obviously, techies aren't career counselors and career counselors aren't techies.

that means that until now, nobody could combine knowledge in both fields to create the field guide to the it career industry that secrets is.

yet the crowds of people who want to change to an it career prove that there's a huge need for the information in secrets.

• why not all certifications are created equal. i've seen books that listed every certification on the market, without pointing out that many of them were a total waste of time and money.
• why certifications help established pros more than beginners. and why beginners must still have the right certifications.
• an analysis of the boom in unfilled computer jobs, both during the boom and now. where you can create a fit for yourself in the bigger picture. why you want to do that. the economy is not through undergoing dramatic shifts, and some people are going to wind up with the short end. do you really want to be one of them? i didn't think so. (chapter 3)
• who your ultimate success or failure depends on (hint: look in the mirror, bucko) (chapter 3)
• why "lifetime job security" is a media myth/falsification. no generation in history has ever had it, so it's unrealistic for you think you will. (chapter 3)
• the only real security we can ever have (chapter 3)
• the only retirement income we can truly count on (chapter 3)
• why you must return to the old-fashioned saying, "live by your wits" (chapter 3)
• examples of how people are using the internet to make part-time, full-time and, for a few, extremely large incomes (chapter 3)
• if you're now in college and want to get into a cutting edge field, the next high tech zone looking for pioneers. (it's not computers anymore.) (chapter 3)

unless you are already an experienced techie, you are probably confused by the many different areas involved in the info tech industry. there are so many computer career fields that choosing the best one is a confusing chore.

i devote an entire chapter to each of the eleven mostly likely to serve as an entry level position.

therefore you will know from the beginning which area is most suitable for you. before you sign up for an expensive training class in the wrong area or for the wrong skill.

for each of the 11 entry level career positions i've broken down the steps as thoroughly as possible. so you can go from step 1 to step 2 to step 3 . . .

that takes strategy and persistence. you must supply the persistence. i pass on lots of ideas i found in the course of my research and ones given to me by the career counselors i asked.

part of the tons of research i did for this book was contacting experts and getting their opinions. these 5 career counselors work daily in the info tech career job application trenches. one of them has written a book.

i quote their opinions in secrets.

• what you are bringing to the table - your unsuspected computer job skills (chapter 6)
• examples of skills that companies wish techies had but few techies do. yet you probably do have many of them. (chapter 6)
• why your age might concern "old economy" businesses, but it's got to do with money not it skills (chapter 6)
• why companies should thank you if you can bring customer-focused communication skills to their help desks and it departments (chapter 6)
• the top 10 info-tech using industries (chapter 6)
• the type of software you may have experience with, which you leverage into greater career options (chapter 6)
• the common problem i found with computer consultant agency web sites offering business solutions (chapter 6)
• the vital skill that few techies possess (chapter 6)

and yet that is usually the minimum you pay for certification training.

throughout secrets i strive to clue you in on ways to save money on the training where possible. you weren't born yesterday and you know you can't learn what you need without expending some time and money.

what if there are alternatives to spending that $5000+, don't you want to hear about them? and if you still decide to spend that $5000+ (which some of you should do), you will do so knowing that you are making the best possible decision for you and your future.

if you've ever cursed out a computer, you'll understand this point immediately. but most young techies don't get it, and it hurts their employers. companies who want to retain their customers in the long term should be on the look out for techies who not only can "say" the correct answer, but keep it in the front of their mind while programming.

• what you must know and do to have a lifetime computer career (chapter 7)
• your one alternative (chapter 7)
• where many current it job skills will be in 2-5 years (chapter 7)
• the kind of skills you must learn in addition to it skills, to compete effectively in the 21st century (chapter 7)

certainly i wish i could promise you that competing economically was going to get easier over time. that's not on the horizon. if you choose a pleasant fantasy over an unpleasant truth you have only yourself to blame when you reap the inevitable consequences -- as so many will in the years to come.

how long can you tread water, noah?

how much will you give for an ark then?

• what must happen in business for you to have a job. so you should get rid of your psychological problems with it. learning it yourself will greatly enhance your career and financial status. (chapter 7)
• your duty in regard to your skills, experience and knowledge (chapter 7)
• your suggested action plan for getting the most out of this book (chapter 8)

my plan is a simple common sense method to help you to first see the overall picture, then for you to decide which parts are most important to you and concentrate on them.

