IT Degrees

joeboo · Sep 9, 2012

anarchocapitalist said:
I work in the IT dept of a college. I have no academic education in computers just certs.

My advice would be get a 2 year diploma and something like Cisco CCIE and you'll have a good career ahead of you.

If you can look for a smaller company where you can get your hands into a little bit of everything and see what you like.

While your advice is solid, getting "something like a Cisco CCIE" is a wee bit more difficult than it sounds in that statement.

Seittit · Sep 10, 2012

joeboo said:
Computer Networks and Security - Analytical and process oriented. Good degree. Get your Cisco CCIE afterwards and you'll stay employed for life.

Spot on. This is my degree. I am not a CCIE, but very highly Cisco Cert'd.

If I lose my job this afternoon, I'll have the pick of five to start tomorrow. Be sure to pursue your Certs while in school and get as much experience in your targeted field as you can. Internships are good and volunteer work is abundant as there are plenty of charities out there that can't afford outside engineering. Build your resume BEFORE you get to the job market and your road is paved! G/L

Agreed, i'm working on my CCIE and i'm amazed at how many phone calls I receive from recruiters. Granted, i'm in Texas which is huge on technology, but still.

Immediately after getting my CCNP I was hired by HP for a six figure salary. notbad.jpeg

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2ez · Sep 10, 2012

will/has the PMP/Project Management Certification help you guys even more ?

I ask this because it seems a lot of the fellaz I deal with have mentioned this.

Also, I have a Finance and Actuarial background. Trader, Actuary is what I have done until changing over to healthcare to combine Biz and Healthcare.

If I had an IT background, I would look into Informatics to combine with my Biz background. Also, we use Epic in the hospital I work for.

just me 2cc's.

Seittit · Sep 11, 2012

There is plenty need of PMPs in IT if you can achieve it (difficult from what I hear).

My favorite PMs are those with knowledge in IT, but they are a rarity. At the end of the day, I just want my PM to hold everyone responsible and not throw anyone under the bus as a political scapegoat

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gent · Sep 11, 2012

School IT sounds so vague. Do you want to learn Windows (AD,Exchange) or Cisco IT should be the question

sluggy · Sep 11, 2012

Take a look at the job market and see what is in demand. Then find a school that has a great co-op/internship program. The rest is on you.

dudeface · Sep 13, 2012

anarchocapitalist said:
I work in the IT dept of a college. I have no academic education in computers just certs.

My advice would be get a 2 year diploma and something like Cisco CCIE and you'll have a good career ahead of you.

If you can look for a smaller company where you can get your hands into a little bit of everything and see what you like.

CCIE is pretty badass for data networking

dempc · Oct 4, 2012

Cloud, virtualization (VMware), and Datacenter networking is the way to go. Everybody is going to a virtualized environment for better manageability lower operating costs and lighter overall footprint. If there is a cert to get a VCP would be a great place to start. CCIE will get you in the door as well!

bigpumper · Oct 4, 2012

CCIE is badass. Always has been and always will be.

Everything is moving towards cloud hosting.

I got out of IT years ago, but anything to do with Cisco is always a safe bet.

jack of all · Oct 4, 2012

It is funny you guys are talking about the CCIE like just anyone could get it. I have heard it has a huge fail rate. there are only around 8000 ccie's in the US (best number I could find).

The network side never interested me.

cytokinetic · Oct 4, 2012

The CCIE sounds interesting after reading Cisco's site, but just how difficult is the cert?

I am proficient at the end user networking and computer repair side, but I really need some certs to get into the industry. I had a good reference to get a job that started at $125k, so I need to get the best certs I can.

As for the networking side of things, what are the best certifications to pursue?

norbit09 · Oct 7, 2012

Back in 2006 the pass rate was only 26%.

jack of all said:
It is funny you guys are talking about the CCIE like just anyone could get it. I have heard it has a huge fail rate. there are only around 8000 ccie's in the US (best number I could find).

The network side never interested me.

dempc · Oct 7, 2012

jack of all said:
It is funny you guys are talking about the CCIE like just anyone could get it. I have heard it has a huge fail rate. there are only around 8000 ccie's in the US (best number I could find).

The network side never interested me.

Not saying its easy just something to shoot for ... CCNA's are a dime a dozen and at best a 70k job....

Networking and virtualization ... Thats where u need to be.

cytokinetic · Oct 11, 2012

It sounds like the best path to take is the CCNA and then after a bit of experience, get the CCNP and then the CCIE. How long are the CCNA and CCNP courses, approximately?

DEADn · Nov 14, 2012

Wow, wow , wow

This thread has caused me to think alot. I graduated a Spring 2011 with an A.A. degree in liberal arts. Then I stared on a B.A. in interdisciplinary studies with focus on psychology and communications. They fascinate me but I also wanted to do something with computers. I played with a Java programming class online. The teacher communicated alot but didn't do much in the way of 'tutoring'. As a result I dropped the class because of an assignment that I was clueless of how to put it together.

