Career thread gone, have to make a new one

[Pekka]

OK so.. I was figuring out between the medical field vs. IT security. Have to dump the other one.

THey are hiring me to do the medical field (technology). I still have one problem with it.. I guess I'd go for PhD, continue straight away after my thesis, hopefully after 1 year. So.. I'm wondering what the hell it is, that I could do after I get my PhD. That's what worries me. What is it that I can do?

I'm researching how technology is used in hospitals (in very spesific way, and spesific scenarios), and the point is to.. naturally enhance the abilities of the technology, and their usage. So, what can I do when I get out of the school?

I'm not in deveoping the actual technology, so I'm not going to build machines, and I'm not even interestd in that.

I dont' want to stay in University and continue as a researcher after I've gotten my PhD. It IS interesting, but .. I don't see where the money is? Hospitals etc don't hire private consultants to tell them about this stuff, and I don't want to stay in the Uni salaries, which sucks hairy backs of men. I want to score. Is there any money to be made in it? I don't know. Do you know? Also, I'm looking to get out from Finland, so if you know the hoops in your country, please do share.

Any use for IT specialist, with a background on researching hospital technology (and it's usage)? Highly skilled . Background originally in software engineering (refuses to program), some experience in IT security, real eexperience and PhD in .. the medical/IT (IT in medical business, or rather information systems).

[SlowwHand]

Come to the USA as a student and do what it takes to stay and become a citizen.

[Pekka]

Urr... it's not you know.. it's not really something I'm against, as you know that was one of the things I wanted to do some time ago.

However, it's not that simple anymore, I've graduated soon, I'm about to start the PhD-thing in a year or so.. so after I start that one, it's set in stone, as in, I'll complete it in here.

I'm SURE the best money in it would be in the States, there is no doubt in my mind. Woudl there be any private companies, looking to do the studies I woudl have then lots of experience with? Absolutely. But so what? What matters is to get there, have a job, great benefits, great salary, and great advancing options.

I don't know though, maybe it's possible for PhD students to do those.. year abroad things, where I'd, for example, come to US Uni for a year, to study, and then go back graduate and write my book. Network the whoel year, as the only idea. We're already doing the 'edge' thing, as in it doesn't benefit me to come there to do the same exact thing, because we're the only ones doing it as of now. Then, we release the research results, and interest ensues (or hilarity).

But in States.. what would I do, I don't know, I don't know what kind of jobs there are for people like me after that. I don't know the ins and outs of this medical IT field thing. I mean, I don't know the markets of it.

And it's not like I come and analyze the current system and work (in hospital) and give some crap report. The idea is to also enhance it, so it has designing, to make the system or working with the system better, to suit the original demands and meaning of the freaking thing. So, I'm the dude who figures out how ti can be done better, design it in some abstract level, and maybe do some weird findings (and steal baby fetuses). That would be ONE thing (the thing I'm doing now), naturally I'm progressing and able to do more things in the near future.

[Pekka]

Because I'm concerned. I'm a planner. People who remember my ramblings know, that I've been planning every step from few years back to this date. I worked two summers (8 months) for a company, I fought myself in there, just to advance my plans.

If I do this thing, my plans will totally change. I'd graduate, sure. I'd get my PhD, sure. But what do I do then?! That's the question. I want safety, as in, I want to learn the market for this one, so I know my options. I don't just graduate and then figure it out. That's not an option.

I want to graduate with my PhD, have everything worked out before it. If I know there's a US company, for example, looking for my kind of people (there's no big fight, since this would be special field), then I know what to do. I'll fight my way to study one year in a Uni, in location, where I can start actively netoworking myself into the company right then. Secure myself, so when I graduate, I'll take one week vacation and then it's go time again. I need to know what I'm doing, I don't do the leap of faith thing, unless I can avoid it. Now it's a big blank what is out there for this thing.

[SlowwHand]

Get a 2nd degree here.

[DaShi]

Stage a serious of high profile IT attacks on hospitals across Finland. That should create a demand for hospital IT security there. And who will be there to fill that demand? Pekka!

[Pekka]

2nd degree after one PhD degree? Why is that a good thing to do? It would cost lots of time plus money, just to get a degree I just got in here?

[Pekka]

DaShi, well, I guess I would be pretty obvious choice for hospital's IT security

But that's a crap post. Security manager in a hospital? Bleh. I mean, they don't pay you anything to do that.

[DaShi]

That's why you have to make it a more important position.

[Pekka]

Right .. I don't think so.

Anyway, so.. education on this field's market is what I'm hoping here, tips on possible things to do.

And I don't .. I know it's kind of arrogant to say, but I'm really looking for high salaries and opportunities. They are a great source of motivation for me. I am already in the field that I like, so the next thing is to look for them .. well not showers of gold, but gold none of the less .

I have high expectations, and that's why I've been working hard. That's why I'm being ruthless, getting these positions I'm in, getting the options. I don't want to see this whole thing wasted here. For example, I would feel a failure, if I made less than 60k a year here. Absolutely a no go, unless unavoidable. And this is a HIGH salary in here. Extremely good.

In States, I want to look at 60k per year, for starters, with benefits and advancing options, and rise the income level to somewhere near 100k. Like I said, I have high expectations.