Most Lucrative IT Career Path?

[tatsumaru]

Hey Guys,

I was hoping you could answer a couple of questions I have about some IT jobs I'm considering....

Out of these three, which is the most lucrative:

SAP
-and which branch is the most lucrative? SAP FICO, HR, Business One, All-in-one, etc.?
Network Engineer/Architect
-microsoft or cisco?
-once you become a level 3 certified engr. is it pretty much smooth sailing from there?
Database Administrator
-is it more lucrative to become an Oracle db admin, or one for MS SQL?


Also, can you describe a typical day on the job? Is it fun, exciting, stressful, boring, etc.?

Thanks in advance guys! :)

[coldrockster]

Hmm, in every job, it really depends on the person itself. But having all those intangibles aside...I believe it's SAP - hands down. SAP-ABAP has the most openings both here and abroad.

[Shinobi No Kami]

I don't know about the "most lucrative" part but I would recommended embedded systems. And by "embedded systems", I mean:

Short range wireless: 802.15.4, Zigbee, Bluetooth, WiFi
Automotive systems: AUTOSAR, LIN, CAN, Flexray

[ggsguy]

pinakamalaki ng mga sap na certified consultants. pinaka-in demand daw ang sap fi-co, hr,mm, sd, pp, abap--basta yung mga basic na core modules. hindi ganun ka-lucrative ang business one at all-in-one. i agree sa previous post, andaming sap abap openings. pahirapan ata kase nag sap skills sa industry ngayon.

sa dbas, oracle ang pinakamahal na dba skill, pero mas malaki pa rin ang sweldo ng sap consultants, mahal kase ang training tsaka very in-demand.

[Flyunzipped]

Sa mga Non-It Grads, panu sisimulan para marating yang SAP? Yung path na patungong SAP Consultant, like what courses to take, step by step would be better. Thanks.

[tatsumaru]

Thanks guys, your comments are very helpful! :)

Additionally, can you recommend good IT schools for training+certification in the SAP modules, embedded systems, and other technologies you mentioned?

ggsguy:
Good thing you told me about business one and all-in-one; I was planning to save up and get training for that. Training+certification costs a whopping 30K-60K! You saved me the trouble hehe!

Shinobi No Kami:
Sounds interesting. I'll look into that as well :)

coldrockster
You make a good point. But it's hard to imagine a web developer/IT specialist/programmer easily making more than 25K a month (in a corporate setting with all the benefits and perks). I've heard of offers for 60-80K for web developers, but that's quite rare. I can't imagine losing that job (and income bracket) to the recession only to return to regular web dev rates.

Maybe I'm wrong about that.... maybe I just don't know enough successful developers working in the country :)

[radianLB]

I don't know about the "most lucrative" part but I would recommended embedded systems. And by "embedded systems", I mean:

Short range wireless: 802.15.4, Zigbee, Bluetooth, WiFi
Automotive systems: AUTOSAR, LIN, CAN, Flexray


di naman IT mga iyan. ZigBee is crap especially the Jennic stack.

[mayumi18]

Sa mga Non-It Grads, panu sisimulan para marating yang SAP? Yung path na patungong SAP Consultant, like what courses to take, step by step would be better. Thanks.

based on my experience, may mga kumpanya na willing maghire ng tao na zero knowledge sa SAP basta alam ang process nung core job. For example, SAP-HR. Dahil matagal na rin akong HR, may knowledge na ko sa HR processes, inoferran ako ng isang company ng SAP Consultant post sa HR pero may bond na 2 yrs kasi iti-train nila ko sa SAP HR module.

not sure kung meron pang ganito.

btw, hindi ko rin tinanggap yung offer. narelaize kong di SAP Consutancy ang career path ko.

[Shinobi No Kami]

di naman IT mga iyan.
Huh? I wonder what your definition of IT is.
ZigBee is crap especially the Jennic stack.
Please elaborate. To be more specific,
What exactly do you mean by "crap"?
Which specific parts of the Zigbee protocol specification is crap and why?
How do you correct the supposedly crappy protocol design?
If Zigbee is crap, which alternative protocol is not crap? Explain.
What projects have you done in Zigbee? Which layers have you worked on?
Why did you use the Jennic stack instead of Z-stack or BeeStack?

[radianLB]

Huh? I wonder what your definition of IT is.

Please elaborate. To be more specific,
What excatly do you mean by "crap"?
Which specific parts of the Zigbee protocol is crap and why?
How do you correct the crappy protocol design?
If Zigbee is crap, what is not crap? Explain.
What projects have you done in Zigbee?
Why on Earth did you use the Jennic stack instead of Z-stack or BeeStack?


