How do I get a good job in IT?

[Trilvester]

I'm about to graduate high school soon and I am very interested in the IT field. I go to a vocational school where I'm in a class called Computer Support Technology. For my junior year I studied the A+ certification material and at the end of the year took the test passed. For my senior year I've been studying Cisco material to take the CCENT which I will be taking soon. I am currently working at a computer repair job in my town and its going well so far but I'm not getting many hours because of the current Techs that already work there full time and I can only work part time because I still go to school.

The question I have is what would be the best course of action for me to take so I can land a nice IT job like a network administrator, which would kind of be my ideal job.

I'm thinking about going to Devry for a degree in Network Administration while also working at a computer repair shop so when I graduate, employers can see I have a degree plus expierence, which I know is a lot better than just a degree. I'm also kind of hesitant to go to Devry just because a lot of people think its a bad school so I'm afraid I won't get hired if they see I have a degree from Devry. So what do you guys think I should do?

 

[Red Squirrel]

The key is start low, then work your way up. Apply for jobs like help desk or PC support (level 2) tech at a big enough company. If no big company is hireing, then you may get lucky and be the main IT guy at a smaller company. IT can be hard to get into since everybody these days wants to get a job with computers. There is also lot of IT jobs in bigger cities mind you, so it all balances out.

 

[ed21x]

I'm thinking about going to Devry for a degree in Network Administration while also working at a computer repair shop so when I graduate, employers can see I have a degree plus expierence, which I know is a lot better than just a degree. I'm also kind of hesitant to go to Devry just because a lot of people think its a bad school so I'm afraid I won't get hired if they see I have a degree from Devry. So what do you guys think I should do?

As you said, DeVry is a horrible school and I've heard nothing but bad things about it. Have you considered other options such as getting an AA from a community college or state school on the side? You are correct that experience > school, but having DeVry on your resume could actually be detrimental.

GJ on getting a head start on all those certifications. Those are what really counts :thumbsup:

 

[theeedude]

Go to a state college, enjoy life, try other things, find out what you like to do in life, etc. Seems like you are following path of least resistance and pigeonholing yourself into an IT job simply because you got one now. I mean if you really like it, by all means proceed, but it's kind of hard to know until you try other things. Just make sure you aren't confusing a job with a career.

 

[mAdMaLuDaWg]

Originally posted by: Trilvester
I'm about to graduate high school soon and I am very interested in the IT field. I go to a vocational school where I'm in a class called Computer Support Technology. For my junior year I studied the A+ certification material and at the end of the year took the test passed. For my senior year I've been studying Cisco material to take the CCENT which I will be taking soon. I am currently working at a computer repair job in my town and its going well so far but I'm not getting many hours because of the current Techs that already work there full time and I can only work part time because I still go to school.

The question I have is what would be the best course of action for me to take so I can land a nice IT job like a network administrator, which would kind of be my ideal job.

I'm thinking about going to Devry for a degree in Network Administration while also working at a computer repair shop so when I graduate, employers can see I have a degree plus expierence, which I know is a lot better than just a degree. I'm also kind of hesitant to go to Devry just because a lot of people think its a bad school so I'm afraid I won't get hired if they see I have a degree from Devry. So what do you guys think I should do?

Write your SATs and apply to a university ASAP.

 

[theflyingpig]

Join the military. They will train you for free, and you'll get to work on many different networks. You will also get a security clearance which will be pretty useful in getting a contract job. I suggest the Navy or the Air Force for IT work. You might even get the chance to attack and systematically destroy a nation that did absolutely nothing to the US. It's win win, when you think about it.

 

[txrandom]

Go to a state university that's within your budget and study MIS, CS, or something similar. Depending on the university, CS could be more theory and math than programming and IT, so make sure you look at the courses being taugh. Now while you are at school, get a job with the campus IT department or a nearby IT shop. A four degree will better your chances of moving up in the IT world.

 

[Trilvester]

I don't think I could go to a state university because my GPA is not that great. I could go to a community college but I can't get a BS degree there but I guess could transfer somewhere to get a BS. The problem I have with to college is that I will be taking so many classes that have nothing to do with what I'm interested in. A lot of jobs want a degree in computer science but that mostly deals with programming and I don't have much interest in that. And when I graduate I still won't know how to be a network admin or any other IT job because that's not what those classes teach. Arg! I don't know what to do. 🙁

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: Trilvester
I don't think I could go to a state university because my GPA is not that great. I could go to a community college but I can't get a BS degree there but I guess could transfer somewhere to get a BS. The problem I have with to college is that I will be taking so many classes that have nothing to do with what I'm interested in. A lot of jobs want a degree in computer science but that mostly deals with programming and I don't have much interest in that. And when I graduate I still won't know how to be a network admin or any other IT job because that's not what those classes teach. Arg! I don't know what to do. 🙁

get an AS from a community college that is made to transfer to a university. community colleges take anyone so you can get an AS there and work to get a decent GPA, then move on to a BS at a university and just have two years or so to finish things up.

