Comment There is no correct or perfect formula for success (Score 0) 1092
No one can give you a perfect, fool-proof formula for succeeding in the IT services industry. Such a formula simply doesn't exist. That being said, I can offer some thoughts on the subject from someone who is currently a Sys Admin, who went to college but didn't graduate and who has man certs.
First things first, as has probably been said to you many times over, college degrees have become terribly important in the job market. An old saying going around when I was in college was that you could have a degree in underwater basket weaving and get a job. It simply didn't matter what your degree was in, so long as you had the piece of paper. That may have changed a bit, but the principle is still the same. A college degree tells prospective employers that you are trainable. Whether you learned what your degree says you are supposed to have learned (which is often not the case), you graduated, so you can be trained.
Unfortunately, there are still a very few major accredited universities/colleges that offer courses related to pure system administration. Often all technology is wrapped up in a "Computer Science/Engineering" lable, which is a disservice to the industry and those of us who find ourselves drawn to administration over hardware design and software development. All is not lost, however, as this trend is beginning to reverse itself.
On the other hand, if you truly want to learn the skills necessary to administer network systems, and you want some recognition of your education, certifications are a great way to show what you know. Generally they are admin specific, involve training that is comprehensive and useful, and are accepted by most employers. Certifications do have a downside; Hundreds of certs are in existance now, all for catering to very specific software or hardware, and all requiring a certain level of expense in obtaining them.
In short, the decision simply has to be your own. However, do not discount either method (or a combination of college and certification) before you explore them. Personally I have found that college was for me a growing experience, making me a more well rounded person, teaching me to think critically and creatively and to problem solve in unknown or unusual circumstances. Not all of the courses directly related to my chosen profession (in fact, very few had any relevance at all to system administration, which is perhaps why I never finished). However, the experience itself was well worth the time and money I spent. I learned much about myself and others (and how to work with them). Certifications and work experience filled in the gaps. I would definitely encourage you to begin working in the field as soon as possible, and to do as much diverse work as possible. You never know when that year you spent maintaining domino servers in a Netware 4 environment will come in handy. I would suggest a position in a consulting/services firm, or even a retail repair shop if you need to grow or brush up your hardware repair skills. Don't be afraid to take lesser paying jobs at the beginning to build up your skills. There is no shame in being a minimum wage screwdriver jockey for a few years so that down the road you will be more marketable. When all is said and done, it is all about making you a skilled, marketable professional.
Good luck.
P.
He's dead Jim. You get his wallet while I distract Spock.
First things first, as has probably been said to you many times over, college degrees have become terribly important in the job market. An old saying going around when I was in college was that you could have a degree in underwater basket weaving and get a job. It simply didn't matter what your degree was in, so long as you had the piece of paper. That may have changed a bit, but the principle is still the same. A college degree tells prospective employers that you are trainable. Whether you learned what your degree says you are supposed to have learned (which is often not the case), you graduated, so you can be trained.
Unfortunately, there are still a very few major accredited universities/colleges that offer courses related to pure system administration. Often all technology is wrapped up in a "Computer Science/Engineering" lable, which is a disservice to the industry and those of us who find ourselves drawn to administration over hardware design and software development. All is not lost, however, as this trend is beginning to reverse itself.
On the other hand, if you truly want to learn the skills necessary to administer network systems, and you want some recognition of your education, certifications are a great way to show what you know. Generally they are admin specific, involve training that is comprehensive and useful, and are accepted by most employers. Certifications do have a downside; Hundreds of certs are in existance now, all for catering to very specific software or hardware, and all requiring a certain level of expense in obtaining them.
In short, the decision simply has to be your own. However, do not discount either method (or a combination of college and certification) before you explore them. Personally I have found that college was for me a growing experience, making me a more well rounded person, teaching me to think critically and creatively and to problem solve in unknown or unusual circumstances. Not all of the courses directly related to my chosen profession (in fact, very few had any relevance at all to system administration, which is perhaps why I never finished). However, the experience itself was well worth the time and money I spent. I learned much about myself and others (and how to work with them). Certifications and work experience filled in the gaps. I would definitely encourage you to begin working in the field as soon as possible, and to do as much diverse work as possible. You never know when that year you spent maintaining domino servers in a Netware 4 environment will come in handy. I would suggest a position in a consulting/services firm, or even a retail repair shop if you need to grow or brush up your hardware repair skills. Don't be afraid to take lesser paying jobs at the beginning to build up your skills. There is no shame in being a minimum wage screwdriver jockey for a few years so that down the road you will be more marketable. When all is said and done, it is all about making you a skilled, marketable professional.
Good luck.
P.
He's dead Jim. You get his wallet while I distract Spock.
