Seeking Feedback on Career Transition: From Firefighter to Remote Work/Digital Nomad

[DragonDF]

Image in attachment, too.



* It is not updated. So, take care about the use of this plan.

(I had a LOT of problems with this thread today and the problem could be the Image I was trying to post from COPY and PASTE)

I lost the final paragraphs I had in the morning. 

Let me continue the first reply again:

About the suggestion to Google Certifications:

Finished:
Google - Technical Support Fundamentals
IBM - Introduction to Cyversecurity Tools & Cyber Attacks.
Introduction to Data Analytics

I am doing IBM Business Analyst at this moment.

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Do you speak foreign languages? This could be useful to stand apart given the job competition for IT especially work from home jobs is insanely high.

The most likely university on this forum in your case would be to apply to TESU since you do not qualify for WGU. UMPI is apparently starting a Computer Science degree in a few months in case you wish to wait before applying. What is your age and budget?

 Yes, I do. I speak Portuguese and English and I am learning Spanish. 


I do not qualify for WGU because it does not accept international students, right?

About UMPI, do you think it is better than TESU or it is because it is cheaper?
I will not apply next 6 months. Next months I will get more credits or try to evaluate my experience (Yes, I have a lot). 

For me, University of the People was my first choice before I read here and watched some YouTube videos talking about National and Regional accreditation. 

It is not fun being a student in a subject you were a teacher. 

But as I am trying to compete in another country, especially the USA and Europe, I will try to use the same options my competitors use. 

I think the TI area has a competency-based model where you earn what you give. I can not believe there is a big difference if you finish you degree at the University of the People or TESU. But I can be wrong. 


Age: 45 (I can run at least 2,400m in 12 minutes and and do more than 20 pull-ups on the bar and 50 push-ups on the floor still -   )
Budget: I am looking for as cheap as possible.

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My first reaction is that rather than gettting another bachelor's you might be better off with some up to date certs. You already have relevant work experience, so I suspect that another degree isn't going to be that helpful. I also think you might have to put in some in-person time before you can readily hire out as a remote IT guy, unless you're willing to start way below your experience level.

Hello @devewill . I replied your post in a YouTube video yesterday about TESU.
Thank you for you suggestion here.

I'll try to be honest with you: I do not need any degree in my portfolio. As I wrote my first degree was in Engineering so I learned a lot of Calculus I , II, III and some others. I see people here worried about Calculus I. 
I was the head of the Systems Analysis section of an IT department of an organization with more than 6,000 employees.

At this moment my focus is to complete the Google and IBM courses so that I can use credit to the Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. I earn to get the Cert and earn to use the credit. 

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I no longer have any interest in working in-person, to be honest. Just as I have no interest in studying in-person. I'm at an age and level where such things are no longer worth it for me. I can't afford to waste time commuting and dealing with the disadvantages of an in-person job. Especially if I won't be earning in dollars.
To give you an idea, a Junior Programmer in the United States earns double what a Senior does in Brazil. It's not worth wasting my time here. It's better to be a "Junior" for a while in the United States, working remotely and part-time, than a Senior here.
My students are all seniors now.
I continue working as a firefighter. So, I will only have either the morning shift or the night shift to work externally and gradually build up my experience in what the market is asking for.


Happy New Year to you and your family!