IT in my definition is more related to the processing of data. correct me if i'm wrong though :)

1. crap = not good.
2. which specific parts? hmmm maybe the the network layer?? why? we cannot see our nodes when its router become offline. it cannot auto-connect to other routers. broadcasting works only when there are less than 4 nodes... i don't remember the other issues but i think this is more of a jennic stack issue.
3. we did not correct the "crappy protocol design" since our company is not a member of a zigbee working group.
4. not crap = good. :)
5. a lot actually. we did a zigbee gateway device, there was no gateway profile yet when we started the project, i don't know if there is one now. a zigbee price tag device, a tracking system, and many more.
6. its a management decision. atmel's modules are not cost effective.

[Shinobi No Kami]

2. which specific parts? hmmm maybe the the network layer?? why? we cannot see our nodes when its router become offline. it cannot auto-connect to other routers. broadcasting works only when there are less than 4 nodes... i don't remember the other issues but i think this is more of a jennic stack issue.
That is bizarre. If the stack is Zigbee compliant and it has been used properly, it should not have any of those problems.
3. we did not correct the "crappy protocol design" since our company is not a member of a zigbee working group.
If they indeed designed the protocol poorly, in your opinion, what should a good protocol design be like? I mean, if you designed Zigbee yourself, how would it be different from the current Zigbee specification?
4. not crap = good. :)
If Zigbee is crap as a protocol, which alternative protocol is not crap?
6. its a management decision. atmel's modules are not cost effective.
Unless there is some special reason, the choice of stack shouldn't depend on which microcontroller you use. You can implement most stacks on most uCs. You'll have to port the code yourselved, of course. Z-stack is free BTW.

I'm curious, if you don't mind, which company were you working for when you worked on Zigbee?

[radianLB]

That is bizarre. If the stack is Zigbee compliant and it has been used properly, it should not have any of those problems.

If they indeed designed the protocol poorly, in your opinion, what should a good protocol design be like? I mean, if you designed Zigbee yourself, how would it be different from the current Zigbee specification?

If Zigbee is crap as a protocol, which alternative protocol is not crap?

Unless there is some special reason, the choice of stack shouldn't depend on which microcontroller you use. You can implement most stacks on most uCs. You'll have to port the code yourselved, of course. Z-stack is free BTW.

I'm curious, if you don't mind, which company were you working for when you worked on Zigbee?

zigbee compliance just means they follow the protocol, but how they implement the protocol (how they create their zigbee stack)well that's another topic. it's not really bizarre, bugs often happen especially if you have a stack as young as jennic's.

ok let me clear things up a bit. when i say zigbee means crap i mean the protocol implementation (e.g. jennic) is. i dont know how i would design a good protocol, i would need a working group for that :)

i dont know, do you know of any other high level protocol for 802.15.4?

have you tried implementing z-stack to other zigbee modules?

The company is a big EMS.

[coldrockster]

Thanks guys, your comments are very helpful! :)

coldrockster
You make a good point. But it's hard to imagine a web developer/IT specialist/programmer easily making more than 25K a month (in a corporate setting with all the benefits and perks). I've heard of offers for 60-80K for web developers, but that's quite rare. I can't imagine losing that job (and income bracket) to the recession only to return to regular web dev rates.

Maybe I'm wrong about that.... maybe I just don't know enough successful developers working in the country :)

It really depends on the programming language or maybe, the company itself. you're right about ordinary web developers having an average of 25k a month. but if you're a programmer in the SAP industry, only 2 years of experience would surely put you above 50k. 3-5 years could even get you 6 digits.

[ferdierubio]

Java never dies! I am earning 100k a month minus tax offcourse. Banko pinapasukan ko ... 8 years Senior Java Developer. SAP kaya lang malakas yan kasi walang makuhang software na mapagpractisan pero super dali lang yan, ERP yan gawa na, sa technical side naman programming lang nya is ABAP pero bihira lang yan. Most of the time functional lang trabaho mo dito. I am working with the SAP people, most of the time gumagawa kami ng RFC's called by my Java Web Service ...

[ferdierubio]

Nakalimutan nyo ang Java, may mga recruiter from USA naghahanap ngayon dito sa Pinas, they are looking for SAP, JAVA and Data Warehousing ONLY!

[kaningbrown]

Java is a good language for masochists. Pays good, hurts good.

[tatsumaru]

It really depends on the programming language or maybe, the company itself. you're right about ordinary web developers having an average of 25k a month. but if you're a programmer in the SAP industry, only 2 years of experience would surely put you above 50k. 3-5 years could even get you 6 digits.

