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| * degree OR CERTIFICATION?
A question that appears often is whether someone
looking to break
into the IT field should pursue a college degree or an IT
certification.
The simple answer is that these people should pursue both
credentials,
but that option isn't always feasible.
The most obvious advantage of a college degree over
certification is
that a degree doesn't expire. Whether you obtained your
bachelor's
degree in 1962 or 2002, it's good for life. Also, degrees
are often
prerequisites for management positions. Many IT
professionals,
especially those in their 20s, don't envision a management
career.
However--and I speak from experience--interests change.
The hands-on
network administration that's fun when you're 24 can
become tedious
after several years. Even some staff positions require a
degree. Many
companies relaxed this requirement in the late 1990s with
the dot-com
boom, but supply and demand now favor employers; the
degree
requirement for staff positions is reappearing as a way
for companies
to filter out candidates. The most obvious disadvantage of
a degree is
that it takes much longer to earn than the typical IT
certification.
Another real concern for IT professionals is that unlike
IT training,
degree programs rarely impart relevant job skills. College
is often
more about teaching you how to learn than about providing
specific
vocational skills.
An advantage of IT certification is that you can usually
use self-
study to prepare for and pass exams, so you can often set
your own
hours. Likewise, if you don't take classroom training, you
can become
certified for much less money than what you must spend to
attend even
the least-expensive community college. However,
certifications fall in
and out of favor, and they typically lose value over time.
If a
particular vendor certification becomes popular and is in
high demand,
you'll see the market gradually become flooded with people
certified
in that particular area. The ease of becoming certified
can be
detrimental. Whether people are cheating to become
certified or
changing careers and obtaining certifications that far
exceed their
experience levels, the process creates a situation wherein
holding a
certification doesn't always demonstrate a given level of
competence
with a product, which can defeat the purpose of becoming
certified in
the first place.
Your personal circumstances can naturally make obtaining a
degree more
or less difficult. If you're 21 years old and single,
you'll likely
find it easier to go to college than would a 40 year old
with a family
to provide for. However, history has shown that although a
degree
isn't an absolute requirement for becoming a successful IT
professional, it helps. Many people complain that degree
curriculums
don't give graduates enough specific job skills, but
colleges do teach
a broad range of knowledge and provide experiences that
are valuable
in the IT world. I earned my degree in history and
psychology--hardly
the most technical of fields. However, I can't count how
many times
I've drawn on what I studied in college, inside and
outside of my
majors. But my certifications have also been valuable in
getting me to
where I am in my career.
You won't find a perfect solution for all situations, but
experience
on both sides of the equation can only help you. If you
have the
opportunity to go to college and obtain a degree, you
should. You
might not immediately understand the need for the degree,
but it will
always be there for you, and it will open many doors that
might
otherwise have remained closed. Certification, of course,
works best
when you couple it with experience--which makes
certification a
logical choice after you've put in some time on the job.
Whatever path
you choose, know that IT is an ongoing process of
education and
learning. Technology always advances, and you must
continue to advance
yourself to stay ahead of the game.
>-----Original Message-----
>Sorry for being late. i have no acces to a computer since
>school was closed. I belive that collage should be in the
>the choice. Employers look for employees that are well
>rounded and school gives you skills that some
>certification cannot!!!!!!
>.
>
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