Two factors no one ever brings up in this particular discussion are the paycheck and the career trajectory. It's a rare employer that won't use the fact you don't have a Degree to lowball you on the salary offer, knowing full well you nevertheless have the skills they need for their environment. If you also want to get into management later on in your career, you probably won't be able to move past junior management levels without one.
I am currently a System/Network Admin. I also graduate in December with my Bachelors in IT. From what I have seen, experience and networking (who you know) trumps both certs and degrees. That doesn’t mean they are bad, they are just a tool and will help you. It’s up to you if you want put your time in and pay for the degree or the cert. FYI: I got hired with just Sec+. I just bragged about my labbing experience in the interview and they hired me because of my desire for learning and passion, which I think is the most important factor when you are looking to hire someone.
I'll be 40 this year, I've always had sub-par IT jobs and I've gotten no where in my career. But now I live in Chicago and I'm settled, getting my BS and Certs to help match my skills and the opportunities that I can now reach for. Everyone's situation is different, but this is all great advice from a great man. I look forward to working on my weak areas that will help me in a career and I love Jeremy Cioara and the great and positive things that he does!
I'm now a senior in college majoring in IT. From my experience, while a lot of gen-eds may seem (or be) pointless, there are also some that have helped mold my skills further in quantitative reasoning and learning how the world works. College has also given me the benefits of having people to network/collaborate with and resources for finding jobs. I was even hired by my school to work as a network engineer. If you have the means and it benefits your situation, I'd say go for it. Even if it's just community college, there are so many great CC IT programs (and it's an amazing bargain for your money).
If coming straight out of high school I would say get the certs first and try to get a job and hopefully after some years experience and advancement in IT career go back to school and get a degree especially if you can land a job with a company that might help pay for some of your college education. Getting a $50,000 plus bill for of a degree in a career you might not really want to be in until you experience it might not be worth it.
Just turned 40 this year, been doing construction for 17 years and looking to change careers. I know computers very well as I have always been involved with them and very interested in learning networking. Any advice on which direction I should go to get started? I was thinking of getting my ccna? Would companies even look at a dude who's 40 and brand new to the industry when they can hire these 20 somethings fresh out of school?
Why not both ? I am a college student and managed to get ccna and encor during 2 summer vacations, but I feel like certifications helped more in getting a job than college did, sometimes I feel like college is a waste of time because in anything that I learn is no context
........ think about it like this.... by the way I have no experience in your field... but I think the underlying principles are the same... plus I'm older now... when I was of college age.. I didn't think there was no intrinsic value... I was a social guy.. the world at my feet.. all of that... but I guess as wisdom has set in... it seems u already did the hard part... and that's acquiring the skill to atleast get u in the door... college is a social credit card... not only amongst your peers... but to the older people.... or the beaurocratic structure... if u want limitless opportunity.. take more pride in your college... because u will be able to move from small business.. mid.. large business.. and govt... only thing that is against u is time... time as in age and experience.. so in the mean time u will have to be in buffering mode.. because that's just how the system moves.. slow.... we want it now.. but we just might not be ready now... because we're kids in the grand scheme of "the game." But within your scope... when u feel u've done all u can experience wise at your level... that degree is gonna make everything smoother.. socially... that's all a degree is.... everyone needs one... the right one.
The cheat code that disregards all that is if your an inventor/creator.. and if and only if your parents have a heavy network where you can raise capitol.. if you're not in those categories... then u are capped.
Hello jermy Greeting from Lebanon Of Course College (Bachelor,Master,PhD) whereas Certs nowadays has bad reputations due to Dumps and Hiring Manager knows the Story of the Certs , so pls Push for College/university high degree's as mentioned above NOT for Certifications; its okay to know and undestand well the Technology instead of using dumps to Pass any certs thanks
A few years back I was considering (half heatedly because of the cost) a (Australian) uni course in "Masters of System Administration". This course went for 2 years, online, and cost $28k / year. Part of the course was on your choice of industry certifications.At the end of it you get your degree/masters, plus your choice of certs in Cisco, Linux or Microsoft. I probably would've done it if it weren't so damned expensive, although I'd already done my CCNA and CCNP twenty years ago. A great idea for a uni degree course though.
If you can, get both.
Two factors no one ever brings up in this particular discussion are the paycheck and the career trajectory. It's a rare employer that won't use the fact you don't have a Degree to lowball you on the salary offer, knowing full well you nevertheless have the skills they need for their environment. If you also want to get into management later on in your career, you probably won't be able to move past junior management levels without one.