 

[halik]

Generally speaking, apply to the best comp sci program you can get to and get a BSE.

Without a CS degree you'll generally be relegated to tech support jobs, rather than a career. Education always comes first.

 

[Lazy8s]

Originally posted by: Trilvester
I don't think I could go to a state university because my GPA is not that great. I could go to a community college but I can't get a BS degree there but I guess could transfer somewhere to get a BS. The problem I have with to college is that I will be taking so many classes that have nothing to do with what I'm interested in. A lot of jobs want a degree in computer science but that mostly deals with programming and I don't have much interest in that. And when I graduate I still won't know how to be a network admin or any other IT job because that's not what those classes teach. Arg! I don't know what to do. 🙁

It doesn't matter if you don't like the classes, you will like your career. The point of college is to be well-rounded and that is important to a career. If you can't pass english you will never be a network admin because you have to write and speak well. If you can't pass math you will never be a manager because you have to manage money. Unless you want to be an hourly tech-support person the rest of your life you NEED A DEGREE in this field! Even as an intern after my sophomore year of college at a large pharmaceutical company when the network admin went out of town for a week on vacation they put ME in charge of the help desk guys. That is right, 0 experience and I was in charge of rolling out 300 laptops to the VPs. My bro came out of highschool with a 2.1, went to community college and got a 3.8 and is now a 4.0 in a local university. Perhaps you dislike school because it is too slow and boring for you and you need more of a challenge?

P.S. If you don't like CS then do MIS and focus on management.

 

[Red Squirrel]

While university and fancy degrees is great, College will also get you a job and costs less and is easier to go through, and get to. It really depends on the company but if you're lucky the company will look at actual skills, and not just meaningless papers. If you think you are ready to get certs, go ahead, but don't get them too early, lot of them expire, so by the time you actually apply for a job they may not even mean anything. I think CCNA for example is only like 3 years. Sucks doing all that work and it's not even permanent.

I'll be straight up honest with you, I have zero certs, not even A+, and I've worked helpdesk/level 2 for a bit over a year, and now I work as level 3 and support 40ish servers in a VMware environment. Experience and exposure is how you learn, and thankfully the company I work for does not just look at certs but looks mostly at skills and experience, so I have to consider myself lucky.

 

[Jawo]

You need to go to college and get a degree; that is, unless you want to work hourly at a support desk for the next 10-15 years. If you can't afford college, get Stafford Loans (deferred payments till graduation, IIRC), and work doing IT support. Make sure you find a niche that you like, and will not likely be outsourced to India and you should have fun. I didn't like programming classes, but they have proved helpful to have an understanding in what I am working on now. Like others have said College/University prepares you for your future. I would try not to pigeonhole yourself into help desk support forever. Try looking into Management Info Systems (MIS) degrees, you learn how computers can be used to make informed business decisions. I did MIS, and greatly enjoy it, as I am doing the performance analysis for a 500 person group, presentations go to senior leadership.

 

[brandonbull]

Originally posted by: theflyingpig
Join the military. They will train you for free, and you'll get to work on many different networks. You will also get a security clearance which will be pretty useful in getting a contract job. I suggest the Navy or the Air Force for IT work. You might even get the chance to attack and systematically destroy a nation that did absolutely nothing to the US. It's win win, when you think about it.

Looks like you got a degree and then get your A+ asshat cert from Devry as well.

 

[theflyingpig]

Originally posted by: brandonbull

Originally posted by: theflyingpig
Join the military. They will train you for free, and you'll get to work on many different networks. You will also get a security clearance which will be pretty useful in getting a contract job. I suggest the Navy or the Air Force for IT work. You might even get the chance to attack and systematically destroy a nation that did absolutely nothing to the US. It's win win, when you think about it.

Looks like you got a degree and then get your A+ asshat cert from Devry as well.

No, I didn't go to Devry.

 

[XZeroII]

Network admins are treated like scum, so be prepared. Just about anyone can do it and they are blamed for just about everything. Make sure you know that this is what you want to do before jumping in with both feet. I recommend finding a smaller company and working for cheap to see what it's like. Maybe do some cabling and some small setup. If you still like it, follow your dream.

Good luck.