I’m taking a course for the Comtia A+ exam and I’m planning on taking the CCNA and the Network+ too. I owe $8,900 to a private college so i can’t get my transcripts to get my degree in another college. My question is, Am I gonna get a good job (salary wise) with those certifications and no college degree? please give me an advice on what to do. I’m currently unemployed and looking to start my career in the IT world somehow.
#1 by Santosh on July 24, 2010 - 3:53 pm
Hi,
Paper certifications are a hot issue with IT professionals—those who have certification but no experience,and those who don’t have certification but have years of on-the-job experience.
In the beginning, certifications were a sure-fire way of getting your foot in the door. Companies desperately needed knowledgeable professionals to get the job done. But, as the number of
certifications granted has increased dramatically over the years, the value of a certification has decreased—and so has the cost involved in earning it.
IT professionals who are paper-certified, or who have earned a certification without previous work experience, face the same issues as recent college graduates. Without hands-on credentials, employers look at these candidates as entry-level professionals whom they will have to train.
Of course, certifications are valuable. Formal technology education provides crucial knowledge, something employers value greatly. If you do not have the experience to back up your certification,your résumé must stress your foundation knowledge and skill set and how trainable you are. Certainly, you will have an edge over other candidates applying for entry-level positions.
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#2 by msoexpert on July 24, 2010 - 4:29 pm
Well speaking as the author of the job search book “Think Like an Interviewer: Your Job Hunting Guide to Success,” a college instructor who’s taught computers, and someone who worked in high-tech, let me answer your question.
In the world of IT, there are many certifications that one can get. And for some jobs, the certification is all that’s needed. However, I can tell you that in speaking with many employers out there, more and more are wanting some formal training. So college is becoming more desired.
You see, those certifications merely say you passed a test. But with a college education, you’ll have that hands-on training from a qualified instructor who knows the material and can teach you right. That’s super important to employers!
Now a full degree isn’t always necessary. Even a couple of classes can satisfy employers. Now you could do a Certificate, which is short-term training in a very specific area. Generally speaking, the entire program lasts up to one year. And I’ve known and had plenty of students over the years who have gotten good IT jobs with just a certificate. So that can give you enough of a background to get you started in an IT career on the entry-level basis.