InformationWeek

January 22, 1999

I started my career as a programmer trainee in 1985 with Cobol in a mainframe environment. After graduating in 1988 with an MIS degree, I went on to develop in a client-server environment doing PA and Project Lead work. In 1994, I had a baby and left my career to stay home with her. I am now planning on re-entering the business world and have been doing some consulting work setting up a network and putting PCs together for a small company in North Carolina. I have approximately a year to prepare for a job. What should I focus on? I'm interested in challenging work, but my most important criteria for a job are flexibility and telecommuting opportunities. Year 2000 work seems like the perfect reentry job for me, but I'm concerned about my future job prospects. I would like to get involved in C++ in an object-oriented environment, but I don't currently have those skills.

To answer your first question, have you considered continuing on the consulting track? That may give you the flexibility you are looking for. With respect to Y2K work, I believe that would be a good entry for you. Since there is only so much Y2K work, you may open up other opportunities for yourself after that has been completed. Nonetheless, my advice is that you set your sights on more entry-level programming opportunities where they will train you in client-server, or try to find opportunities to help a company migrate systems from mainframe to client-server first. Explore all your options so that you can make the best choice for your career.

More Questions:
I want to move on but I'm afraid I won't find another position with the skill I have.

Should I look for a new job while I'm working on my degree, or finish the degree and move on later?