Ask HN: CS or Business? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: CS or Business?

I have just finished my four year enlistment as a contracting specialist for the USAF and am deciding on a career path. My question is if there is any need for a contracting specialist with a computer science background at tech companies in silicon valley? or should i follow my peers who are getting a business degree, and working at normal run of the mill companies?

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You partly answered your own question. If you peers are mostly going down the business degree path, then you might be able to capture a niche due to your specialised skills and experience.

Is there any particular reason you specified Silicon Valley. With your experience there might be lucrative opportunities in other parts of the country as well.

It might be worth contacting some companies and seeing what opportunities exist. It is possible that you could find work on the strength of your current skills and experience and then you'd look at further studies based upon the needs that you uncover. It is a bit risky to get a degree in any area without research the opportunities available in that specific area.

Its not about CS, Business or Mathamatics. Those who pursue what they are good at are not necessarily ones having supportive academic background. Just be yourself, and be the best at what you do. Also it takes time to find what you are good at. The best thing would be to talk to passionate people of their relevant fields. Then see what excites you most.

You might find it interesting to check Linkedin for 94027 profiles with USAF backgrounds. There seem to a large number of USAF + Business profiles. Incidentally, that large network USAF veterans is a huge asset if you're looking for job opportunities.

Think about what you WANT to do rather than the best paycheck. Yes pay is important, but if you spend most of your waking life working, you might as well enjoy it!

Is there any way to get a Business and Computer Science degree? I have a friend getting a Bachelor's in Computer Science and then an MBA.

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