Self-Studying for a Dream Job?

[Debater Slayer]

Well...yeah...I did.
I have 2 degrees in teaching and education, and I was a psychology major. But I work in big business software implementations and management.

Not sure what you want to know so fire away as many questions here or via PM as you want to.

In my case I completed the teachibg course with honours, then did postgrad studies in education. Four years of study (it's 5 now...I'm old...lol), then I worked in the industry for 4 years before moving to a completely disassociated field. Having a degree helped (people like paper) and more practically the communication skills I developed gave me a point of difference when I moved into computing. To be clear, I'm not a technical dude, although you pick up a lot regardless. I am more a solution architect.

How many courses have you taken on the discipline you currently work in? How long did it take you to reach the point of being technically qualified for your current job?

 

[Debater Slayer]

My point was that being smart and an English major won't make you money. And believe me, money is nice.

Yep, there is a reason I went for an engineering degree instead of majoring in English. It is mainly the very same reason I'm so hesitant to switch majors now.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

How many courses have you taken on the discipline you currently work in? How long did it take you to reach the point of being technically qualified for your current job?

*laughs*

I mighta kinda snuck in the side door. And I'm the first to admit that this is rare but...

I left teaching and took a job as a receptionist/admin person with a major global ERP that was just starting off in Australia and was therefore quite a small venture (<20 employees).

They got someone who was educated and computer literate to do data entry of timesheets for field staff, creation of new system objects (complex projects, suppliers, employees, etc), help out the bookkeeper while I learnt basic business processes (procure to pay, invoice to cash primarily), and give the support desk girl a hand with her workload.

It was a risk for them, I guess, but a low cost one. 9 months later the support girl went on mat leave and I took over support. 9 months after that, they decided I was being wasted behind a desk and started putting me out in the field.

Vast majority of my training was in house and self training rather than coursework. This is a constant requirement in my industry anyway, but can obviously vary greatly.

I had to basically kick goals for the first 3 years to establish any sort of credibility, as you can imagine, but my communication skills always allowed me to fill important roles in translating customer to consultant, and consultant to technical staff even before I was completely across all skills. I also targetted some particular niche skills the team lacked (reporting skills, lightweight field tech) not only to make myself valuable in any team, but to gain transferable skills I could take to other employees.

Fast fwd 15 years, I was managing and performing a major design and implementation role on a multi-national roll out with a 8 figure implementation budget.

 

[Debater Slayer]

*laughs*

I mighta kinda snuck in the side door. And I'm the first to admit that this is rare but...

I left teaching and took a job as a receptionist/admin person with a major global ERP that was just starting off in Australia and was therefore quite a small venture (<20 employees).

They got someone who was educated and computer literate to do data entry of timesheets for field staff, creation of new system objects (complex projects, suppliers, employees, etc), help out the bookkeeper while I learnt basic business processes (procure to pay, invoice to cash primarily), and give the support desk girl a hand with her workload.

It was a risk for them, I guess, but a low cost one. 9 months later the support girl went on mat leave and I took over support. 9 months after that, they decided I was being wasted behind a desk and started putting me out in the field.

Vast majority of my training was in house and self training rather than coursework. This is a constant requirement in my industry anyway, but can obviously vary greatly.

I had to basically kick goals for the first 3 years to establish any sort of credibility, as you can imagine, but my communication skills always allowed me to fill important roles in translating customer to consultant, and consultant to technical staff even before I was completely across all skills. I also targetted some particular niche skills the team lacked (reporting skills, lightweight field tech) not only to make myself valuable in any team, but to gain transferable skills I could take to other employees.

Fast fwd 15 years, I was managing and performing a major design and implementation role on a multi-national roll out with a 8 figure implementation budget.

Wow. That's impressive. Thanks for the answer!

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Wow. That's impressive. Thanks for the answer!

No worries. I was lucky to get a chance in the manner I did, but I figure what happened from that point forward didn't have much to do with luck...

 

[Wirey]

Hey, what a coincidence!
I too have an IQ well above 18.

Btw, did you like engineering?

Me? Of course. It's nothing but math and physics.

 

[Revoltingest]

Me? Of course. It's nothing but math and physics.

....and art.

 

[Wirey]

....and art.

Only when you're good.