Other work/career possiblities:

Yup. A 25-30 dollar an hour job is now a 15 dollar an hour job. Freakin' idiots. You can still get a good IT job, you just have to find a specific Niche.
If you want to really make money, and stand out from the rest, don't worry about Microsoft certifications, go and get Unix/Linux/Cisco certified. There aren't many left out there, and they make much better money because of that. You'll need to get yourself a copy of one of the Linux distributions (Don't worry, it's free) and work with it pratically for about 6 months to learn a bit on your own beforehand, though.

Alot of these rookie idiots that are responding to these so called "tech schools" don't even know that other operating systems besides Windows exists, which is funny to me. These tech schools are the equivalent of CDL Mills, pumping certified people out to look like idiots. Did you know that an 8 year old boy from India recieved an MCSE certification? Not that 8 year old kids are dumb, hell, i built my first computer when i was 8 years old.. But, at some point in time these companies are going to stop taking these certifications seriously, and it's all thanks to these scumbag "Schools" taking advantage of the system.

What really pisses me off is that the market is flooded by people who's sole reason for getting into doing it was because 10 years ago everyone said "OH COMPUTERS WILL BE HUGE AND YOU WILL MAKE GOOD MONEY." Much the same reason many people are getting into trucking. And then there are the people (like me) who have been tinkering with computers and networks since a very young age, who are actually good at it, and enjoy what they do that are now pretty much screwed at this point. Oh well. Hopefully stuff get's better!

Also, check Vegas for IT employment.

 

Yes, that's when you shutdown the entire server-room on your way out. =D
And make diagrams and network maps that only you can read, LOL.

Oooops! have fun fixing that, ######.

 

Thats the problem with EVERY type of job...only 2 are in demand...truck drivers and nurses.

 

I drove for 6 years, 2000-2006. I've been delivering pizza full time (35-40 hours a week) for the past 3 years. I clear around 500-550 a week after I pay for gas and repairs on my car and taxes from my check. It's an easy job to get for anyone with a decent driving record and a car with insurance. I understand that society views a pizza delivery driver on a much lower scale than a trucker, but I am making more money per hour than I ever did working 90+ hours a week being a slave for the trucking industry!

 

Are you SURE about that? *Grin*

 

I don't know very much about IT, but even with a MA degree I can not find employment. Even entry level trucking pays more than nothing and I think (hope) that the economy will improve for everyone...even truckers.

 

Gas field work in PA and WV. HUGE Marcellus shale formation containing something like 3 trillion cubic ft of natural gas. New wells popping up soon, at least when they get some of the some of the regulatory and environmental concerns ironed out. It may take a couple years but but it is an expanding job market.