Certifications and IT jobs/Salaries

Author

A glimmer of hope

pro_it_gr8

2004-01-03, 6:04 am

I can't believe I am posting this message as I was one of the thousands scouring IT forums for a glimmer of IT job hope.

It is not impossible to find an IT job if you have the right attitude and some good background. Since graduating from college with an Associate degree in database, I've landed two entry level jobs. The first was not what I wanted, it was as a mainframe operator. I didn't have a clue about mainframes, but I had done so well in college, it got my foot in the door. I figured beggars can't be choosy in today's market and I took the job just to get IT experience. (btw, While I was there they graciously paid for my A+ cert). I had often heard that networking was the way to get jobs in IT. I thought that was hogwash for someone like me who new NOBODY in the IT industry. But, as it turns out, keeping in touch with my instructors from school turned out to be all the networking I needed. Another opportunity came along that was closer to my interests. The job was not advertised, only local academic instituions were told of the opening. I went for the interview along with dozens of other students from competing shcools. Because of the EXPERIENCE of the first job, I was offered the job on the spot. It is still a far cry from my target, but I'm not exactly on the bottom step of the stairs anymore.

About certifications...
I don't think certifications by themselves are going to do much good for aspiring new IT people. You've got to get something under belt, experience, accomplishments, or even an associate degree. Your exposure to college can help you out in more ways than one. I developed excellent references using my college professors and they allowed me to break into a new career. By the way, I am 39 and switching careers. Don't let your age hold you back.

Good luck future IT people.

bloodshotx

2004-01-05, 11:18 am

good luck.

High end certifications are important imho. However a degree is needed these days. May I ask why you didn't go for 4 years ?

pro_it_gr8

2004-01-08, 4:10 am

quote:
Originally posted by bloodshotx
May I ask why you didn't go for 4 years ?

Let me preface that I am taking additional classes toward a four year degree but at much less a vigorous pace. I plan on concentrating more on certifications at this point.
Now, place yourself in my shoes... You are about to finish your two year degree. You have landed an entry level job as an operator for a data center. You discover that there are three other recently hired operators (wihtin he past two years). One has a two year degree. One has a Bachelors in Computer Science. The third has a Masters degree in teaching and a two year degree in IT. Keep in mind we are all being paid the same. After about six months, a help-desk analyst position becomes open. This is pretty much the same thing we are already doing as operators except the position is on dayshift. All the operators put in for the job. The person with the associate degree has just received his A+ certification and he gets the job over the other candidates. Now by this time I have finished my degree, I also have landed my A+ cert and I have started my first set of classes for a four year degree. I begin having doubts about the worth of continuing in college. I have just witnessed a person with a two year degree with minimal experience and an A+ certification beat out candidates with masters and bachelors degrees. I must confess that this person was also more "talkative" with management than the others too, introducing an element of politics.
Seeing that it will likely be serveral years before another position for advancement opens with this company, I take advantage of a tip from my instructor about another job. Now this is a bit ironic, but I won the job over people who had major certifications that would have helped them had they been going for a higher level postion. But as it was, I had direct experience and the certifications they had were only indirectly related to this position. But I digress, back to the 4 year degree. Once there, I learned that the majority of people doing the same work I am, have four year degrees. One is in computer science and several others are in IT management. Once again, I question the value of pursuing further college. I have repeatedly seen people with 4 year degrees unable to do any better than I can with a 2 year degree. Granted, they may not be the cream of the 4 year crop, but some of them have had impressive ability. I've noticed that once in the door, certifications seem to rule. It seems there is a balancing act required for the "three legged IT stool" of certifications, college, and experience. The college helps get you in the door. Experience enables you to move laterally into other jobs that wouldn't hire you without it. Certifications help you move up within the company. Each has to be utilized when its appropriate. Expecting certifications to help you when you need college or experience just doen't work.
I intend to eventually get my four year degree hoping that perhaps it will serve me better than it has others. At the same time, I have been vastly disappointed in the IT promise of plentiful jobs and high pay (I started my endeavor just before the IT bubble busted). For that reason, I'll be concentrating on the certifications to move up in pay before investing anymore serious time and money in college.

Thanks for asking!

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