Schools or Certs?

[grim789]

Ok so i figured i would drop in and ask the community here. I was looking into ITT Tech for school particularly for Network Administration but i see a lot of people who have been in the IT field for some time just really have a dislike for trade school's. So i decided that i was just going to try for a few Certs but im not sure if i should even enroll in school or just go forward with my Certifications.


Forgot to mention i was going to try to go for my CCNA but seeing as i have no background in IT nor Networking at all for that matter i purchased the NET+ cert book and have been getting some fundamentals first. I would like to Get this Cert first then either my CCNA or Security+ i havent yet decided. I feel like the certs would qualify me more for a job just based off of what it is that i have seen with the class itinerary for ITT. I'm not just doing these for the job though i love the information and am constantly looking forward to learning everything i can on networking computer programming you name it. I would like to get a few different certs im mainly doing it for the information but i figure why not get certified if i am already learning the material.


Kinda got off track there back to my original question i was hoping the community here could advise me and share their experience a bit and what would you suggest? Should i continue with my certs or enroll in ITT and hold off on those?


Note: I plan on finishing NET+ regardless since i have already purchased the book lol.

[iTpHo3NiX]

This is a great question. I think the only schooling worthwhile is a bachelor's in computer science and information systems/technology. Other than that, employers like certs. A+ is a basic that anyone in the computer field should have. Next you'll want Cisco and Microsoft certs for jobs. Then the other stuff for fun and to advance your career. Stay away from trade schools. None of them are ever any good. That'll come from anyone who graduated from them

[Karmic]

Agreed with DeepCopy. I know someone in your situation, they wanted to get into IT so they started studying for their A+ and doing their own learning. Also they are letting potential employers what they are doing on their own and what their certification plan is etc.

In my experience employers want good employees, one that wants to learn and is driven. They can teach you the skills you need to know, but they can't change who you are.

Keep working, make it a part of your life, and let employers know your ambitions with your certifications etc.

Finally, get those certs and never stop learning.

[grim789]

Appreciate the responses guys im glad you both mentioned A+ i was going to do that one first but i was on another forum and the general consensus and from what i looked at it seemed like Net+ was a first step. I think im just going to check out what computer science classes are offered then cause i am loving the net+ material thus far. I have learned html and css not indepth but i am familiar with the language so im just learning here and there. I would really like to learn some programming languages as well that's for sure. Also pertaining to the tech school that does seem to be a majority warning to stay away from them.


One more question would you advise that i start learning A+ along with Net+ or will it be ok to continue with Net+ and then go back and get the A+ cert?

[techb]

I agree mostly with what has been posted. But I would like to add, if your going to go the school route go somewhere accredited. There is a community college here that offers a 2 year associates degree that employers like because they go through Cisco and Cisco academy.

If it's just some random votec school then no. If it is sponsored or at least uses personal corporate grade instructions, then sure why not. You usually get some certs via the school anyway.

All in all, it's about knowledge base and what you know and how well you can learn and apply your skills.

You will need A+ no matter what. People will not higher you if you don't have it. A+ allows you to handle hardware and do physical things. You have to have it in order to even handle equipment most places.

[iTpHo3NiX]

You will need A+ no matter what. People will not higher you if you don't have it. A+ allows you to handle hardware and do physical things. You have to have it in order to even handle equipment most places.

Unless you work for geek squad at best buy lmfao

[techb]

Unless you work for geek squad at best buy lmfao

Which used to require an A+ cert, until they ran out of people. The only reason it isn't require anymore is because they couldn't staff people.So anyone that thinks they know what they are doing get the job. People who actually know what they are doing get the boot.

Yes, I applied to geek squad and they turned me down. I knew too much and couldn't get the job. I applied, was turned down because and I quote here, "You know too much about this stuff, you would out perform the people already working. We would have to pay you more because your abilities out perform what we want." "I'm sorry, your too over qualified to work here."

Da fuq.... Yes, words from BestBuy.