Wow, 6 digits.... like a movie star's salary hehe. Too bad all I know are "legacy" languages. Besides, I think days as a programmer are well behind me. Would be good for fresh grads though :D

[tatsumaru]

Java never dies! I am earning 100k a month minus tax offcourse. Banko pinapasukan ko ... 8 years Senior Java Developer. SAP kaya lang malakas yan kasi walang makuhang software na mapagpractisan pero super dali lang yan, ERP yan gawa na, sa technical side naman programming lang nya is ABAP pero bihira lang yan. Most of the time functional lang trabaho mo dito. I am working with the SAP people, most of the time gumagawa kami ng RFC's called by my Java Web Service ...

I'm glad for you bro. :) But the impression I got is that it really takes time to reach that income level. If you're a fan of java, it probably wouldn't be an issue. Local banks don't offer that much when you're starting out (about 8K.... 12K if you're lucky), but there are a lot of perks that you normally wouldn't get at another company.

[tatsumaru]

pinakamalaki ng mga sap na certified consultants. pinaka-in demand daw ang sap fi-co, hr,mm, sd, pp, abap--basta yung mga basic na core modules. hindi ganun ka-lucrative ang business one at all-in-one. i agree sa previous post, andaming sap abap openings. pahirapan ata kase nag sap skills sa industry ngayon.

sa dbas, oracle ang pinakamahal na dba skill, pero mas malaki pa rin ang sweldo ng sap consultants, mahal kase ang training tsaka very in-demand.

By the way, around how much is the salary range of oracle db administrators?

[DisconnectedMX]

hmm... maliit na ba ang salary ng Programmer (Desktop/Web, Java, .NET) compare to SAP locally?

8k to 12k ba? wow liit naman... mas malaki pa pala nakukuha ko 3 yrs ago na banners (Photoshop, flash) lang at CMYK print projects lang gawa ko -Online job (freelance), maliit na *** 35k/month from single client. i think that is easier than java or .net programming. eh kung ganun, mag freelance programmer na lang online mas malaki pa *****.

[LodRose]

development of ERP systems/e-commerce is the most lucrative it career path.

lalo na pag sales na lang ang responsibility mo (but you can't sell it without walking the walk and talking the talk) - it is very financially rewarding (balita ko)

[tatsumaru]

hmm... maliit na ba ang salary ng Programmer (Desktop/Web, Java, .NET) compare to SAP locally?

8k to 12k ba? wow liit naman... mas malaki pa pala nakukuha ko 3 yrs ago na banners (Photoshop, flash) lang at CMYK print projects lang gawa ko -Online job (freelance), maliit na *** 35k/month from single client. i think that is easier than java or .net programming. eh kung ganun, mag freelance programmer na lang online mas malaki pa *****.

That range is based on my experience (offers), and the feedback of other people as well. Around 2-3 yrs ago, the highest starting salary offer for web dev I got was 18K.... for RPG/AS/400 around 12K and I would have been bonded for 2 yrs. They told me not to worry bec. my salary would be increased by 1-2K after 1 yr, if I recall correctly :)

The way I see it, 35K is huge for doing banners! How do you find clients? :D

[tatsumaru]

development of ERP systems/e-commerce is the most lucrative it career path.

lalo na pag sales na lang ang responsibility mo (but you can't sell it without walking the walk and talking the talk) - it is very financially rewarding (balita ko)

Really? Sounds like something worth checking out as well :)

[Yashiro]

i heard SAP is a nice lucrative path, im not doing so bad with JAVA though as we're earning 6-digit salary per month at the moment..

[Flyunzipped]

If someone who is about to enter college, and wants to take the IT path to SAP, what type of IT does he need to take? Sorry if I sound stupid but is it programming? Networking? Database? Gusto ko kasi magshift to IT.

[Yashiro]

^
you branch out when you graduate, not during..

i think u can choose to major in Information Technology or Software Technology... not computer engineering..

[Flyunzipped]

^ Thanks. Ganun pala yun.

[tatsumaru]

If someone who is about to enter college, and wants to take the IT path to SAP, what type of IT does he need to take? Sorry if I sound stupid but is it programming? Networking? Database? Gusto ko kasi magshift to IT.

Try asking tophe in this forum:
http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=375331

He can probably give you ideas on how to groom yourself for SAP. :)

[tatsumaru]

i heard SAP is a nice lucrative path, im not doing so bad with JAVA though as we're earning 6-digit salary per month at the moment..

Mind if I ask.... are you working abroad? :) From what I gather, it would take some time before you could get that kind of compensation locally.

[josh21]

kumusta naman ang kita ng mga ETL professionals? (Informatica, teradata, cognos etc.) sama na din natin Data Warehousing. anyone?

[Yashiro]

Mind if I ask.... are you working abroad? :) From what I gather, it would take some time before you could get that kind of compensation locally.

half half, sometimes i get sent abroad for like 3months then in philippines for awhile, ive been to spain / london / other parts of UK. i've been working in IT for 4 yrs now..

