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"IT" is a generic term for a very big industry. Many people want to get into the "industry" because "IT" is where the jobs are (according to the media). They hear about the great starting salaries, high demands. They go get some generic "IT" certificates from one of a million diploma mills, for profit schools and expect to work for the top tech giants.
Certificates means NOTHING if you don't have the skills & experience. Because there are so many "IT" certifications, MOST out there are pretty meaningless.
Do you have any idea what areas of "IT" you want to work in? Do the research into specific areas that you are interested in, get the RIGHT certification and/or education, do internships.
Uh, not really. I know Laurus College offers A+ certification and IT certification.
I would disagree Gnomatic, Certifications do mean a lot, like the college degree, they prove you can stick with something and see it through to completion. I have both A+ and Network+, and both of those certifications have landed me jobs in the past.
I would disagree Gnomatic, Certifications do mean a lot, like the college degree, they prove you can stick with something and see it through to completion. I have both A+ and Network+, and both of those certifications have landed me jobs in the past.
But I assume you had an interest and inclination for doing computer/network support if those are the certification you pursued. It's not a field that one just get the certification and jobs magically appears. You need to be able to apply your skills to varying circumstances (with no doubt lots of patience and people skills). And you need to have an interest and inclination continuously upgrade/update your skill set to stay competitive in the field
The OP does not seem to have much clue as to what the he wants to do or what "IT" involves.
Unfortunately, many equate ALL computer/technology jobs as "IT"...while those in the industry knows that it's more specific then that. And there is a huge difference in the pay & demand for (as an example) a network security specialist, than desktop IT support.
Because I have always liked computers and technology while growing up and I take care of my own laptop.
I like to cook and bake, and am a good home cook & baker..but would not want (or be able) to do it professionally.
You take care of your laptop...have you replace parts? Put together desktops? Do you like doing that? Do you put together a LAN in your basement? Do you want to design hardware? Design web applications? Software? What exactly?
Do more research. Find something you think you will like and be good at. Talk to someone who is in that job, to understand what is involved, growth potential etc..and what doing it day to day is really like. Get the right educations/skills/certification ... get as much hands on experience as you can.
In years past there was such extreme demand that anyone with an inkling of understand / basic training had an easy time of getting hired.
As shifts in technology and labor happen the value of most certification has fallen dramatically. A+ basically is training to be the kind of person that sits in the Geek Squad booth at Best Buy and helps to get harried moms laptop "un virused". Not exactly cutting edge stuff. Even other once in demand certification like for Oracle database administration has forked dramatically -- many firms rely on Open Source db's and larger enterprise firms have such a massive investment in huge databases that they focus on people with a background in the kind of skills one can only learn from other large installations.
Similarly web hosting firms have seen such an impact from Linux and virtualization technologies that they too seek out employees that have proven expertise. Some people do pick up those skills while majoring in CS or related fields and working for their University, but again a "boot camp test prep course" will not be adequate.
Firms that recruit MIS, CS and various similar degreed individuals tend to hire cyclicallly as well --- both the national firms and smaller regional specialty consultancy organizers often pursue different projects at many of the same client firms. The ripple effects of global outsourcing and changes in the nature of big IT projects are hard enough on experienced people, some recent college grads really need to get creative in weathering these shifts.
For folks that INTERN at good employers the option to land a nice job is a real possibility, but I doubt that anyone without such a background OR really good connections will find a multitude of offers...
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Originally Posted by the city
I am working on a BA in English, and then after I graduate I want to get my IT certification. I have a friend who is doing the same thing. He got his Philosphy degree and now he is going to get IT cerfication. But will their be jobs out there? Is having a BA degree going to make me competetive?
Agree with Chet and gomatic. Experience carries the biggest weight (personality/fit not included).
I've interviewed dozens of people with all kinds of certs. But they matter little if you can't tell me what you've accomplished in your previous jobs that make you a good candidate for what I need.
Certs can add to your experience/accomplishments. But they will never substitute for them. In that sense, getting one in hoping to break into the industry is probably not the best use of resources.
The in-demand skills are always changing. Who would have imagined a five years ago how that niche mobile apps segment would blow up into a skillset with such high demand?
Even technologies that aren't really new have evolved to become more valuable, ten years ago javascript was used mainly inline for things like rollover effects and confirmation dialogs, now with jquery/ajax/etc. it is used like a real object/functional programming language and is the heart of so much dynamic content on the web.
I think that is part of what makes it an exciting field, always something new and cool to learn.
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Not magic...