I am currently a System/Network Admin. I also graduate in December with my Bachelors in IT. From what I have seen, experience and networking (who you know) trumps both certs and degrees. That doesn’t mean they are bad, they are just a tool and will help you. It’s up to you if you want put your time in and pay for the degree or the cert. FYI: I got hired with just Sec+. I just bragged about my labbing experience in the interview and they hired me because of my desire for learning and passion, which I think is the most important factor when you are looking to hire someone.
I'll be 40 this year, I've always had sub-par IT jobs and I've gotten no where in my career. But now I live in Chicago and I'm settled, getting my BS and Certs to help match my skills and the opportunities that I can now reach for. Everyone's situation is different, but this is all great advice from a great man. I look forward to working on my weak areas that will help me in a career and I love Jeremy Cioara and the great and positive things that he does!
Love you Jeremy 😊
I'm now a senior in college majoring in IT. From my experience, while a lot of gen-eds may seem (or be) pointless, there are also some that have helped mold my skills further in quantitative reasoning and learning how the world works. College has also given me the benefits of having people to network/collaborate with and resources for finding jobs. I was even hired by my school to work as a network engineer. If you have the means and it benefits your situation, I'd say go for it. Even if it's just community college, there are so many great CC IT programs (and it's an amazing bargain for your money).
If coming straight out of high school I would say get the certs first and try to get a job and hopefully after some years experience and advancement in IT career go back to school and get a degree especially if you can land a job with a company that might help pay for some of your college education. Getting a $50,000 plus bill for of a degree in a career you might not really want to be in until you experience it might not be worth it.
You my friend, wrote exactly what I was thinking. Kudos!
Just turned 40 this year, been doing construction for 17 years and looking to change careers. I know computers very well as I have always been involved with them and very interested in learning networking. Any advice on which direction I should go to get started? I was thinking of getting my ccna? Would companies even look at a dude who's 40 and brand new to the industry when they can hire these 20 somethings fresh out of school?
Can you please branch out and make an AWS SAA training series? I have yet to find another trainer that keeps me engaged with the learning.
Degree It certification and work..is possible?? I thinking seriously about that.
Why not both ? I am a college student and managed to get ccna and encor during 2 summer vacations, but I feel like certifications helped more in getting a job than college did, sometimes I feel like college is a waste of time because in anything that I learn is no context
........ think about it like this.... by the way I have no experience in your field... but I think the underlying principles are the same... plus I'm older now... when I was of college age.. I didn't think there was no intrinsic value... I was a social guy.. the world at my feet.. all of that... but I guess as wisdom has set in... it seems u already did the hard part... and that's acquiring the skill to atleast get u in the door... college is a social credit card... not only amongst your peers... but to the older people.... or the beaurocratic structure... if u want limitless opportunity.. take more pride in your college... because u will be able to move from small business.. mid.. large business.. and govt... only thing that is against u is time... time as in age and experience.. so in the mean time u will have to be in buffering mode.. because that's just how the system moves.. slow.... we want it now.. but we just might not be ready now... because we're kids in the grand scheme of "the game." But within your scope... when u feel u've done all u can experience wise at your level... that degree is gonna make everything smoother.. socially... that's all a degree is.... everyone needs one... the right one.
The cheat code that disregards all that is if your an inventor/creator.. and if and only if your parents have a heavy network where you can raise capitol.. if you're not in those categories... then u are capped.
Hello jermy
Greeting from Lebanon
Of Course College (Bachelor,Master,PhD) whereas Certs nowadays has bad reputations due to Dumps and Hiring Manager knows the Story of the Certs , so pls Push for College/university high degree's as mentioned above NOT for Certifications;
its okay to know and undestand well the Technology instead of using dumps to Pass any certs
thanks
You’re talking about convergence.
Love you Jeremy 😊
A few years back I was considering (half heatedly because of the cost) a (Australian) uni course in "Masters of System Administration". This course went for 2 years, online, and cost $28k / year. Part of the course was on your choice of industry certifications.At the end of it you get your degree/masters, plus your choice of certs in Cisco, Linux or Microsoft. I probably would've done it if it weren't so damned expensive, although I'd already done my CCNA and CCNP twenty years ago. A great idea for a uni degree course though.
Nobody asks about college degrees. IT HR sure loves to weed out prospects with IT certifications.
Both