So, like a lot of people I'm not happy with my current job and I'm looking at options for the future. I'm about to turn 25, so I'm still young and can for the most part still do whatever I choose in terms of a career. I have always had interest in them and almost chose Computer Science as my major and while I'm fairly handy with a computer, I am by no means an expert. Now that I'm out of school (and can't find a job worth a crap) I'm starting to think I should start chasing the computer idea again, but I'm not sure where to start. I know from personal experience that many people employed in the IT field do not have fancy degrees, but instead get hired on a basis of specific skill sets, so I'm wondering what certifications might be the best to obtain these days. For starters I think I could get HTML and Microsoft Office certified fairly easily (possibly even this very minute), but what else makes the most sense once I've got those? There are so many out there... (Yes, I realize it will take time and yes I realize it can get expensive, and no I don't have a particular job in mind) *waiting for computer gurus to rip me a new one for some reason*
still at the same job u were 3 months ago? what degree do u currently have? In the IT world, it seems like its experience first, degree second, but a degree does help you a whole lot, then again thats just my experience. I was lucky that my first job was working call center tech support for 6+ years and got me into another call center but twice the pay, thats not saying much, but its good money while I am still working on my degree. good luck on what u want to do, its tough to figure out what the hell u want to do for a career, even back in high school. by the way, didn't know I was older than u, although by just a few months probably since I just turned 25 last month, i feel old
Yep, still at the same job. In the development department at a place that shall remain nameless. I'm sort of a jack of all trades there. Data entry, publishing online newsletters, some graphic design stuff, helping supervise the summer camp we run, participating in the safety committee, and figuring out lots of other people's issues that somehow get passed along to me. My supervisor told me about a week ago that I'm probably going to start being in charge of reviewing/editing all the content that goes on our website too. No, it's not that difficult of a job, but everyone I work with tells me I do way too much for what I'm paid (which is not much), but it's a non-profit and thus raises are like water in the desert. That's why I'm looking to move on soon. I mean, making gobs of money isn't essential to my happiness, but I can't even afford to move out on what I make now. It's unacceptable! I'll be 25 on Sept. 6th. you old ass mother****er.
haha b*stard i think I misread your first post, when u said your out of school, as in got a degree? or just stop going for now?
OS certifications are worthless except for maybe some UNIX/LINUX ones as long as you have experience. The only certifications that are worth anything are technology/vendor specific. Oracle DB2 EMC Cisco SQL server and so on.
yeah these are pretty much the bread and butter of what gets paid. Database Admins make bu coo money so all those server related ones will help out. On top of that, a degree plus a cert might make u just that much more enticing for a company. ohh btw, i'm not saying your dumb, but comp sci is a pretty tough major. Lots of theoretical math. It takes a little more than just being handy with a screwdriver.
It's cool. I'm not dumb, I just didn't know what I wanted to do and I was coming up on absolutely having to choose a major so I went with the class I was most passionate about at the time. Unfortunately (in terms of getting paid) that class was Sociology, which I have a BA in. I was just trying to get into a field where I'd genuinely enjoy my work and worry about everything else later. Now I realize that what I would genuinely enjoy is actually being able to pay for ****. I'll look into the things you guys mentioned. Thanks.
A lots of people misunderstood the idea of computer science. CS is not just about the skills of operating a computer. Most of CS courses involve intense mathematic like calculus, linear algebra, and discrete math. So if you don't like math, this degree isn't for you. If you just want to gain more skills in operating a computer, you should take master MIS degree. It's more application oriented.
MIS is pretty much a poor man's Comp Sci. i'm in the UH undergrad MIS program right now. It'll basically programming lite. U can take a turn into a real technical path of MIS which would be programming with all those certs and stuff. MIS could also take u down the path of a very business oriented path that your sociology degree might be very applicable for. U can deal with the people and see what needs to be changed and how it gets changed.
I don't know if I agree on that. Maybe your MIS program is different from mine. I started out CS but I switched to MIS because CS was not what I expected.
Well from what I understand, CS and MIS boils down to programming. MIS has a focus on the business aspect of things in addition to programming so therefore it does not focus so much on the technicalities of programming like CS.
I've been working in IT for 8 years now. Dropped out of college when i was 19, and took my first job doing asset inventory for $10/hour back in 1999. I got my MCSE on NT 4 and Win2k along the way, but honestly the MCSE doesn't hold nearly as much weight these days as it used to. In fact, most certs don't mean jack squat if you don't have the experience to back it up. I eventually moved my way up the desktop support ranks, to general network admin type stuff, and for the past 4 years I've been more specialized as an IIS (web) administrator. I'm now making around 80k/year. Experience is EVERYTHING in this industry. The tough part is finding a company that will give you an opportunity to move up and advance your career....that was the hardest part for me.
Also, as for the difference between an M.I.S. and a Comp Science degree. I've always thought that MIS was more geared for someone that wanted to work on the infrastructure side of things, while computer science was designed for people that were looking to go into development.
This is exactly what I have been told. The certs and degrees do help if you are in the running for an entry-level job against a non-graduate/cert holder because it shows you have some experience and knowledge in the field but if that same person has experience in the field they will probably be taken over you. The real or good money does not start until you gain some REAL WORLD experience in the field and gained the knowledge in these settings. Honestly, if I can find anything starting between $12-15 per hour when I graduate I will be happy, I mean I am making $10 an hour now and I am fine. All I am looking for is a little bit more than that to start off.
Go apply for Verizon Wireless data support. The job itself sucks but pays $16+ per hour and when I was still with them they would pay for you to take A+ and MCDST classes and exams.
So true. I started as a CS at UH then I realized there was way too much math and programming. I graduated with a Computer Engineering Technology degree. I don't know how to engineer anything
