Computer job, and maybe good things can happen.

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Thinking optimistically, it shouldn't be that hard. Maybe I'm making it too complicated, or am not open to gifts when they occur.

I've taught high school math (one year).
I studied C++ ten years ago.
In retail jobs since, I've paid attention to computers, ping-ponged back and forth with the computers, having a sense of experimentation.

Maybe there are jobs out there. Your experiences please.

If you like to work on computers and explore how they work, then you are a hacker. Thre are plenty of jobs out there for hackers, but you will have to be willing to do many different things. I repair computers as well as program them. I get to do many other things such as set up IVR's, call screening systems, firewalls, etc. Do a good job for people, and word will get around. I do consulting work for individuals and businesses. Unfortunately, without lots of paper work such as college degrees and certifications, it is less likely that people like us can get jobs with traditional employers in the I.T. industry. However, being self employed can be pretty lucrative at times.

Being a good programmer is a skill, not something anyone can do because they read a book on it.

You can try to get the practice first by working on open-source projects and can also try offering your services on some of the online sites like oDesk and there are others too.

If you are successful and build up skills this way you can use that, as well as the experience, to get you into the job market, but beware, more and more IT jobs are expecting "team-fit" players nowadays.

An independent business is a possibility, and I can see how people would be willing to pay good money to get their computers fixed. In fact, I remember reading in a book where a consultant was saying that he wanted about 20% of people who were inclined to use his services to shy away because of price. That is, it’s all too easy to undervalue our services because they come easily and naturally to us. And if we give premium services (which we on the spectrum are likely to do!), we can charge premium prices. Or, if you wish to make a business decision to charge only somewhat premium prices, you can still have plenty of customers.

I never got stuck more than overnight. If I started to get bogged, I’d take a walk around the floor. And I might call it a night and come back to fight the good fight the next day.

I scaled up. I wrote programs and learned new skills in a series of medium steps. And that largely worked.


But what didn’t work was getting a job with these skills (usually didn’t even get a chance to show these skills, just blocked at the resume stage by “Human Resources”).