Information Technology Job Market

I am looking for answers to a simple question. What is more important for finding a job in the information technology sector: information technology related degrees or certifications?

 

Certifications demontrate knoweldge in a technology. A degree demonstrates knowledge in problem solving. Your BS should have tought you project management - which transcends technolgoy.

A certification may bring more money for newer technology. But to maintain that salary, you will have to pursue certification in yet newer technolgies.

 

I disagree. Certifications demonstrate how well you can remember the information required. They do not accurately reflect one's ability in said field. Cert's with experience are a must. It wasn't like that about 5 years ago. It was more or less, if you knew your stuff, then the cert didn't really matter that much. Now companies are going back to the Cert required mentality after so many people who didn't know their stuff flooded the field.

 

Which is what I said - certs demonstrate a knowledge, albiet not a complete knowlege. Of course book knowlege has less value without any application to suppliment it.

But you make a good point - The ease in which a cert can be had dilutes its value. More and more people are taking the shortcuts to a carreer - which may pay off in the beginning.

Fast forward many years - do you want to be a 45 year old taking another certification to maintain your salary when your employer can hire some kid out of school that is eager to work longer and get paid less?

A degree will impart the skills necessary to manage those kids.

 

knowlege denotes understanding which is not the same as the ability to remember. But now we're getting into sematics.. and I hate semantics. Needless to say, Freddy and I are of the same mindset that in order to get a good job in the IT field, you must have a sought after certification(s) and have some level of experience.

 

So, Jim, with your insight on the IT industry, what areas of certification/education should one focus on for a degree in say 4 years? Before you ask, yes I'm looking for another line of work and since I have a basic understanding of .html, .asp, .php, .xhtml, routers, networking, etc. I am investigating the idea of going back to school part time to get an IT degree. What should a 44 year old look into getting?

 

• stay away from PC repair.
• Programming is the new manufacturing
• Networking is always crazy
• Security is just starting to get the buzz

Security is my suggestion.

 

Hmm, experience had gotten me where certifications did not.

Certifications demonstrate ability to memorize and cram for tests, while not neccesarily understanding the course material.

Degrees on the other hand involve a lot more time and give more exposure to the subject, but still can be memorized and not neccesarily comprehended.

You have to start somewhere, but don't go through 4 years of school, or cram for certification and expect to be rich after you finish them, you will still have to start somewhere and that somewhere may not be where you want to start.

Nothing is better than experience, as I have about 17 years of personal experience toying around with computers (and I'm only 28).

 

Thank you all for commenting. I actually thought more people would respond.

Here's the deal. I have a degree and experience with computers. What I lack are certifications. My opinion, the certification does not demonstrate knowledge or capability. I have only taken one test -- 070-210 with a score of 674. Please don't give me a bad time about it. I actually read material and studied for it. I took the practice exams that came with the books. I ran into some material I didn't expect. They felt more like server based questions than workstation questions. Anyway, I'm finding it hard to get back into the technology sector because I lack the certifications. That includes getting a simple help desk job. Is that a true reflection of the market?

Thanks,

 

unfortunately the typical starting point for helpdesk is the A+ certification.

 

A security pro can pull in well above $100K in the right markets. Its a big concern in banking, financial and health industruies where security and privacy are subject to regulation. And do not confuse security with knowledge of hacking.

 

There are several network security certifications to achieve. Which one holds the most value -- not in monatery terms?

 

bottom line

a cert says you can. a bs says you learned how
no matter the occupation

people want results
if you want a career in mngt keep the bs
if you want to do something get the certs

 

Actually, I would like to break into network administration, network security, and possibly network design.

 

design network admin security

 

network administration sucks .. don't do it. Go security for networks. I would do that myself but I hate networking.

 

I hope you'll excuse me, but I'm going to have a little rant:-

To set the scene, I've been playing with computers since I had a ZX80 when I was about 10, I did a year at Uni doing Mechanical Engineering, decided it wasn't for me and moved to a course doing "Multimedia Computing". It sounded good at the time but it was just a bit of everything. I was going to stick with it until I was told, because I'd already done a year, my year doing computing wasn't paid for and the Uni sent me a bill for £2500. I couldn't pay that and subsequently, they wouldn't give me the results for my first year and I couldn't proceed onto the second.

I did a couple of years odd-jobbing, then got a job as a technician at a local hospital. After 18 months doing that, I applied for a job as sysadmin of the CRIS (Computerised Radiology Information System) and PACS (Picture Archive and Communication Systems). I'm not the system manager, that's still beyond me , but getting there.

My real annoyance is that while I worked as a Technician, I had admin rights, now they've been taken off me because i work for Radiology, not IM&T (Fortunately, the techies in IM&T keep giving me the admin passwords to the machines, otherwise I'd have to call them every time I wanted to intall a scanner)

OK, that's the rant over , but I have no formal qualifications, but getting paid a reasonable wage (£17,000ish - erm about $34000ish of the top of my head) and enjoying my job.

I was lucky in getting the first techie job, there were a couple of good people interviewing that could tell the difference between what people said they knew and what people knew.

BTW, I agree basic network admin is crap, at least I get to chase lost X-Rays around the system

Erm, after all that, no real advice, if you are good at what you do, eventually, someone will recognise it. If not, I think there is soon going to be a market for "digital plumbers" that can install a basic home network and secure home PC's. To be honest, I think there is soon going to be a formal standard for "digital plumbers", they don't (initially) need to know about heavy duty hardware firewalls etc, just to make a home network secure. It would make a good starting point.

Ooh, long post (for me), time for bed I think. I would be interested to see what others think of the "digital plumber" idea, I have seen it in the papers here in the UK a few months ago?

 

Wales is a long way from Texas. But, I enjoyed the post. Anymore comments out there? Where are the IT Mgrs? Do those guys/gals have any comments?