• a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of various ways to get your it education (chapter 9)
• why commercial training schools have become so popular despite their expense (chapter 9)
• why a 4 year, b.s. in computer science isn't a good option for most career changers (chapter 9)
• the degree that's almost worthless in the job market. it was even in 1999 (chapter 9)
• why the mcse certification is now worth so much less than it was in the beginning, yet is now a necessity for anyone hoping to switch into the network engineering field. (chapter 9)
• a glossary of 63 common it terms. you won't use them all, but knowing them will help keep you from looking like an out of touch loser during a job interview. (chapter 10)

it's clearly important for you to have at least a general comprehension of how the techie pieces of the puzzle fit together. you will never use many of these technologies yourself, but by knowing them you can nod knowingly when other techies or recruiters talk the jargon.

it's a good foundation for other careers but doesn't pay much so treat it as a stepping stone. it now requires one popular certification, which itself is a good beginning for more complex it skills. (chapter 11)

talking about unpleasant truths: chapter 12 is a dash of cold water in your face if you want to be an employee -- and a door of opportunity to a potentially huge income to those willing to think and work for themselves.

• the it skill that attracts many people but is difficult to impossible for anyone but 22 year olds with fresh computer science degrees to get an entry level job in. (chapter 12)
• however, if you're willing to use this skill to solve problems and to market on the internet you could make a lot of money in your own business (chapter 12)
• are h1b visa holders (foreigners brought here by companies to work for several years) taking jobs from americans or not? (chapter 12)
• why it may not matter, which means that you must not consider programming as a lifetime career. what to start looking into once you have 3-5 years experience as a programmer. (chapter 12)
• the new microsoft generation of programming languages (chapter 12)
• the only two families of programming certifications that have value in the marketplace (chapter 12)

i give you an inexpensive way to check each one out before you do spend a lot of money and commit yourself to something that is not really right for you.

• the biggest trend in it now and for years to come (chapter 13)
• why job demand in this area has slowed a lot since the 1990s, but will never disappear (chapter 13)
• why you should get the mcse but not expect it to help you much until you combine it with two years or more experience (chapter 13)
• the brand new networking certification from microsoft. why it's popular with employers and why career changers should obtain it before the mcse (chapter 13)
• the new networking technology that will eventually replace copper wires (chapter 13)
• the operating system that may take a big bite out of microsoft's share of the small business network software market. there's a network certification already available for it. (chapter 13)
• the network certification that is not worth much by itself, but books on it are a great place to begin your network engineering education (chapter 13)
• two companies with networking certifications that are not commonly mentioned now but could be worth a lot in the near future, as companies are forced to adopt to even newer and faster technologies. (chapter 13)

most of us are programmed to want jobs. "security," regular paychecks, our own workstation to report to every monday morning . . . right?

that is true for many people yet, let's face it, one clear trend for the future is that regular jobs are vanishing. this is especially true in the computer field where the average turnover rate was 18 months.

maybe you want a regular job. maybe someday you won't have that choice, so it's good to know that for almost every computer skill set that exists, there is a way to profit by selling your knowledge and experience directly on your own.

in secrets you will learn how, after you have a few years of experience under your belt, to make the most of your it skills, get exposure to cutting edge technologies and get paid to travel.

working part time in the computer field has many advantages. obviously you want more money. after you've learned what you need, you can start getting a nearly immediate return on your investment of time and money.

• what computers are all about, which means this it field will never disappear (chapter 14)
• the most important software and companies in this field (chapter 14)
• what will eventually fill the internet job vacuum created by the dot com collapse and how you can take part in that to your financial benefit (chapter 15)
• the two ideal products to sell on the internet (chapter 15)
• the one internet certification that is ignored by employed but books on it are good to read by beginners (chapter 15)
• the one internet skill you must have (chapter 15)
• the one internet skill you should have, since it's going to change the internet. microsoft is already using it to challenge all other net technologies. (chapter 15)
• why wal-mart will eventually become just another expendable middle man (chapter 15)
• other internet technologies you should learn or at least know about (chapter 15)

• the business software that is transforming big companies. training for it is extremely limited and in america not easily available to anyone not already working for a company using this software. so if you have experience with it, you've got a marketable skill. (chapter 16)
• the type of software that is related but not nearly so expensive (chapter 16)
• you could make a lot of money from the small business market if you could develop affordable software for small businesses that ties all their systems together. do it before microsoft thinks of it. (chapter 16)
• secrets has the information you need to make the best possible choices for you and your family's financial future. to minimize the risk of losing time or money. to give you a as detailed possible roadmap to your new computer career.
• how to make a lot more money with your computer skills, once you have 2+ years of experience (chapter 17)
• how you can combine the advantage of being an employee with the freedom to take vacations between projects and avoid the necessity to market yourself evenings and weekends (chapter 17)
• why there is a large consumer demand for computer consultants. one example of a man who for health reasons cannot hold down a regular job, but who has made $40-$100 an hour teaching newbies how to send email and surf the net. (chapter 17)

