Degree in IT or Certifications? (engineers, program, test, administrator)

[KnownUnknown]

Which would be better? I'm leaning more toward Certifications. It seems like they test for relevant, practical knowledge. Instead of studying Computers, you're studying cisco systems.

Like if you need someone to fix your car, you call a mechanic not a mechanical engineer. Or if you have issues with the lighting, you call a electrician not an electrical engineer.

I'm not looking to design anything, I'm looking to install, repair, and maintain things.

[emerald_octane]

Both

Degree teaches you how to think about certain issues and generally doesn't expire (the knowledge process, not the knowledge which does age).

Cert shows you experience but except for a few they generally expire or are only for a certain version.

The golden triangle is of course Certs + Experience + Degree. Degree + Certs will be superseded by certs + relevant experience or degree + relevant experience. Certs and/or degree only need not apply.

[psusra112]

Originally Posted by KnownUnknown

Which would be better? I'm leaning more toward Certifications. It seems like they test for relevant, practical knowledge. Instead of studying Computers, you're studying cisco systems.

Like if you need someone to fix your car, you call a mechanic not a mechanical engineer. Or if you have issues with the lighting, you call a electrician not an electrical engineer.

I'm not looking to design anything, I'm looking to install, repair, and maintain things.

You need both. Nobody today will hire you in IT without an extensive background of experience + certifications, or a degree+certifications. It sounds like you lack the experience, so I'd hazard to say you need BOTH.

[ITSPECELP]

Originally Posted by emerald_octane

The golden triangle is of course Certs + Experience + Degree. Degree + Certs will be superseded by certs + relevant experience or degree + relevant experience. Certs and/or degree only need not apply.

Not necessarily. I work with a team of 50+ IT guys (system administrators, network engineers, desktop support, web dev, DBAs, etc) and can assure you that experience trumps all. Having several certs is about as valuable as having a degree. They're both good to have, but if you don't know how to APPLY what you've studied in the uni or for certification exams, then you're in the wrong field.

A 4 year CIS degree does not come close to 4 years of experience working in a LAN environment. If you get a degree, I'd suggest you go to a technical/vocational college that has a program SPECIFIC to network/system administration.

[jobaba]

Originally Posted by KnownUnknown

Which would be better? I'm leaning more toward Certifications. It seems like they test for relevant, practical knowledge. Instead of studying Computers, you're studying cisco systems.

Like if you need someone to fix your car, you call a mechanic not a mechanical engineer. Or if you have issues with the lighting, you call a electrician not an electrical engineer.

I'm not looking to design anything, I'm looking to install, repair, and maintain things.

A degree in IT wouldn't be analogous to that though. A degree in IT would be analogous to a Lincoln Tech grad who got a degree in Automotive Technology or an electrician who did certs and classes.

A degree in Computer or Electrical Engineering would be more analogous to a Mechanical Engineer.

[bellhead]

Originally Posted by KnownUnknown

Which would be better? I'm leaning more toward Certifications. It seems like they test for relevant, practical knowledge. Instead of studying Computers, you're studying cisco systems.

Like if you need someone to fix your car, you call a mechanic not a mechanical engineer. Or if you have issues with the lighting, you call a electrician not an electrical engineer.

I'm not looking to design anything, I'm looking to install, repair, and maintain things.

What type of experience do you have, no employer will hire you to work on the networking side without experience on computers.