What Can I Do In 2 Years?

[Balla]

I have 2 years left of college and I'm not getting a stem degree. I just plan on finishing it because I already put a lot of time into it.

My plan is to get certs while I finish these 2 years and plan to get experience as well for IT.

What can I do in these 2 years? How many certs can I get? What certs should I get? What jobs should I go for etc.?

I'm trying to be able to have a career set up before I'm done with school.

If I can do helpdesk for one year, then move to another position after a year, then do that again the year after I'll do that.

 

[acri1]

If you don't have any experience I'd just get the A+ and Network+ certs.

But the absolute best thing you can do is try to get some experience BEFORE you finish college. It'll make it way easier to find a job once you finish. When I was still in college I worked a part-time tech support job for $10/hr, and I had an advantage since I already had IT experience by the time I graduated.

So my advice is get at least your A+ and then try to find a part-time tech support/helpdesk type of job while you're still in school. If there are any call centers in your area (Comcast, etc.) see if they're hiring for tech support.

 

[O.T.I.S.]

Anything really, depends on how much you delegate your time.

If you can put away 2 hours a day everyday to study a Comptia stack of entry level certs you could probably have all 3 by the end of the year

 

[Cynic]

I built my old business mid college taking a STEM degree.

You will be fine...I’d recommend focusing on getting money and getting skills like coldcalling and lead generation.

Discipline will be your greatest challenge

 

[Freedman]

It's kind of hustling backwards to spend 2 years getting degree just because If you plan to get into a totally unrelated field

 

[acri1]

It's kind of hustling backwards to spend 2 years getting degree just because If you plan to get into a totally unrelated field

Not necessarily.

Degree probably won't make much money right out of school, but just having one helps you avoid hitting a glass ceiling later on in your career. I've seen plenty of cases where older, more experienced people get passed up for promotions because they don't have a degree and a younger person ends up getting the job.

 

[Balla]

I know what u mean bruh, but I heard a lot of positions require a bachelor's, so I'm just getting it to fall back on.

I'm so angry I didn't know about IT before I started college because I would have got my associates in IT.

It's kind of hustling backwards to spend 2 years getting degree just because If you plan to get into a totally unrelated field

 

[Balla]

What do you mean by comptia stack?

Is that a real thing or do you mean to study all three during the 2 hours a day?

Could I really have those 3 by the end of this year?

Wish I knew this sooner, fukk.

Anything really, depends on how much you delegate your time.

If you can put away 2 hours a day everyday to study a Comptia stack of entry level certs you could probably have all 3 by the end of the year

 

[Balla]

When you say focus on getting money, you mean any kind of job or a certain kind?

Do you mean work full time or something ?

Ain't gonna lie I do wanna experience the college life.

How did you manage to do all of that while getting a stem degree?

I built my old business mid college taking a STEM degree.

You will be fine...I’d recommend focusing on getting money and getting skills like coldcalling and lead generation.

Discipline will be your greatest challenge

 

[O.T.I.S.]

What do you mean by comptia stack?

Is that a real thing or do you mean to study all three during the 2 hours a day?

Could I really have those 3 by the end of this year?

Wish I knew this sooner, fukk.

Nah, not studying all 3 but just going from one to another. They kind of all play off each other going upwards and just primarily focusing on different things.

A+ is more basic computer knowledge. Basically building and troubleshooting PC's and Operating systems...

Network+ is just using what you learned from A+ and adding the basic knowledge of how a network of multiple computers work together/communicate.

Security + is basically how to secure that network.

Cysa+ is basically how to use the tools to secure your network, etc.,


CCNA goes into more in depth about how to build, operate, and maintain a network instead of basic troubleshooting knowledge like N+.

ETC. About 2 hours a day for a month or a month and 1/2 should get you any one of those except probably CCNA or CYSA (unless you know a lil about Linux commands).

And thats AT LEAST 2 hours a day. I studied for over 7 hours the other day just to recertify my Sec+. I got almost 20 hours of studying this week in..

I am studying now for about 3 hours, just hanging on the Coli during my break between lessons. Then I'm off to gym and probably gonna finish the night studying

 

[Balla]

How u do all that studying ? I'm tryna get like that fr.

This is the first time where I'm studying something on my own without it being school.

I'm trying to focus on all of this (school, certs, coding, etc.)

Nah, not studying all 3 but just going from one to another. They kind of all play off each other going upwards and just primarily focusing on different things.

A+ is more basic computer knowledge. Basically building and troubleshooting PC's and Operating systems...

Network+ is just using what you learned from A+ and adding the basic knowledge of how a network of multiple computers work together/communicate.

Security + is basically how to secure that network.

Cysa+ is basically how to use the tools to secure your network, etc.,


CCNA goes into more in depth about how to build, operate, and maintain a network instead of basic troubleshooting knowledge like N+.

ETC. About 2 hours a day for a month or a month and 1/2 should get you any one of those except probably CCNA or CYSA (unless you know a lil about Linux commands).

And thats AT LEAST 2 hours a day. I studied for over 7 hours the other day just to recertify my Sec+. I got almost 20 hours of studying this week in..

I am studying now for about 3 hours, just hanging on the Coli during my break between lessons. Then I'm off to gym and probably gonna finish the night studying

 

[O.T.I.S.]

How u do all that studying ? I'm tryna get like that fr.

This is the first time where I'm studying something on my own without it being school.

I'm trying to focus on all of this (school, certs, coding, etc.)

Basically just taking Udemy courses and CBT cert courses and managing time on off days or outside of work.

Even when away from the computer...

Udemy/CBT Nuggets lets you know how long the courses will be and how much you've gone through with it in time. I'm just basically watching the vids/listening and taking my own notes. Just like being in regular class to me.

There's an app called Quizlet that I use when I'm away from my computer and might be doing something that doesn't require my complete attention. It's like flashcards or a game to get definitions and acronyms right.

You could also watch shows catered to IT stuff when you're not studying. A few of my favorites are "Person Of Interest" and "Mr. Robot".

Then when all thats said and done, find a good study guide/All in one and go through it.


And honestly, I've been slacking with all of that

 

[Cynic]

When you say focus on getting money, you mean any kind of job or a certain kind?

Do you mean work full time or something ?

Ain't gonna lie I do wanna experience the college life.

How did you manage to do all of that while getting a stem degree?

No, I mean buying and flipping stuff or creating your own products or selling big ticket items for a commission.

I outsourced a lot of the grunt work so I could focus on sales, reinvested and kept
going. Nearly dropped out because I was making too much money but stuck with it.

Chemistry and math came easy to me so I guess I was lucky but I had zero interest in entering the field.

 

[Balla]

I have no idea how to even get started with it.

Is there a thread on this? If not, could you give me some advice on how to start this if you have time ?

No, I mean buying and flipping stuff or creating your own products or selling big ticket items for a commission.

I outsourced a lot of the grunt work so I could focus on sales, reinvested and kept
going. Nearly dropped out because I was making too much money but stuck with it.

Chemistry and math came easy to me so I guess I was lucky but I had zero interest in entering the field.

 

[KingTut]

Honestly with 2 years left if I were you I'd just switch my major. Depending on if you want to major in IT or CS you might just need to take an extra semester.