• the one it job field where you may be able to get a decent part time job (chapter 18)
• the one it job field where you may be able to make money because you know popular software packages well. (for most people, using word or access is just a way of doing their jobs, not actual it skills.) (chapter 18)
• how to make a lot of money if you can think of software that either solves problems or is fun for people (chapter 19)
• where to go to get ideas for software to sell that guarantees that there is a large potential market for your software (chapter 19)
• the fun it field (chapter 20)
• how to make money while playing new computer games (chapter 20)

• the 1999 computer career change field that seems laughable now in 2002. the lessons to be learned from the dot com crash. (chapter 21)
• why i admire those techies who had the guts and vision to start their own companies more than i do employee minded techies who just want management to leave them alone to "code in peace." (chapter 21)

i've apparently been addressing this to north americans, and yet some of you live in india or taiwan or . . . the basic information in secrets will give you the background you need to choose your specialty. and the training you'll need to go for what you want. i can't give immigration advice, but in chapter 22 i pass on what i know.

• one suggestion -- use your native crafts and folk arts to make money on ebay (chapter 22)
• why there is no one "right" area of it to specialize in (chapter 22)

• the "hot" it skills to learn now (chapter 23)
• why there really are no "hot" it skills right now (chapter 23)
• technologies coming down the pike in the near future, which could put you far ahead of the demand curves. by the time they are on "hot" job skills lists, the pioneers who already know those skills will be making the big money. (chapter 23)
• suggestions for techies to learn how to talk and write to non-techies so that the non-techies understand and can solve their it problems (chapter 23)
• one skill that will be in big demand from techies by customers for a long time (chapter 23)
• the new certification from novell that is not well known yet but potentially valuable (chapter 23)

• in 1999 i wrote that the ultimate computer career change secret was experience, since so many people without experience were paying $5000+ for a piece of paper they thought was going to guarantee a high paying job. (chapter 24)
• although people are still falling into that trap, i now reveal the *real* ultimate computer career change secret. it's old, yet all of us must be reminded of it. (chapter 24)
• when you want something badly, the only question you should be asking yourself regarding it (chapter 24)
• why we should imitate babies, because if adults suddenly had to learn to walk again most would be demanding the government give them wheelchairs (chapter 24)
• the problem most adults have now that we didn't as babies (chapter 24)
• the objection i often hear -- and despise (chapter 24)
• what you can get as long as you're willing to pay the price (chapter 24)
• your best friend for success (chapter 24)
• one suggestion for succeeding despite all the obstacles (chapter 24)
• if you can't take this suggestion for yourself, that's ok. it works even better when you include your loved ones. (chapter 24)
• why you want to find a career you enjoy. an example of a woman who didn't. (chapter 25)

• hundreds of books, web sites and other resources to help you advance your it career. most chapters contain resources specific to the subject of that chapter. (chapter 26)
• over 100 it, employment and career resources. also 4 outstanding books to teach you about true financial freedom. and the best book on motivations i've ever found. (chapter 26)

if you've read this far, by now you know this book is for you. you have the intelligence to read the material, learn and use it. you have already achieved a good measure of success at your current job. maybe it's not all you want it to be now, but you've developed far beyond the raw recruit you were when you graduated from college. you don't appreciate how much you have grown inside because it happened day by day.

you can now use your current maturity to step up to a higher level so one day you'll look back to this time and be amazed at the progress you've made toward true financial wealth through a computer career.

apparently there're only three good reasons for you not to buy secrets now.

1. you are financially independent so you do not need to save money. you want to learn a computer skill for the fun and challenge. still, unless you already know exactly what you want to do, secrets can give you a lot of good background information, and since you're financially independent you can afford it :)

2. you don't really want to change your current job or career.

this is fine of course. not everybody is cut out to be a techie. however you still must face your financial uncertainties in your future -- in secrets you can learn how you can pick up a skill on a part time basis and increase your income using your computer evenings and weekends.

3. you already know by now everything you need to know to change to your chosen computer career.

i have had only a few refund requests and this was the reason the buyers gave me, that they already knew everything in secrets.

"if you already know everything you need, why are you reading this?"

also, i must point out something important here. secrets is an ebook not a paper book. it exists only as electrons on your screen. if you buy books just to have bound blocks of paper with ink on them, it's not for you. if paper is what you want, did you know you can buy a ream of paper for only $3.49 at office depot?

i have had a few refund requests from people who refused to accept information but wanted only inked up paper, so i want this point clear.

if you buy books for the information contained within them, you can now be rejoice that you can now buy books, download them instantly and be reading them in 5 minutes.