Is this a good choice? Question in regards to school, and career

KrazyMofo24

I am seeking advice on what I should do in terms of a career for the next few years. I am 22 and working full-time doing tech support for home alarms, which currently pays $14/hr. I just started going back to school, and I'm well behind I have only completed 15 hours so far. I am undecided on my major, but I am leaning towards Finance, or Accounting, and a minor in real estate. I am good with computers, and enjoy them however I'm not sure I want to do it as a career.

I want a job that pays more and that I enjoy doing since I'll have to work full-time while going to school. So I am considering an IT job, I would need to get all the necessary certifications, but would I be able to find a job with the education with no experience? Would it be worth it to study and get the certifications if I am only planning on doing it for the next five years or so until I get my degree? I will do most of my studying at home, using mainly books and online resources.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Snapshot

Do what you enjoy doing most, if you like IT then stay with it. If you would rather be an accountant, then do it! Look at it this way, what can you see yourself doing 2 or 5 or 10 or 15 years from now? Where do you want to be? What's your real motivation? What puts that fire in your belly?

fatchowmein

Hey Krazy,
I'm in the DFW area and I'm 13 years your senior. I left school 10+ years ago for various reasons that were very good at the time. Now, I'm looking at going back and I'm here to tell you that it's a bit difficult once you're older (family commitment; seniority at work = your at work all the time; IT jobs come with electronic leashes call pager and blackberry). If all you've accumulated is 15 hours, so be it. Keep going.

I'm in IT. Certifications can help you compete against folks with no certifications and no experience beyond "I have a computer at home and I fix my friend's and family's computer." If you run into someone with experience who can actually communicate that experience, most employers will pick that person over you. However, if you're willing to work a terrible shift that nobody wants and you happen to be the most qualified, you'll likely get the job.

On the other hand, tech certs are very time consuming. A MCSE is 7 tests. Each tome weighs in at around 1,000+ pages. Same with Novell. A Cisco CCNA is 1 test but difficult for those without a router to practice on (you could buy an emulator). However, most companies don't want a newbie touching their network. You could get a A+ desktop cert but those jobs probably won't pay you more than what you're making right now. Programming jobs require a degree unless you're some sort of programming genius.

Yes, you could work very hard to get your cert, work very hard to find an IT job, work your way up while taking 1 or 2 classes a semester, and graduate with a degree and business experience in 5 years. Yes, it's possible but it's all up to you.

Good luck.

(P.s. Forgot to mention. There's also the need to keep up with the ever changing IT world. For example, it's 2:30AM and I have my nose in a VMware manual and my Blackberry is flashing over in the corner.)

KrazyMofo24

Thanks for the advice, I decided I'm going to do it I know it's going to be hard, but its about time I start doing things that are difficult.

jdhdiggs

If you want to be successfull, do what you enjoy and the money will come later. Picking a career by the perceived paycheck size is a sure path to misery.

tonyb

Second that,do what you enjoy,marry an ugly girl,you'll be happy for the rest of your life.

Sami

If you enjoy computers, an alternative to IT is software development. Pay is better, work more challenging. I know I enjoy my job, thanks to the current company I work for right now. With any line of job, it all depends on what kind of opportunity you get.

KrazyMofo24

I do agree picking a career solely on the salary would be a mistake. I like computers, and I have an interest on other fields. I am not sure on a major but I have a good idea, and I'm sure i'll have a better idea when I get done with the basics. I want to get the IT certifications, because I do enjoy computers, and I want a better job then I have now. Also it might end up being what I want to do as a career.

BaggedLancer

There are other business majors other than Finance and Accounting......If you enjoy business and you enjoy computers have you thought about a degree in MIS(Management Information Systems)? Here is a little passage from my school website:

In the industrial era, businesses focused on managing materials and products. In our Information Age, success means managing information effectively, which is why management information systems (MIS) has become a core function in the business world. Companies use MIS to achieve a competitive edge through the intelligent design and use of information technology (IT). Your knowledge of cutting-edge technologies will help you guide the organization to its next level of performance.