After this I decided that I didn't know what I could use this B.A. because I work for a large supermarket company and they have major use for business, accounting and computer stuff. I work in accounting. Can't say I love it though. It is annoying to me.

I talked to the computer director at the college in which I got my AA degree and he laid out the 3 tiers of the computer industry. Infrastructure, programming, and web design. At the moment am halfway through my 2nd A+ class and yet what leaves me hanging is even though I pass these classes and even though I get certified (maybe) I still lack experience and THAT seems to be what will hold me back possible. It causes me to wonder if it is worth it to pursue this field? With my company. 43 years old and I have no idea where I would go to get some experience.

WinNerd · Nov 18, 2012

DEADn said:
Wow, wow , wow

This thread has caused me to think alot. I graduated a Spring 2011 with an A.A. degree in liberal arts. Then I stared on a B.A. in interdisciplinary studies with focus on psychology and communications. They fascinate me but I also wanted to do something with computers. I played with a Java programming class online. The teacher communicated alot but didn't do much in the way of 'tutoring'. As a result I dropped the class because of an assignment that I was clueless of how to put it together.

After this I decided that I didn't know what I could use this B.A. because I work for a large supermarket company and they have major use for business, accounting and computer stuff. I work in accounting. Can't say I love it though. It is annoying to me.

I talked to the computer director at the college in which I got my AA degree and he laid out the 3 tiers of the computer industry. Infrastructure, programming, and web design. At the moment am halfway through my 2nd A+ class and yet what leaves me hanging is even though I pass these classes and even though I get certified (maybe) I still lack experience and THAT seems to be what will hold me back possible. It causes me to wonder if it is worth it to pursue this field? With my company. 43 years old and I have no idea where I would go to get some experience.

A lot of any tech company is actual ability. As long as you actually have the skills you can get the job once you get your foot in the door. However if you show up to an interview and don't know how to code / do basic IT / network, you more than likely missed some important skills while getting your degree. Also, once you get some experience in the field, it is more about what you can do that what your degree / GPA is anyway.

DEADn · Nov 21, 2012

WinNerd said:
A lot of any tech company is actual ability. As long as you actually have the skills you can get the job once you get your foot in the door. However if you show up to an interview and don't know how to code / do basic IT / network, you more than likely missed some important skills while getting your degree. Also, once you get some experience in the field, it is more about what you can do that what your degree / GPA is anyway.

THat makes sense. I took a Java class but could not complete it because of an assignment I didn't understand at all. Now I am working through an A+ Class which is really too fast. Some if it requires alot of concentration and that can't happen when it is a fast class.

I work for a company that has a big IT department and I would like to jump in there. I am contacting a recruiter to find out what minimum requirements are needed. I am more focused on infrastructure at the moment because programming is a hard one to deal with. I made this choice with school at the last moment because I already have an AA degree in liberal arts and was working to a BA in interdisciplinary studies with focus in psychology and communications but I don't know what I can do with that professionally especially if I want to stay with my company. I should email them and ask them about that.
I get free stock, dividends and a Christmas bonus with my company and this doesn't happen with most companies.

da0s44 · Feb 16, 2013

Bro Ill break it down for you real quick. I have two degrees and multiple certs. I have an BAISDS degree which is a BA in Information Systems Decision Sciences. Basically a computer management degree with a focus on programming. I also have a AS in Information Systems Technology. Certs are Cisco CCNA, CCENT, Microsoft Windows 7, Wireless Cert, A+ and Linux +.

Now here is what you need to know. If you enjoy management and managing people the go ahead and get a BA in whatever type of Computer SCience degree that floats your boat.

If you want to be your own boss and get your hands dirty and be a specialist, then focus on your certs.

I have spent more than 9 years of my life in school. If I could do it all over again I would have focused on certs and I would be a CCIE making 500 an hour right now writing my own ticket. Instead I am a network engineer making 75 an hour. lol Big difference.

Hope that helps.

cytokinetic · Feb 16, 2013

da0s44 said:
Bro Ill break it down for you real quick. I have two degrees and multiple certs. I have an BAISDS degree which is a BA in Information Systems Decision Sciences. Basically a computer management degree with a focus on programming. I also have a AS in Information Systems Technology. Certs are Cisco CCNA, CCENT, Microsoft Windows 7, Wireless Cert, A+ and Linux +.

Now here is what you need to know. If you enjoy management and managing people the go ahead and get a BA in whatever type of Computer SCience degree that floats your boat.

If you want to be your own boss and get your hands dirty and be a specialist, then focus on your certs.

I have spent more than 9 years of my life in school. If I could do it all over again I would have focused on certs and I would be a CCIE making 500 an hour right now writing my own ticket. Instead I am a network engineer making 75 an hour. lol Big difference.

Hope that helps.

Top CCIEs make $500 an hour? That's great pay for any tech job. $75 is still good, too.