IT Certifications and Careers (Official Discussion Thread)

[Redguard]

Is getting a degree in an IT related field such as networking worth it?

I am going to school part time and my tuition is covered by my employer. The only issue is I currently hate my job and my job schedule.

I was wondering if I would be better off just trying to find a help desk or desktop support job.

I already have a bachelors in an unrelated field and I just got the A+ certification. I just don't have much experience except for a 5 month seasonal role in the IT department at my employer.

 

[Spin]

Is getting a degree in an IT related field such as networking worth it?

I am going to school part time and my tuition is covered by my employer. The only issue is I currently hate my job and my job schedule.

I was wondering if I would be better off just trying to find a help desk or desktop support job.

I already have a bachelors in an unrelated field and I just got the A+ certification. I just don't have much experience except for a 5 month seasonal role in the IT department at my employer.

If you have a bachelors degree then another degree at the same level isn't going to help you. If they're paying for classes, see if you can find a class in cyber security, AWS, or something useful. While you're looking for an IT job, find a non-profit and do some freelance IT work even if it's free. Leverage everything you can and attend meetups in your city.

 

[xXMASHERXx]

Is getting a degree in an IT related field such as networking worth it?

I am going to school part time and my tuition is covered by my employer. The only issue is I currently hate my job and my job schedule.

I was wondering if I would be better off just trying to find a help desk or desktop support job.

I already have a bachelors in an unrelated field and I just got the A+ certification. I just don't have much experience except for a 5 month seasonal role in the IT department at my employer.

Don't focus too much on not having a degree in IT. Have you looked at what IT positions are open at your current job? With a Bachelor's and an A+ you should at the very least qualify for a helpdesk position. And like Spin said, I would use the money going towards tuition to take some classes towards a certification/training. Do you know what IT area you would like to go into?

 

[Hahahaha]

Is getting a degree in an IT related field such as networking worth it?

I am going to school part time and my tuition is covered by my employer. The only issue is I currently hate my job and my job schedule.

I was wondering if I would be better off just trying to find a help desk or desktop support job.

I already have a bachelors in an unrelated field and I just got the A+ certification. I just don't have much experience except for a 5 month seasonal role in the IT department at my employer.

if your work will pay for degrees, look into a school like WGU which is competency based and the IT courses are based on certifications. They'll provide you vouchers to take the exams and it's a decent loophole to save money.

 

[Redguard]

Don't focus too much on not having a degree in IT. Have you looked at what IT positions are open at your current job? With a Bachelor's and an A+ you should at the very least qualify for a helpdesk position. And like Spin said, I would use the money going towards tuition to take some classes towards a certification/training. Do you know what IT area you would like to go into?

Well I was going into networking. I took and passed the Cisco net academy at my community college. Currently I am preparing for the CCENT. I want to be a network engineer.

I have thought about trying programming but I'm not good at math.

The IT department at my job doesn't have any openings. Their staff is full. The manager told me that one of the support technicians is going on a leave of absence next month so he may bring me in for a month to take his place.

 

[xXMASHERXx]

Well I was going into networking. I took and passed the Cisco net academy at my community college. Currently I am preparing for the CCENT. I want to be a network engineer.

I have thought about trying programming but I'm not good at math.

The IT department at my job doesn't have any openings. Their staff is full. The manager told me that one of the support technicians is going on a leave of absence next month so he may bring me in for a month to take his place.

In that case I would try to pass the CCNA R&S before leaving your current job since they are willing to pay for classes and I assume the cost of the test. Then once you pass it, start looking for some junior network admin/engineer roles.

 

[Silkk]

Like my job but I think its time for me to make a move

I miss them contract + OT checks

 

[Sonny Bonds]

What is up with recruiters? I put my resume on Dice and I've been getting phone calls from (mainly Indian) recruiters. One called me today about a job (yeah, on Saturday).

Hell, what's with the entire interview process taking forever? Or the amount of hoops you have to jump through just for a desktop support role?


For a part time 30 hour/week temporary role (that pays more than I made at my full time job):
May 25 - I applied to a temp part time
June 1 - Video Interview (went perfectly)
June 12 - Sent a follow up email
Jun 15 - "How about another video interview tomorrow?"
Jun 16 - Video Interview #2
Jun 21 - "What's your preferred name and phone number?" - i replied the same day
Jul 3 - "Oh yeah, Welcome to the team" - I replied that I'd love to join the team
I haven't heard anything since.

For a full time job, I'm in the running for I had an hour long phone interview with the IT manager. The next step is an in-person interview. I have to meet 5 people one after the other for 30 minutes each. The whole process is gonna take 2 and a half hours. If I wasn't unemployed, I would've had to take time off to do this.

