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Home > Archive > Certifications and IT jobs/Salaries > April 2004 > Is a Bachelors Degree really necessary?
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Is a Bachelors Degree really necessary?
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| dcyphr80 2004-04-06, 5:04 pm |
| To make big money in the IT field? What kind of IT jobs make big money? And what Certifications would you need to get there? | |
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| namrak 2004-04-06, 7:35 pm |
| Simply put, there is a high percentage you will need to have your Bachelor's Degree, especially in the case of attaining high-level IT roles which which incorporates management.
To a lesser degree, it will be "easier" to attain low-level IT jobs that do not require a Bachelor's Degree. If you can, cover all the bases with certifications AND having your college degree.
Minimum certifications you'll need to take a look at are CompTIA A+ and Network+ as well as Microsoft's MCSA. Hope this helps. | |
| dcyphr80 2004-04-06, 11:44 pm |
| Right now I'm taking a combo certification course in A+, Net+, CCNA, Sec+, and MCP. I just passed the A+ Hardware exam today  | |
| s2kfan 2004-04-07, 1:14 am |
| You don't need any degrees or certs to makes a lot of money, but it doesn't hurt. I know so many people who make tons of money and don't have college degrees and at the same time I know tons of people with college degrees and certs making minimum wage. | |
| dcyphr80 2004-04-07, 3:59 am |
| What kind of IT jobs can you get without any degrees or certs?? I'm sure you must have to have tons of exp then to get it. | |
| aznluvsmc 2004-04-08, 1:06 pm |
| Once you get your foot in the door, where you go from there depends on your job skills and not so much your education. You education is what's relied on to get a job. | |
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| t_bind 2004-04-08, 8:25 pm |
| While many jobs state "degree or equivalent experience required," many others require a degree no matter how much experience you have. It definitely won't hurt you. | |
| darthw 2004-04-09, 4:33 pm |
| A degree, as well as certs, as well as experience, as well as customer service skills, are all keys to getting in the door. On its own, one of those keys may be enough for one job, while all 4 may be necessary to get another. It best to have as many keys in your pocket as you might need to increase your opportunity. | |
| glenn9043 2004-04-10, 7:00 am |
| Yes,Yes,Yes it is very important to get your degree. Just started job hunting a few months ago (retiring from the military). I have experience and certs (mcse 2k3 & 2000 w/exhc, ccna &ccnp), but have missed out on some jobs oppt's because I didn't get my degree. The company sets the bar and most times it requires a degree, and they won't lower the standard for anyone. The only exception may be high level certs ie...CISSP, CCIE .
Good Luck
Glenn | |
| casbot 2004-04-13, 5:34 pm |
| Degrees are nice but not required. I do agree with a previous post that the more keys you have the better the chance. However, I'm the CIO for a large banking firm and here I only have a few college classes and a couple of CLEPS (not to mention my industry certs - MCP, MCSA 2000 and 2003, MCSE 2000 and 2003, Citrix CCA, Cisco CCNA, etc).
But again, it's the employer that sets the ground criteria. However, some will take equivalent work experience that somehow equals a degree. In my book, no degree compares to hands-on experience. A piece of paper looks pretty and says you sat in many hours of classes and can read a book and pass a test, but it doesn't say that you know your stuff like the experience does.
Just my $0.02. | |
| cmelch 2004-04-13, 9:11 pm |
| I have a co-worker who claims to have a degree in computer science from a really good school in my area. It doesn't matter what kind of call she gets, her reaction is always the same..."How do you do this?", "Are you on the phone?", "Can somebody help me with this?" If you got a degree, you can go alot farther if you don't but if you don't know jack, then all the degrees and certs will not help you. | |
| necrophantasm 2004-04-17, 8:54 am |
| It is possible to get into the field and to be very successful without a degree. Getting in the door is the toughest part, and it does seem to be tougher without a degree (although having certs can make up for that sometimes). One thing I did realize though (and this will force me to get a degree in the end) is that many companies will hire you without a degree if you know your sh** and you can rise up the ranks to a senior position. However, almost all companies will not give you a management position without a degree. You might be able to become a senior engineer, but you won't be able to make MIS manager, CIO, or any of those other IT based executive jobs without one. This may not be the case, but from what I've seen and been told by the companies I work with and by others in my field it holds true in my experience. Personally, I got the certs, got the job (and then the experience), and eventually I'll get the degree. If you have the option to do it the reverse (college, certs, job) I'd go for it because I think it will be less of a struggle to get to a good salary and to get in the door following that route. |
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