The MIS concentration teaches future managers and analysts how to use IT to help organizations perform more efficiently and effectively. Students study database management, telecommunications, system analysis and design, and program design methodologies. They also become familiar with other IT topics, such as digital multimedia, expert systems, electronic business, and knowledge management.

The College of Business Administration’s MIS program will show you how to develop tactics that allow businesses to use IT to their greatest advantage so they can deliver the right information in the right form to the right people at the right time. As a systems analyst, programmer, database designer and administrator, Web master, software help desk expert, project specialist, consultant, or network administrator, you will help companies use MIS to achieve a competitive edge through the intelligent design and use of IT.

Couple that with a minor in something like small business management of you have yourself a pretty marketable position. Also, if the MIS field isn't for you in the long run you have the management training to do something else. Be flexible when choosing your major, don't corner yourself into something too specific.

I'm 22 myself and I know the shoes you're in. Anyone who tells you don't need a degree and can get away with just certifications and minimal schooling to make really good money in todays job market is crazy. Maybe 10 years ago but that was the case, but with the coming and going of the internet boom, the level of outsourcing companies are going through, the job market is really struggling and it's nothing but a survival of the fittest, and those with degrees will always come out on top.

Good luck.

Early B.

tonyb wrote: »

...marry an ugly girl,...

This may be funny, but it's actually very sound advice. (OK, she can doesn't have to be ugly, but maybe ordinary looking.) I was watching a movie recently and a line in it went something like: "Pretty girls are for men with no imaginations." Pretty girls have too many damn ego problems.

OK, with regard to a career -- Snapshot captured the right picture.

I'll add that with only 15 hours, you don't have to worry too much about it right now. Just continue your education, take classes you may be interested in, and other opportunities may present themselves to you in the process.

wallstreet

Stay away from the programming slots unless you've decided to become an absolute wiz. So many of the programming gigs get sent to India. That said, a .net or j2ee developer can bag some serious cash with experience.

schwarcw

You can't go wrong going to business school.

I went to engineering school and never regretted it. But, it's not for everyone. A lot of studying, time in the library, laboratory, etc.

jwhitakr

BaggedLancer wrote: »

There are other business majors other than Finance and Accounting......If you enjoy business and you enjoy computers have you thought about a degree in MIS(Management Information Systems)? Here is a little passage from my school website:

Couple that with a minor in something like small business management of you have yourself a pretty marketable position. Also, if the MIS field isn't for you in the long run you have the management training to do something else. Be flexible when choosing your major, don't corner yourself into something too specific.

I'll second that. If you want to stay in the IT field, but don't want to go the software development route (which I would advise not going into), there's a lot of opportunity for MIS degrees. And, as BaggedLancer said, you can always couple that with a minor in something else that you are interested in.

School will always seem like a chore, a burden, a lot of work for no immediate return, etc. etc. etc.... but when it comes down to you interviewing versus 25 other candidates for some real nice job, you'll be glad you put in the hard work.

KrazyMofo24

Thanks for all the advice, I do appreciate it. I am going to try to the get A+ right now, if I do well in this I'll look into what direction to go from there.

I'm thinking the Network+, but I do not know if that one is that valuable to get and if its necessary. I am definitely going to look into MIS to see if that's what I should major in thank you for that consideration.

PolkThug

There is a lot of money to be made in this field. Think long term, get your MIS degree now, this will get your foot in the door at a lot of companies, then you can let your new employer pay for your certifications.

Getting your A+ first is only worth it if you know a specific company that will hire you just for having that.

KrazyMofo24

Well I do want to get a better job soon thats in the field even if it pays the same that I'm getting now. Which is why I am considering try to get a few now to at least to get entry-level job for now, that isn't a call center.

AndyGwis

I am in the IT field but in a much different role. I do sales / account management for an IT consulting / staffing firm in Dallas. My highest paid consultants are either in software development (.Net and J2EE pay well but are super competitive) with tons of experience, or they are in a niche technology that is in demand with very few available resources (BI/OLAP is popular, Portal technology like SharePoint or Plumtree, Wavelink/Avalance, Netcool). SAP and Oracle ERP stuff is a great place to be, too.

I honestly wouldn't worry to much about off-shoring. It happens, but typically only Fortune 500 type companies have the infrastructure, large enough dev projects, etc. to make it work. Most times, they get what they pay for; little quality control leads to crappy code, poor communication, and a logistical nightmare.

