is a degree in computer IT still worth anything?

[mrCide]

Unless you're looking for management experience is king in IT like some have said. No one wants someone playing with their servers or databases without ever having done so before. However, without a degree alongside you very often must have an in at the company, unless they don't have a real formal HR department. Certifications help a lot IF you have a clue what you're doing already.

 

[SagaLore]

When there are a 100 other candidates who hold a 4 year IT degree, its hard to compete. You'll also get beat out by candidates with a 4 year non-IT degree, since you only have a 2 year.

Your best bet is to get certifications and intern some place important.

 

[TXHokie]

Based on my work exp, here's what I ran into in the pecking order as I moved along:
degree+exp+cert >> exp+degree >> exp+cert >> exp >> degree+cert >> degree >> cert >> total noob

 

[PingSpike]

Do they REALLY need more engineers, or are they just using it as an excuse to bring in more H1B's?

My hunch is that they would have no problem attracting people from the midwest if they offered relocation money, but nobody seems to DO that anymore.

If companies really badly needed something, they would just throw money at the problem. Anything else and they're just bitching or as you say...trying to get policy changed. 😛

 

[T2urtle]

The question is if a degree is worth anything to you. If it will help you to get a better job. The answer is always yes, IMO anyway.

You mention a career without a degree and without certifiable skills. IMO, a person does not have a career without a degree or certifiable skills. In such a situation, all a person has is a temporary job for as long as the employer is being nice to you.

Unless you earn a strong college degree, you will still need to obtain certifications. IMO, you might as well work for the certifications. If you wanted the college degree, you would not be asking about the difference between a degree or certifications. You would just do it.

Go visit a community college career counselor at a place that also provides the tech schooling for certifications and ask them for help. That will get you off your butt and into school. Once you see the girls walking down the halls, you will be ready to sign up for your classes.

The military is also a strong option, if it suits your interests. I did it and so have many others. Military benefits often pay for school. Check with your community college's financial aid office to ask about state benefits for returning veterans.

in response to your posting, i'm enrolled in night classes at my community college right now, i just finish all my prereqs, my college associates degree in computer science and a couple specific IT related certs, like computer security. I'm debating between getting an associates now and transfer into a 4 year college and finishing up or just getting the w/e certs i can find.

I dont have a decent paying job at the moment, i would rate this as manageable for the next couple of years and i have no intentions of quitting unless there was a great offer on the table.

 

[iGas]

More power to anyone that wish to work in the IT field, but IMHO the IT field is flooded with people and it is not worth it to get in at the moment.

A degree in EE or ME is more valuable in the current trend than 4 years CS.

Or, buckle down an join the army as away to get into IT contracting/free education, or get a job that is actually produce something such as construction, etc...

 

[iGas]

Based on my work exp, here's what I ran into in the pecking order as I moved along:
degree+exp+cert >> exp+degree >> exp+cert >> exp >> degree+cert >> degree >> cert >> total noob

It still is an up hill battle even if you have degree+exp+cert because it is cheaper/easier to out source. Unless you are looking at management level (which required a different set of skill).

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

More power to anyone that wish to work in the IT field, but IMHO the IT field is flooded with people and it is not worth it to get in at the moment.

Depends which subfield. It's very easy to get programming jobs right now (if you'e qualified), at least in my area.

 

[chusteczka]

in response to your posting, i'm enrolled in night classes at my community college right now, i just finish all my prereqs, my college associates degree in computer science and a couple specific IT related certs, like computer security. I'm debating between getting an associates now and transfer into a 4 year college and finishing up or just getting the w/e certs i can find.

I dont have a decent paying job at the moment, i would rate this as manageable for the next couple of years and i have no intentions of quitting unless there was a great offer on the table.

It seems like you are doing pretty well then. My advice is to transfer and complete your 4-year degree. Your 4-year degree will show that you can think, work, learn, and get the job done. These skills are unknown for anyone without a 4-year degree, even if they have a list of certifications.

Even an LAS degree in art history with a couple programming classes will be better than certifications without the degree. Finish your degree while you have the momentum built up. It is difficult to return to school later.

Congratulations on the certifications you do have. Practical knowledge is always useful.

 

[theevilsharpie]

Your 4-year degree will show that you can think, work, learn, and get the job done. These skills are unknown for anyone without a 4-year degree, even if they have a list of certifications.

Even an LAS degree in art history with a couple programming classes will be better than certifications without the degree.

In the off chance that this isn't a troll post...

HAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

what the heck is an "IT degree"? is that like what they give out in devry.
i've worked with people with "degrees" from a technical institution, and there isn't a emoticon here that would properly express how i feel about those people.

 

[Joemonkey]

It seems like you are doing pretty well then. My advice is to transfer and complete your 4-year degree. Your 4-year degree will show that you can think, work, learn, and get the job done. These skills are unknown for anyone without a 4-year degree, even if they have a list of certifications.

Even an LAS degree in art history with a couple programming classes will be better than certifications without the degree. Finish your degree while you have the momentum built up. It is difficult to return to school later.

Congratulations on the certifications you do have. Practical knowledge is always useful.

what the hell is this crap? are we being trolled?

 

[LucJoe]

Having recently gone though hiring a new programmer I thought I'd give my take on it.

1) I work in education.
2) I do not have a degree.
3) I have no certs.
4) I teach IT classes for extra cash.
5) (I want to stress this) I'm the exception to the rule.

During our hiring process, we discovered that far to many cert mills were pumping out 'graduates' in our area who had 100% no clue what they were doing. These guys may have had certs from microsoft saying they were computer programmers or solaris 10 certified, or linux+/a+/whatever but they had no practical experience and no idea what they were doing. They failed simple tests and couldn't answer questions about development practices, SCM, or logic/programming puzzles.

Then we had the college graduates. These tended to be a little better. They could answer our questions but were very green. Much greener then we were looking for. Things like "What is the point of SCM?" was common as well as a seeming hatred of unit testing and coding standards. They would have been much better candidates had their internships actually had them programming or managing servers. It seemed like their internships were all tech support related.

In the end, we hired a friend of mine. He has no college experience and no certs, but like me has been doing this thing for over 15 years. Experience trumps all if you can get past the HR department. Like myself he would never had been considered for the job if he didn't know someone on the inside to get him that first interview. Our HR department would (IMHO very stupidly) just toss out resumes that don't have a BS degree on them.

Moral of the story: 90% of interviews are pointless because the dude behind the desk is just going to hire his friend.

 

[Wyndru]

OP, most companies won't even consider you if you don't have a B.S. in the field or several years experience. Heck, a lot of them want a B.S. + a couple years. Go back to school, you'll be glad you did.

I have a B.S. in CS and 10 years experience, and I still an struggling finding something decent. Been laid off twice in 4 years, (1 company closed, the other downsized) currently stuck back in a tech support job. It's depressing to go from Network admin asst. to web admin to tech support. I'm making less than half of what I did 4 years ago.

If you get a decent job in IT, stay put. It seems like unless someone dies or retires I can't find a job lately. I wish I stuck with accounting in college.

 

[sourceninja]

Moral of the story: 90% of interviews are pointless because the dude behind the desk is just going to hire his friend.

Actually, I was only 1 out of 5 votes in the decision to hire who we hired. I was no present in his interview due to conflict of interest. I simply told the CIO he should be considered and he trusted me because I am a good worker.

We all agreed on 2 choices and the CIO interviewed both of them and went with my friend. I think if anything the point was that without a degree you are not even going to get in the door without a insider helping you.