[wplug] Best mid-life career advice

[Jonathan Billings]

Mitch Kehn wrote:
> I am a Linux enthusiast and I have an decent aptitude for technology in 
> general. I have worked for ISPs and web development companies in a sales 
> and promotions capacity, and I am extremely good at sales.  I am a very 
> young and forward thinking 48 year-old considering a career change.
> 
> My question is this; is it madness to go back to school to become a 
> "nix" administrator, or would it be wiser to take some less rigorous 
> overview courses to become a qualified "sales advisor."

I encounter people with the title of "Sales Engineer" quite often when 
dealing with large companies (think IBM or SGI).  I'm not sure how they 
came into existence, if they're someone who used to be technical but now 
is in sales, or vice-versa.

I admit, I'm usually frustrated with the experience, because they 
usually aren't technical enough to solve my problem, yet try to sell a 
product that's already broken.

-- 
Jonathan Billings <billings at negate.org>