Few of my clients in my 5 years have done offshore development with any real success.

On that note, if you are somewhat technical, have a good personality, like working with people, and communicate really well, and don't mind travel, you could SELL software or services.

m00npie

Based on what I have seen being in the workforce for almost ten years now, a perfect marriage of skills is to have your CPA with IT skills such as a business analyst or systems analyst. This combination of skills earns you 100K + as an internal employee working for big 5 consulting firms after 5+ years of experience. If you have the stones to go out on your own and enough experience to hold your own, you can command 100-200 per hour.

If you have the above combination and you’re willing to submit yourself to a 9 month background check, DOD positions with the above skills will get you 200+ per hour. I’ll be the first to admit, it’s not the most exciting work in the world but it does help pay the bills. However, the best part is, H1 visas need not apply. This gives you a whole lot more job security since the client (Gov’t) is not willing outsource clearance work overseas.

First, there is no easy way into what I have mentioned above. Your grades need to be excellent and let’s face it; you need to be able to present yourself well in front of people. Sometimes, especially at big 5 accounting firms, it’s not the grades\degree or the skills that get you the job although they are required; it’s whether or not they think you can be a good fit into their culture.

Unless you know someone, signing up for an internship may just be the easiest way to get your foot in the door. With your Accounting degree or Finance degree, try your best to get a position with a large firm such as Accenture or Ernst & Young and be willing to travel anywhere CONUS. Pass your CPA exam while working for them since they will pay for the time to do it and in 3-4 years , you’ll have a great shot of having what I have mentioned above once you move on to other companies. This is the key, because until that time, you are paying your dues and although there is nothing wrong with earning 40 – 80K, just know that they are billing you out for 3-4 times that amount. And when I say earn, you will earn it working 80 hours a week in some cases in a city 3000 miles away.

It is certainly not for everyone, but it may be something worth pursuing!

Strong Bad

I'll give you my opinion on some things. I work in IT fulltime. I'm seeing more and more people in the field without degrees and doing well with the certs. Above all, these people have the SKILLS. I am not saying don't get a degree. That helps you in the long run without a doubt. When you sit down and interview for an IT job, you're going to be grilled with technical questions (scenarios, what does this mean, what is this, etc...). These people want to know if you can fix problems when someone who barely knows how to turn on a PC, calls you. They also want to know that you're going to be nice to this person who barely knows nothing about a PC.

Do something that you like and don't just do it for the money. There's nothing worse than getting up everyday to work in a job you hate!

The A+ is fine, but do you feel as though you really need it? Are you pretty good already with A+ related skills? Net+ is a good one and actually counts toward an elective for the Microsoft MCSE or related cert tracks. Cisco really should not be attempted until you get some networking skills down.

You're going to start off as a lowly helpdesk guy, so be prepared. Ya gotta earn your wings man!

Again, companies want to know if you know your stuff and can fix things. If the Chairman of XYZ company can't get to something on the network and calls you, he could give a rats **** if you have a Ph.D in Computer Science. He wants to get to his **** on the network...and get to it right now!

Hey Fatchowmein, VMWare is some cool stuff! We have a decent sized infrastructure based around it.

KrazyMofo24

Thanks for the advice I want to get the A+ as long with Network+, and I expect to get a help desk job starting, which I'll be happy with it'll be better than the job I'm at now. If I do manage to get a decent job like that, and complete a few certs it'll really give me a better idea if this the career I want to pursue. I was reading on the MCSA and you could use both of them as electives. My job has an IT department, which I will try first after I get these two completed.

I am pretty sure that this I want to do, because I don't see myself working at this job for the next 4-5 years while I'm going to school, I don't mind taking calls doing this, but 80-100 calls per day at this job gets stressful.

Strong Bad

A+ and Net+ is a good start.

I'll tell ya something about A+. Dell, IBM, HP/Compaq and some others have certified tech programs where you get the A+, then go through a certification for their equipment (desktops, laptops, servers, etc...). It's a nice thing to have and good for companies to have those people around. Let's say someones laptop craps out on them. You troubleshoot it, find the problem, call a special tech support # and get the parts sent out to you without jumping through all their stupid tech support hoops.

