How valuable is an MCSE + job exp.?

[OMG1Penguin]

I may be separating from the military soon (have not got an answer back, it will be of course an Honorable discharge), and I was wondering how valuable is an MCSE, SSBI (TS clearance) and 2 years IT (help desk mainly) experience?
I would like to get a BS in EE, but I have been told by contractors who work at our main computer center that certs and a clearance is more than enough (this is Colorado area). Granted, back in Seattle, the emphasis seems to be on a degree.

I would just like to hear personal experiences/preferences from employees and employers/managers (if there are any on this board).

Thanks~

 

[DougK62]

In the long run? Degree is better by far.

 

[Hankerton]

It's worth about $4.59

 

[kami333]

It might get you the first job easier but in the long run who do you think they'll retain and promote?

 

[phantom309]

Originally posted by: kami333
It might get you the first job easier but in the long run who do you think they'll retain and promote?

Good employers will retain and promote the employee with the best performance. There are countless IT people out there who don't have relevant degrees - I have a BA in English and I'm doing fine. Experience, attitude and competence are worth more than paper in the real world.

 

[torpid]

Things may have changed in the past few years, but last I checked, MCSE means very, very little. The problem is that there are so many incompetent people with an MCSE that the certification became meaningless.

Job experience is good, though. A lot of people in the IT field have no degree or a degree in an unrelated field...

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: phantom309

Originally posted by: kami333
It might get you the first job easier but in the long run who do you think they'll retain and promote?

Good employers will retain and promote the employee with the best performance. There are countless IT people out there who don't have relevant degrees - I have a BA in English and I'm doing fine. Experience, attitude and competence are worth more than paper in the real world.

I have a BA in Biology

But the thing is that you have that BA, what it is in doesn't matter so much as having one.

 

[Rapidskies]

Degree is worth more than any certification out there. CCIE is still a valuable cert but I would get a BS degree over a cert anyday.

 

[Chadder007]

Originally posted by: Whade
Degree is worth more than any certification out there. CCIE is still a valuable cert but I would get a BS degree over a cert anyday.

Unfortunately at my employer.... Certificate >>> Degree.

 

[RagingBITCH]

What's CCIE stand for?

 

[SpunkyJones]

Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert

 

[RagingBITCH]

Ahh ok gotcha. Is the CCNA or CCIE cert more prestigious?

 

[SpunkyJones]

CCIE.

CCNA is a entry level certification.

 

[Zontor]

If you're going after certs, the Cisco are the most respected (IMHO). The MCSE certs are gaining a bit in value but aren't really worth much more than toilet paper.

Experience + degree = best shot at the future.

 

[classy]

Either Or. Most places hire with either a Degree or MCSE with experience. I'll be honest I haven't met a person yet with a mcse that doesn't have a job. I've seen a lot of folks who took training and even those with degrees who don't have jobs. No doubt they are out there, but I haven't met one yet. What has happened is a the rate of pay. A lot of folks have gotten used to making 60K and up, but most places aren't offering those kind of starting salaries anymore. I guy I went to class with, he just despised IT, I mean he flat out hated it. But he was making 70K a year and said he can't afford to take a pay cut. But I don't work in the field either, so I am only repeating what others say. I got a quite a few friends who work in the field though.

 

[CVSiN]

Well Microsoft has taken notice... the 2003 track is about 400x harder to pass than previous ones were..
they want the certs to mean somethign and have cranked up the difficulty to prove it..
anyoen in doubt who has tekn previous MCSE tests go take any of the new tests.. they are much harder now..

If your in the Military now with a clearance and an MCSE you can go work for any number of Defence Contractors on military bases around the world..
just search the DOD job base online.. they are constantly looking for ex military to fill positions,..
my first job outa the Navy was NASA JSC with a top secret clearance from the Navy..
was pretty freaking cool.

 

[OMG1Penguin]

CVSiN, how is the pay for the contractors? All the contractors at my base with a TS clearance work in a super secret area where the security people are allowed to shoot you (with justification).

 

[CVSiN]

well starting pay at NASA in 97 as a junior desktop tech with an NT 4.0 MCSE was 40k..
im sure its gone up since then.

check www.navy.mil and check under the civilian jobs section there are literally 1000s of entries.
Dice usually has alot of Military DOD security clearance required MCSE positions there as well..

 

[OMG1Penguin]

Sweet, thanks to everyone who posted!