IT Training

[edscdk]

That's pretty much exactly what I'm saying - having worked in the industry for the past ten years, I've yet to see more than a couple of folk go up the ladder with a computer science degree. I have seen multiple comp sci grads waltz into a business full of confidence, only to leave very quickly a few weeks later.

Someone with a comp sci degree doesn't know their elbow from their arse in computing terms, let alone how to design/ administrate a network.

I'd also hazard a guess that in networking terms, the guy with the cisco qualification would win EVERY SINGLE TIME against the guy with a degree in networking. One is hands on practical experience that requires someone to know how to configure cisco kit to a good degree, the other is four years of theory where the most experience with networking gear was in a classroom where a prof stated that a large part of the net runs on cisco kit.

(I also question the qualifications of any 'IT professional' who can't spell cisco).

I think mcse + no experience is probably on a par with a degree to be fair...

however anyone with mcse is likley to have some experience...

 

[log1K]

Wow - I have to say there is a lot of anger between the two camps here.

Degree's can help, education is massively important in all areas of professional life. I do however believe as it's been mentioned that experience is key. How you go about getting your foot in the door is to be honest, not important.

I have two MCITP certifications, and a MCSE. I have my CCNA and various other certs I've gained over the last 9 years. But if I was to say which one has benefited me the most, professionally. It would have to be without a shadow of doubt the Prince2 and ITIL.

I am currently 2 years into a business with computing degree for my own personal development, with blot on modules of extra's such as English (Yes, I need it as you can tell) and Psychology (Watered down modules I'll add).
This is done with OU and over many years. Will this help? Yes I believe it will.

I tend to think, rather than arguing about which route is best; why not ask yourself what area of IT you wish to work in, then where do you wish to end up? What kind of roles would you wish to undertake on that journey?
I started out as a technical tea boy and general shadow. Then worked domestic market, SMB, then moving up to enterprise. But, I have to mention I do not want to be technical all my life. The thirst for the 'gadgets / toys' dies off, and you will be asked (due to experience) at some stage to take a more senior position. Which I see most people wish to do at some stage.

I say learn as much as you can when you're young to impress your peers and give yourself the satisfaction of knowing your qualified. Degree or Job based certification. It really makes no difference along as it's relevant to what you wish to do.

Good luck OP.

 

[Dugganator]

lol, I have a MSCE. Reason why I'm doing my degree is because pretty much every employer I've talked to couldn't give a rats ass about it .

Most companies don't care what you're doing as long as you're educated and you're not doing a mickey mouse degree like history or philosophy.

Although yeah, if you want to be an electrician or a plumber then certainly go get all the certificates you want. But don't tell me an employer would take someone with a MCSE or some Cysco certificate over someone with a degree in computer science or networking

You have an MCSE but your doing a law degree err ok. Surely you would earn more money in law anyway if you get a good degree? I'm sure i would rather work in law then IT if im completely honest.

The only thing I can say is that looking at your location being Canada it could be different out there. In the UK its completely different, experiance always wins regardless unless your applying for a graduate post and there is a reason they call them graduate posts.

As someone said here in this post if you have an MCSE with no experiance its the same as a degree really. Nearly all the jobs I have ever applied for have a technical test to get an understanding of how much you know and that your right for the job. Simple rule here is you will know straight away if your right or wrong for the job. And at the higher levels there is no chance in hell that someone with a degree and no experiance could pass these tests hence why a lot tend to start in the lower jobs and work there way up quickly from there.

You can get the lucky people but normally the jobs are with bigger companies like Microsoft or IBM but are advertised as graduate job because of the in house training they can give and develop people. Private companies want people that can hit the ground running so to speak 99% of the time as they have small teams and smaller training budgets.