[Flyunzipped]

^ San kapo nagwowork yashiro?

[dakma]

wow 6digits in 4 yrs professional experience!!

[Yashiro]

for confidentiality, i wont post it here, baka mayari pa ko hehe, pm nalang

yes po, i graduated in 2004 (course is Computer Science major in Software Tech [more on programming]), so if 2008 na now 4 yrs na ko nagwowork...

[immortalscythe]

pa pm din ng company :)

[lastleaf]

Isn't IT salary just supply & demand? The more "specialized" the skill you have the higher the salary you can command.

[killernoodle]

Isn't IT salary just supply & demand? The more "specialized" the skill you have the higher the salary you can command.

sa IT lang ba *** ganun? hindi ba lahat naman ganun

[tatsumaru]

half half, sometimes i get sent abroad for like 3months then in philippines for awhile, ive been to spain / london / other parts of UK. i've been working in IT for 4 yrs now..

Oh, I see. Let me guess.... You're working for a consulting company, right? You're very fortunate to be earning 6 figures in just a few years. :) I'm not particularly brilliant as a programmer, so I think that's probably not the path for me.

[tatsumaru]

sa IT lang ba *** ganun? hindi ba lahat naman ganun

Isn't IT salary just supply & demand? The more "specialized" the skill you have the higher the salary you can command.

Good questions. I wish I had an answer hehe. Maybe someone from the forums can answer those. :)

[climaxcooldud]

hi ano po yung company na giving above average compensation almost 6 digits? I am an SQA engineer and would like to apply?

[pretenred1]

Java and C will never die! I think

[ferdierubio]

I'm glad for you bro. :) But the impression I got is that it really takes time to reach that income level. If you're a fan of java, it probably wouldn't be an issue. Local banks don't offer that much when you're starting out (about 8K.... 12K if you're lucky), but there are a lot of perks that you normally wouldn't get at another company.

You are right bro, medyo abnormal na tong ganitong sweldo, btw more than 12 years na kasi experience ko, nasa senior level na to. Pero, parang balewala din because of the tax. Pero the good thing is that may mga company pala na nakakapag bigay ng ganito sa Pinas, actually ang basic ko is 86 pero may mga extrax kaya tumataas. I found this out kasi pag nag applay ako sa iba pag nakikita *** current rate ko bagsak na ako. Di na tuloy ako maka resign

[ferdierubio]

I'm glad for you bro. :) But the impression I got is that it really takes time to reach that income level. If you're a fan of java, it probably wouldn't be an issue. Local banks don't offer that much when you're starting out (about 8K.... 12K if you're lucky), but there are a lot of perks that you normally wouldn't get at another company.

Java and C will never die! I think

Tama ka diyan before Java, C ako galing ... sarap mag C di ba ?

[inchyko]

kumusta naman ang kita ng mga ETL professionals? (Informatica, teradata, cognos etc.) sama na din natin Data Warehousing. anyone?

not sure about the current local rate. However, these and datawarehousing in general are starting (or have started) to be in demand. After years of "piling" up their data and having numerous systems, companies now see the need for datawarehouse.

[switcheye]

Eto ngayon yung problem ko, kaya guys, i need your HELP... gusto ko ulet umalis sa present company ko (for some other reasons)...

i'm eyeing on SAP Netweaver XI... since it 'loves' Java... madaling pag-aralan lalo na kapag Java programmer ka. i'm also eyeing on mid-level to senior position... (Senior programmer na kasi ako sa present ko... so ayaw ko naman "mademote" in a way)

so, saan kaya pwede mag-apply? hehehe... :) possible kaya yun sa case ko. :)

i believe kasi SAP+Java... the best. :) i tasted na both worlds.

[kaningbrown]

for confidentiality, i wont post it here, baka mayari pa ko hehe, pm nalang

yes po, i graduated in 2004 (course is Computer Science major in Software Tech [more on programming]), so if 2008 na now 4 yrs na ko nagwowork...

Does this six digit salary include the per Diem they give you when you're abroad? There aren't many companies around here that would give base salaries above the six digit barrier.

[msaber69]

i think it is hard to get a six digit salary nowadays. Maybe half of the starting six digit is possible after 4 years, hehe, SAP and development, depends on the company

[scud21]

wow yashiro ganong kalaki na pala ang salary mo! 6 digits! wow!

remember me yashiro?hehehe

[TheEndofDays]

When times get rough! like these recessions. I can see the lucrative IT career is more of support (DBA Support, Application Support, Infra Support). Mas mauna matanggal ang mga developers kaysa support.

The survival of IT is support, kahit anong mangyari walang project walang development, but still support is still there.

[switcheye]

it depends din sa development... maintenance = fixing of bugs, customization and the like. :)