I think if you have an interest in IT and work with electronic related things now, it'll grow on you. Get going with a helpdesk job, then you'll start moving up. Above all, have patience.

As far as that degree goes...hopefully you'll get into a company that offers tuition reimbursement. Alot of them do these days. Get your certs, get your IT job and go back to school with your company picking up the tab. I see it all the time.

Best of luck!

KrazyMofo24

Sorry to bring up an old thread. However I am still a little confused. I decided to start with CCNA as my first certification I have been going to a community college which is part of the Cisco Networking Academy. It's going a long well I just now finished all 4 books, and in the next two weeks I will be finishing all the simulator labs, and studying practice questions.

I am currently working at AT&T as a contractor doing Tier 2 tech support for Uverse. My number one goal right now is to get a job in IT that pays around $18-$25/HR, and that's not helpdesk. The reason why I do not want helpdesk is, because I am tired of taking calls all day.

After I get my CCNA I'm considering studying for the CCNP, and MCSE certifications.
Also I still need to finish 9 basic classes, before I can go to a University with an Associates.

Is it likely that I will find an IT job with the CCNA and experience in tech support? Do I have to start at help desk and hope to move up eventually? As far as the certification path goes I am leaning towards becoming a Network Administrator is CCNP and MCSE good certs to go with after CCNA? Or should I still get my Net+ and A+ first, or even look at Network Security?

I know this an audio forum, but any advice/input would be appreciated.

MrNightly

Dude...

It's been a year. What have you done this past year to better yourself? What classes, books, people have you met and networked with to start this dream? I don't care what everyone says, if you want something bad enough in the USA, you can get it. Hard work, long hours, busting **** and a little luck (If there is such a thing) will get you what you want and need...

KrazyMofo24

Well, I have a found a better job, and have been going to school. I have finished three basic classes, and finished 4 classes for the CCNA while working full time. In 12 months I want to finish most of my basics, MCSE, and CCNP. But right now I really want to get a job in IT even if its entry-level as long as the pay is decent and its not just taking calls. I am going to be more aggressive no matter which route I take, I guess I need to do more research on what's best to study for this field, and how to get a job without the experience yet.

renowilliams

I read this thread for the first time today and I see it a year old or so. Krazy, its nice to see that your pursuing a career for yourself and things appear to be going well. It rough for young people today especially given the economic climate but as stated before in this thread, if you work hard and get a break or two, you'll be on your way.
I am 48 years old and have done a number of things in my life but became a skilled tradesman when I was in my twenties. I have the opportunity from time to time to work with young apprentices and I enjoy it very much. They bring a fresh outlook and enthusiasm into the shop. I feel that everyone young and old have something to contribute. I guess the point I'm trying to make is, remember that whatever you end up doing, you are bringing something to the table, even though your new.
My grandfather told me something years ago that always stuck with me. "You learn more by listening, than by talking".

Anyway, good luck with your endevours.

KrazyMofo24

Reno thanks for the advice. I am feeling better now, and more confident that I will be successful if I keep trying. If I pass the CCNA it would be an accomplishment for me, and will more motivation to keep going.

Thanks again for all the responses there is definitely a lot of useful information that will help me think about what I should do not just now but when I go for a 4 year degree.

cnh

renowilliams wrote: »

I read this thread for the first time today and I see it a year old or so. Krazy, its nice to see that your pursuing a career for yourself and things appear to be going well. It rough for young people today especially given the economic climate but as stated before in this thread, if you work hard and get a break or two, you'll be on your way.
I am 48 years old and have done a number of things in my life but became a skilled tradesman when I was in my twenties. I have the opportunity from time to time to work with young apprentices and I enjoy it very much. They bring a fresh outlook and enthusiasm into the shop. I feel that everyone young and old have something to contribute. I guess the point I'm trying to make is, remember that whatever you end up doing, you are bringing something to the table, even though your new.
My grandfather told me something years ago that always stuck with me. "You learn more by listening, than by talking".

Anyway, good luck with your endevours.

Your grandfather was a wise man! Keep on truckin' Krazy!

cnh