On another note I went there with my grandma trying to get her a PC. The reason they gave is to why they couldn't put Windows 7 on a PC is because, and quote, "the codec pack wont support the current drivers set in the hardware".......................................

[shome]

Glad to see a question like this on here, frankly. I'll just simply add my .02 and share about my trajectory, as I shared a similar dilemma close to 6 months ago, but have began to move forward as of late. I began looking for work in just about anything IT related (even though my overall goal is info-sec). I began a Bachelor's Degree program in September, majoring in Cyber Security.  It is a relatively new program my college offers, and so far is great. Since I have began this degree program, many doors have started to open. Companies I would apply for prior that never called, are calling.

 I had a CCNA in 2004, and it obviously expired along with some of the implementations of that time period, but companies still love to know I had it at one time. Never be shy about putting something on your resume, no matter how benign. I have an interview next week with a very high level disaster recovery center, and as soon as they read that I checked 'yes' to the "Proficient in the Linux command line yes[ ] No[ ]" question, they left me a voice mail and an e-mail a day after I applied. But like you, I also have no formal on the job IT experience, but slowly that looks like it is coming to fruition. So hang in there, and keep swinging. I also agree with what others have suggested about trade schools not being all they are crocked up to be.

[memnoch]

It's pretty much been covered by the other anyway but here's my two pence.

I'd first ask yourself why you are doing it and what you wish to gain out of it. As this will likely define what route you take.

Eg: If you are doing this out because it's something you enjoy and you want to learn as much as possible or If you are looking to make a career out of it.

If the later then make sure you do some research first by looking at the requirements for the jobs you are interested in. If they all require a bachelors degree as a minimum then you have you an answer (not the only one)

The main consideration though is finances. Both routes can cost a considerable amount of money though if you are based in the UK as I am then you can gain financial aid covering the cost of a degree (give or take a bit depending on circumstances) but there is little to no financial aid for certifications. I don't know what country you are from but have a look at what support you can get aswell.

I went through the same thing a few year ago when I decided to retrain and had three choices really - Full time degree, part time degree or certification. The decision was really made by finances as there is support for those who wish to do a degree but pretty much none for certification. So decided to jump in full time and get a bachelors degree which was the best decision I have made in a long time.

Take note though that whatever route you decided to do will only give you as much as you put into it! The main reason I got my new job not the degree but the additional learning I did in my spare time.

One last point is that it is usually not an either or with school or certs. Degrees cover a very large area but often at a very shallow level so you will likely find that you end up doing certs anyway afterwards to gain a more indepth knowledge in particular areas.

Good luck in whatever route you choose!

[grim789]

Awesome responses i appreciate it very much so.


TechB- Yeah i probably should have started there but since im already pretty far into Net+ i think im going to try for this cert first then go and do A+. I never knew you had to have those certs for places like best buy obviously that's not the case now cause half the people that work there don't have a clue about any thing they sell. That's crazy they told you you couldn't work there cause your to smart lmao guess they felt intimidated.


Shome- That is really cool shome i am glad im not the only one with no IT experience here haha. This gives me hope for the future there arent to many IT jobs in my area not advertising any at least at the moment i was going to move to the closest city once i have some qualifications to find work which is only 45 min away so it's not bad. But i just look forward to the day i can stop working for $8.00 an hour at a job that has no future and move into something i can enjoy doing and make a decent living.


Memnoch- I am actually doing both i really enjoy it and want to make a living with it i alwasy refer to that saying "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life".


I am actually based in the US but they offer financial aid here as well luckily. I have been looking into bachelors degree programs at a campus about an hour away it's actually a university and they offer computer science (oddly enough though their website is horrific especially when it comes to navigation lol)


That last point is good to note i was curious about that id like to get at least my Net+ and A+ cert before i start school which would probably be in the fall this year. This way i can have some practical knowledge under my belt before going into it.


Thanks again for all your responses they are defiantly helping me out to decide where i want to go and what i should pursue. There is so much misinformation out there especially when it comes to trade schools i have seen everyone warn from those so im glad i didn't decide to shell out big bucks there.