 

[Silkk]

What is up with recruiters? I put my resume on Dice and I've been getting phone calls from (mainly Indian) recruiters. One called me today about a job (yeah, on Saturday).

Hell, what's with the entire interview process taking forever? Or the amount of hoops you have to jump through just for a desktop support role?


For a part time 30 hour/week temporary role (that pays more than I made at my full time job):
May 25 - I applied to a temp part time
June 1 - Video Interview (went perfectly)
June 12 - Sent a follow up email
Jun 15 - "How about another video interview tomorrow?"
Jun 16 - Video Interview #2
Jun 21 - "What's your preferred name and phone number?" - i replied the same day
Jul 3 - "Oh yeah, Welcome to the team" - I replied that I'd love to join the team
I haven't heard anything since.

For a full time job, I'm in the running for I had an hour long phone interview with the IT manager. The next step is an in-person interview. I have to meet 5 people one after the other for 30 minutes each. The whole process is gonna take 2 and a half hours. If I wasn't unemployed, I would've had to take time off to do this.

A lot of them are just dikkheads looking to submit as many resumes to their clients as possible and don't give a fukk about the actual recruits.

 

[Mr Rager]

What is up with recruiters? I put my resume on Dice and I've been getting phone calls from (mainly Indian) recruiters. One called me today about a job (yeah, on Saturday).

Hell, what's with the entire interview process taking forever? Or the amount of hoops you have to jump through just for a desktop support role?


For a part time 30 hour/week temporary role (that pays more than I made at my full time job):
May 25 - I applied to a temp part time
June 1 - Video Interview (went perfectly)
June 12 - Sent a follow up email
Jun 15 - "How about another video interview tomorrow?"
Jun 16 - Video Interview #2
Jun 21 - "What's your preferred name and phone number?" - i replied the same day
Jul 3 - "Oh yeah, Welcome to the team" - I replied that I'd love to join the team
I haven't heard anything since.

For a full time job, I'm in the running for I had an hour long phone interview with the IT manager. The next step is an in-person interview. I have to meet 5 people one after the other for 30 minutes each. The whole process is gonna take 2 and a half hours. If I wasn't unemployed, I would've had to take time off to do this.

What kind of questions do they ask?

 

[Spin]

What is up with recruiters? I put my resume on Dice and I've been getting phone calls from (mainly Indian) recruiters. One called me today about a job (yeah, on Saturday).

Hell, what's with the entire interview process taking forever? Or the amount of hoops you have to jump through just for a desktop support role?


For a part time 30 hour/week temporary role (that pays more than I made at my full time job):
May 25 - I applied to a temp part time
June 1 - Video Interview (went perfectly)
June 12 - Sent a follow up email
Jun 15 - "How about another video interview tomorrow?"
Jun 16 - Video Interview #2
Jun 21 - "What's your preferred name and phone number?" - i replied the same day
Jul 3 - "Oh yeah, Welcome to the team" - I replied that I'd love to join the team
I haven't heard anything since.

For a full time job, I'm in the running for I had an hour long phone interview with the IT manager. The next step is an in-person interview. I have to meet 5 people one after the other for 30 minutes each. The whole process is gonna take 2 and a half hours. If I wasn't unemployed, I would've had to take time off to do this.

Noticed the same games being played. I have shifted to applying less and meeting more companies at meetups and joining specialist IT groups. It seems the "general" IT market is flooded with people.

Someone on another board mentioned something I think is true. Example, While there are many Windows system admin jobs available, there are plenty of people out there with Windows experience. There are fewer Linux total jobs available, but there is a shortage of qualified candidates. Specialization is key.

 

[No Homo]

Like my job but I think its time for me to make a move

I miss them contract + OT checks

You aint never lied plus i dont really like where im at

 

[No Homo]

@GollyImGully You did your aws yet? I slacked off

 

[GollyImGully]

@GollyImGully You did your aws yet? I slacked off

Im working on it you know how things go

But nah seriously I put it to the side for now. I've been doing studying for the CCNA security for the past month. That will help me more currently than the AWS.

I am going to revisit it down the line when Im actually using it more but right now I'd prob forget it in in a month than with the cisco stuff id be doing it everyday

 

[BVII]

A local hospital near me has an opening for a help desk analyst that only requires a degree or an A+ cert. I graduate with a BS in IT in December and in the mean time between now and December I could probably get a A+ cert also. I won't be able to start until mid December though, so would it be worth it for me to apply?