Posted on Feb 24, 2016
Pursue Degree or Focus on Experience and Professional Certifications?
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I've almost been in IT professionally for 3 years now, about to turn 21 years old. I have a the current job I have because of my previous experience and certifications.
A friend of mine who is doing the ITAM (IT and management) program at Central Washington (NSA Accredited University). He is about to graduate from the program and called me with a question that was common sense..... continued
A friend of mine who is doing the ITAM (IT and management) program at Central Washington (NSA Accredited University). He is about to graduate from the program and called me with a question that was common sense..... continued
Computers
College
Certifications
Information Technology
Civilian Career
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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Work to get what your goal (dream job/business) requires is my best advice. Not every job requires a degree and not everyone cares about a certification (if that makes since).
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CPT (Join to see)
Yes and no. Without the certs and college, it can make it HARDER for a change in jobs or being marketable. Experience ties along with the two. I'm working the job, have 35+ certs, and working on my Doctorate. All 3 have been important (certs, college, experience). It really depends what certs your talking about. The big ones, they really do consider. I would support that it would make a person more marketable and in today's economy; you want it all.
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SPC Bernardy, Sorry.. Okay, Active Military (1968-72) When the poop hit the deck, many educated officers (with degrees) would ask for advice/direction from enlisted E6's and above (experience), and for the most part follow their advice.. After all they had already survived Hell.. However, after these younger officers gained their own experience.. they then felt their own strengths.. I believe both are very valuable.. receive what experience and certifications you can and as time will allow, try to reach your educational goals, you will have the best of both for yourself and for those around you..
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Both are great. Experience beats degree in IT field, from what I've seen. I've seen many job offers and it's bittersweet telling someone that I'm interested but I want to finish my degree first. Certifications are great to have, better to know. You don't need to be CompTIA * + certified to understand the material. College courses don't always get too deep in things because it's a controlled environment, usually - curriculum, rules, permissions, etc. The degree says I've been taught X things. On the other hand, nothing is stopping your friend from learning more on his own time. I do it all the time. Just because the teacher won't brief it from a slide doesn't mean she/he won't spend extra time teaching you more about it.
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SPC(P) (Join to see)
Glad to hear someone it from someone else. I'm always on Skillport, Youtube and shadowing Engineers. I would love to commission one day, but I feel like getting a Bachelors degree would honestly be a waste of time in the short term.
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SGT (Join to see)
Commissioning and college don't have to go hand in hand. College also helps you network and diversify your skills. It gives you a professional to pick for info in a specific field. Short term, meh. Long term, though, many companies give a pay raise just for having a degree. Many good jobs require a Bachelors degree for consideration. Notice I said "many," not "all." You COULD find a good online college, submit your jst and vmet and see how many credits you can get. You could ALSO roam the ACE courses on Skillport and see how close to an Associates degree you can get. *Whistles and walks off*
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