Im after info from anyone that works in the IT industry about qualifications.

Basically I would like your opinions on weather its worth spending the money and putting in the time to do a degree or should i just study up and do some exams on the path I want to head down. ie Server/Network Admin.

Cheers guys.

Damo

Damo wrote:Im after info from anyone that works in the IT industry about qualifications.

Basically I would like your opinions on weather its worth spending the money and putting in the time to do a degree or should i just study up and do some exams on the path I want to head down. ie Server/Network Admin.

Cheers guys.

Damo

Its a much of a much Damo.

You need to weigh up a few things.

Degree gets you more $
You loan your money to do your degree off the Government
Takes 3+ years to complete
Allows to move up through a business more easier
Some business/s favor people with degrees

Industry certs limit you to that specific product/s
No always favored apon some business/s
Sometimes can limit you moving up the company ladder.

I found it hard to get a job with half a degree finished and I did have industry certs.

My advise would be do the degree and do some industry certs whilst doing it.

Hey mate thanks for the info.

Ill look a bit more into the degree side of things because about 3 years should fit into the timeline for what I want to do down the track.

http://www.itmasters.com.au/bachelor/structure.html
Thats what im looking at for the moment.

Cisco CCNA + CCNP

Books - $300
Exams

CCNA - $293
CCNP - $870

= $1463

Uni

24 units X $1200

= $28 800

Don't just weigh up career prospects, weigh up the educational value for yourself as well as the long term costs/gains.

Having said that, I've got certs and I'm studying my Masters at Uni (again!). Perhaps look down the postgrad path - the IT Masters company your bachelor is through offers Masters courses in Network and Sys Admin with a Microsoft (2003 and 2008) Linux and Cisco stream for those that have done 5-10 years in IT. You claim have your course in credits once you've completed the certification from a vendor.

I think the relevance of some/most certifications is short term and limiting where a degree is not. But there is the huge amount of time and money required for uni.

Regards

MrEMan wrote:I think the relevance of some/most certifications is short term and limiting where a degree is not. But there is the huge amount of time and money required for uni.

Regards

Theres not that much time required, I still manage to run my own business as well as do 3 subjects at uni and pass quite well.

Remember the money you pay for a degree doesnt have to be paid upfront, and you hardly notice it coming out of your pay. (And mine comes out of my Tax return)

But I got knocked back for a few jobs because I didnt have a degree but was possibly more experienced (7+ years) and had industry certifications.

Frost wrote:But I got knocked back for a few jobs because I didnt have a degree but was possibly more experienced (7+ years) and had industry certifications.

What sort of jobs in what location with what sort of certifications? The job market is very contextual.

My last two roles have encompassed both Support/Assurance/Activation (Lvl 3) and Design in networking, telecoms and systems in both Government and private enterprise and I haven't got a University degree (yet), only vendor certifications.

I'm toying with the idea of moving into engineering after my Masters is complete but we'll see.

Onsite Support - FIFO for services company - Mining, Oil Rigs, etc
Ambos vic - First Level Support
mainly support or roles that was invovle some sort of decision to be made.

And iv also found in a few jobs I have industry certs + experience = <$$ compared to a sheet of paper

Guys, as a bloke in the position of being a part of offering employment to potential candidates can i offer the following points for consideration;
- What is your intended goal? (is it to be involved in a particular industry or make a certain amount of $$$)
- My opinion on guys with degrees is that once you have earned your degree - you will start back at the bottom as you have no experience, so please consider my first point
- My companies goal is to have employees that make us money - once you make money i couldnt give a crap if you have a degree or not. Pretty much all businesses would agree with this.
- You will always be judged on your first few months of employment, your goal should be to get your foot in the door (at any level) once you have impressed your employer you can name your price and conditions as they will not want to lose you.

Hope this advice helps.

Hi Matty, Thanks for the advice.

The main reason that I have been looking into getting a degree is to open my employment opportunities down the track and because I have been told the people with a degree get 20-30k a year more than those without.

Now im looking more into the tafe side of things and getting my cert IV and diploma in IT. As well as getting some microsoft/vmware/cisco quals at the same time.

Im hoping with that and 10 years experience in the industry it should not be to hard to find a job that im happy with.

Thanks for the feedback guys.