the job market as a newbie employee competing against the job shops in India. Perhaps if you can land work with a growing smaller company that has most of its IT in-house there might be a career path.

If I had to pick something new right now I'd look for something to do with alternative energy. The industry is still very much in its infancy with relatively high costs today. This will change.

I'd look for opportunities in manufacturing, installation, or design. The price of dead dinosaurs will continue to rise and as it does more and more focus will be on alternative energy.

Good stuff so far, thank you.

Right now there seems to be no end to the possibilities of what I could find myself doing in about eight months, and I don't want to ramble uselessly about it.

Of course they will get narrowed down in time. Your posts are helping. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Alternative energy seems to be where it's headed.


Most utility companies have this. Same can be said for city/government.
These jobs are virtually recession-proof, have great benefits and retirement but will not pay what the private sector can pay. It's a trade-off worth considering. The other great thing is that if the company is large enough, you could transfer to a different field.