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Career Choices

Is it hardware, software or something in the middle?

By AKSHAY SHARMA

When Pavan Shrestha, 24, went to a western embassy recently to apply for a visa for computer studies abroad, the visa officer told him there were better institutes in Kathmandu Valley. That was a tribute to the quality of computer studies here, but it did not help Pavan, a computer-engineering undergraduate, to decide whether to specialize in hardware or software.

People using computers : Growing attraction

Pavan, like most of his peers, wants to make sure he gets better openings and opportunities in the field well into the future. "Hardware wins out, but only slightly. Go for hardware," says Surdarshan Sharma, a guru at one of Kathmanduís technical institutes. "Any 14-year-old kid can write software."

Sharma doesn't believe learning software at a university is a viable option. "Whatever they teach you will be out of date by the time you graduate." As an alternative, Sharma recommends embedded systems, which combine both hardware and software.

Kavita Silwal doesnít think software is a bad field. "It is highly unlikely that any hardware will run or do anything worthwhile without software (and vice versa). Take some intro classes to both, as well as robotics and other areas in which you think you may be interested. Doing that, you will find something you enjoy."

Regardless of whether you pitch your tent in the hardware or software camp, the general feeling is that you should do what you enjoy. "It will do you absolutely no good if you get into something because you think it would make a good career ó if you're always miserable," says Sanjay Shrestha of NIT Patan.

Whether you're in college and deciding on a career path or changing professions at 40, having helpful career resources is critical to making the right decision. In addition to the "to certify or not to certify" debate,

there is the "certification or college" argument that several students have been discussing.

A recent article about IT in The Kathmandu Post, "What's better: skills or certifications?", showed that members weighed in, for the most part, on the side of undergrad degrees. This exchange prompted several e-mails about the merits of technical, academic, and on-the-job learning.

Mahesh Chhetri, 21, who is in computer systems support, points out that the debate left out a third career path. "That being on-the-job training and/or alternative training and experience. The trainings provided me with balanced training (leadership, teamwork, and management) combined with specialty skills in telecommunications, networking, computer systems, and application support. I have found this background to be just as much a door opener as any cert or college degree could offer."

John Tamang said he went pretty far with an associate's degree and an MCSE certification. "I doubled my salary, leaving one job and going to another. However, I've gone about as far as I can without a B.S. degree, so I'm working on it part-time (information sciences)," he adds.

"I feel that having both is very important to maximize your potential. An A.A.S. degree and certification will get you going, but you really need a four-year degree or better to be considered for higher positions. With all of the online colleges and universities out there, there's no reason not to get your degree."

Asim Tuladhar, an instructor of IT and director of the Universal Computer Institute, says a new program can answers both issues of degree and certification. "Our bachelor's of science in network engineering offers a four-year degree from an accredited institution with the entire fourth year of the program devoted to training students for their MCSE, Microsoft's Network Engineer certification. These MCSE classes are all 'for credit' classes that are used toward this degree."

Mahesh says: "When I worked as a broadcaster, there was a similar debate going on about getting a general arts degree or one in communications, along with tossing in an associate degree from a technology institute. The interesting thing I discovered over my nine years was that the people who were truly the best at the craft were people who had none of the formal training."

He adds: "They started in the business because they loved it, worked for dirt, and spent 10 to 15 years working their way up the ladder to overnight' success. In short, aspiring movers and shakers get their MBAs while in-the-trenches techies get their certifications. And let both sides be the best they can be at what they want to be and not try to force those hard drivers to be something they are not."