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Question

Should I enter the Software job field?

Aug 31, 2015 9:29PM PDT

I am a high school student who is very interested in computers and science. We are doing college prep and I am confused about which job field I am most interested in. The question I have is this: Am I smart enough to enter the Software field? I have fairly decent grades and I think I'm intelligent (this might just be my big ego talking) but I see these insanely intelligent software developers and exploitation researchers and I don't think I can get on their level. Ant help would be great. Thanks!

Discussion is locked

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Answer
There's a lot of folk needed out there.
Aug 31, 2015 9:44PM PDT

Just one thing. The Windows PC isn't the entire computing world. Look around at Rasberry Pi, Arduino, Android and more.

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I just want to say
Sep 7, 2015 2:20AM PDT

Hi

Of course, I know you can pursue those such things.
Just keep on learning Grin Don't stop.
If you do, you're dead! Grin

Always look on the bright side.
You will be success on it, if you give your product of work Happy
Many tutorials on the Internet can be found.
Make it possible. Okay Grin

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Answer
As Bob said...
Sep 19, 2015 3:01AM PDT

...it's certainly a huge field out there, ranging from mobile devices, all the way through to corporate mainframes. You've seen the millions of applications developed for mobile phones and tablets and at the other end of the scale, mainframes software developers are in great demand, for the so called legacy (aka business critical) systems and new developments, particularly in Linux. IBM just announced LinuxOne, a range of dedicated Linux only mainframes - clearly they see a need.

The actual mechanism of software development is somewhat mundane and meticulous; what makes the folk you see as "insanely intelligent software developers" different is that they were able to spot a NEED in the marketplace and set about addressing it. I assume you have some experience of writing programs on some platform or another, so the question you should perhaps try to answer is "Do you have or can you develop the ability so see an unfilled opportunity for which you can design a solution?". It might be a killer phone app, some robotic application, or some new approach to business analytics. Only you can answer that.

I've spent my whole career in IT and enjoyed every minute of it, from mainframes to PCs. If it gives you any encouragement, when I started as a trainee application programmer, the only computer I had ever seen was a KDF9 at my university and all I could remember about it was that it could play the National Anthem on its tape unit vacuum columns! I'm guessing you are already further along the road than that!

If you are cut out for IT, you won't regret it but I would say that perhaps not specializing too early might be a good approach, if you are enthused by science, try to keep that in the mix of what you decide to study at college and good luck, whatever you decide.

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Yes, you can
Sep 22, 2015 10:07PM PDT

If you like software and programming language, you can enter that field. Keep focusing on your goal, hope that you'll reach your destination.