programming skill set

[druid]

hi pips.. im currently using vb6 and im learning vb.net.. can anyone have any suggestions on what will be my next move?
to rephrase my question, what is the ideal programming skill set that one should possess to be a flexible,versatile and 'REAL' prgrammer?
tnx guys...

[RhinoBull]

Ideal programer these days is someone that knows business first and then some programming languages such VB, C, etc...
If you are an expert in some industries such manufacturing, trading, sales and distribution, accounting, etc, etc, etc and you know how to program any employeer will be more than happy to offer you a job.
Programming skills only won't get you far.

[mendhak]

Next step:
Learn C# . If you're a winforms programmer, it can't hurt to know both.

If you're going to be a web developer, then learn ASP.NET, JS, XHTML, XML, HTML, CSS, to start with that is.

Whatever your field, you'll also need to keep expanding on your knowledge, forever... until you die.

[Al42]

And, if you're a VB programmer (as opposed to someone who learned programming before he learned any particular language), learn programming. There's a big difference between knowing VB and knowing programming. But RhinoBull made the most important point; you can't write a decent accounting program - no matter how good your programming skills are - if you don't know accounting thoroughly.