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kendog
03-21-2008, 02:46 AM
I'm thinking the IT field is actually where I should be since I spend so much personal time on my PC. I've also always enjoyed building computers, messing around with the wiring, internet, etc. Maybe this would fall under networking?

Is it possible to attain an IT job with certifications alone (BS degree but totally unrelated if that helps). What about with just one certification? I don't suppose these jobs would be ones with benefits or anything?

I'd kind of like to get some certifications and work my way up in the IT field, is this possible? How likely would I be to get good jobs? If I go with the education route again I don't want to do useless things that won't land me jobs again.

I've noticed this state job as one example. It's higher paying then the state jobs in my field and doesn't even seem to require a BS degree but only certifications and some experience, barely even seems fair. My degree field wants a BS and usually some experience and they're always jobs everyone wants so it's competitive for not even that good of pay. Is this job for example looking for more than appears, or would this be something feasible to work my way into in a few years?

Ex:
Job Description: Provide technical support to the Director of Information Technology with LAN administration and maintenance, systems software, workstation hardware, network troubleshooting, and as backup administrator.

Perform hardware and software installations for students and staff.

Maintain current hardware images, inventory existing campus technology resources, and maintain current antivirus and required security solutions.

Provide technical support and group training in the use of standard campus software applications and peripheral technology for students and staff.

Perform other technical duties as assigned by the Director of Information Technology.
Minimum Qualifications: Professionally recognized certification relating to computer technology (IT) i.e., COMPTIA, MICROSOFT, CISCO, etc., that deals with computer hardware and networking maintenance.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Computer software and hardware for troubleshooting.

LAN operating systems, especially Microsoft Windows Server 2003.

Current on-line delivery techniques.

SKILLS:

Excellent human relations and communications skills.

Preferred Qualifications: Novell certification.

Experience in an educational setting.


Or does this job field have low requirements like that but has many people with related BS degrees and certifications as well? I guess I could potentially look into getting another BS in something like computer science in the future while I'm working - would that be a better alternative for landing jobs? Not sure how many years getting the gens out of the way would hack off, prob. at least 1 :dunno:

Thanks for any input

Jredrum
03-21-2008, 09:35 AM
Yeah, you can get just the certs. However having the degree helps a lot more.

Check out your local community college and see if they offer any Cisco programs.

trev ftw
03-21-2008, 12:36 PM
Degrees help.. but when you get degrees, you get some of those certifications as well(at least at the two universities I've looked at around here). A+, a few Microshit ones, etc.

When I worked at a web dev/marketing/wefixyourshit place, we valued experience over degrees. We hired one person with a BS in computer science and he was a complete fucking moron. So we just said "you got certs and/or experience? we gives you interview!" I know a few other places around here are like that as well. Some places will even value a bit of experience with an ambitious drive.. then pay for your certifications. Don't bank on that, though. :o

Binary Soldier
03-22-2008, 05:37 PM
I'm currently doing a software engineering degree,and we get 50% of the MS cert's. I'm planning on taking some during the summer break. The A+ ones seem to be the easiest certs to take, the cisco ones the most respected. The jobs I've seen around ask for at least some form of certification, but more and more seemto be requiring degree's now, in the UK al least.

tryfuhl
03-23-2008, 10:16 PM
It's not as fun as just cruising the net bro.

Chips
03-24-2008, 02:01 PM
i do System admin crap for a few hospitals at my job...and all I have is my HS crap.. But iv worked for some big names....

how ever I am looking at getting a few of the new MS certs

Macandcheese
03-24-2008, 10:13 PM
experience > degree/certs in many cases. Sure, not all, but many.

daslee27
03-25-2008, 12:11 AM
A+ is easy and cheap. its one of those certs people like to see but really doesnt mean much.

ms certs are better if you wanna do sys admin work. mcsa at least, mcse even better

the more hardcore certs are what will pay the bills later ... cissp etc.

but first things first ... get real experience. ive interviewed countless people who only had knowledge on paper but couldnt do the job at all.

Merc11ty
04-02-2008, 03:49 PM
A+ don't mean shit, and neither do many other certs. I landed a great admin job that pays awesome before I had a single cert.. all I had was experience. To IT managers that know what the fuck they are doing, they could care less about certs. Most MCSE's are paper anyways.. Start out small to get your experience and build your way up

illectronic
04-02-2008, 05:59 PM
I'm getting finance and eco degrees, and will probably also get certs. Experience is definately much more useful than education from what I have seen.

The_In_Kid
04-03-2008, 09:57 AM
dont' forget to let them know you have knowledge in microsoft word and internet explorer

lol holy shit i hate seeing that in resume's