IT Certifications and Careers (Official Discussion Thread)

[acri1]

Lol, you don't need any of that. What you and everyone who wants to get in IT needs is a connect and/or experience. Most of yall will be shocked when you walk into your first gig and see former accountants, salesmen, etc doing network engineering because they picked up a book and/or knew the right people.

The best thing you or anyone else can do is try to find a place to get your start and just build experience. This really ain't the field you need to go into debt over. You will be surprised over how many people in IT did not go to school for IT.

This field is about what you know, and what somebody has paid you in the past to do for them.

Experience and "fit" are your only real obstacles. A degree is still nice, but it's a little less helpful in this arena. Look at Ricky43's post. That's really pretty common for IT.

Pretty much. You don't need a degree to get into IT (there are plenty of people in my IT department without one), but that said, I still think a degree is helpful because...

1. May help your resume get past HR departments (especially if you don't have much experience)

2. Ten or fifteen years down the line when a management position opens up, it'll usually go to the guy with a degree. This is kinda what I see at my job, the technical people may or may not have a degree, but all the managers do. If you don't have a degree then it's pretty unlikely you'll ever get a management position, so you may hit a glass ceiling sooner than you would with a degree.

 

[krexzen]

Pretty much. You don't need a degree to get into IT (there are plenty of people in my IT department without one), but that said, I still think a degree is helpful because...

1. May help your resume get past HR departments (especially if you don't have much experience)

2. Ten or fifteen years down the line when a management position opens up, it'll usually go to the guy with a degree. This is kinda what I see at my job, the technical people may or may not have a degree, but all the managers do. If you don't have a degree then it's pretty unlikely you'll ever get a management position, so you may hit a glass ceiling sooner than you would with a degree.

This is true as far as management. I'm mostly speaking about breaking into the industry. I hear a lot of people say or think that they need a degree just to get in.

 

[kevm3]

learning node.js is quite frustrating since it is relatively new and everything is changing so fast. Thus all the tutorials are outdated by the time you get around to them.

 

[AtomicUse]

damn breh.....27/hr? thats fukkin awesome..i have a lil more experience and not even fukkin with that...shyt thats how much they pay our networking guys. Where are you locate?

Ok so I'm thinking about changing my major to IT. I'm going to be a sophomore so i'm still young and whatnot, i'm interested in networking. It would be nice to get some tips and help for this particular major/area in IT. I do know dat I will need a bachelor's degree *probably a science one* and after that seek a help desk job and certs. How should I prepare myself before school starts, are there sum lists of programs that I can use to get a basic feel and info?

I posted an IT position that a buddy of mine is vacating here in the city in a Locker Room thread as a referenece, here in Chicago if you have a Bachelors and 3 years experience you can pull north of 90,000/year. He was at $92,572 and just turned 28. That's ~$44/hr.

You have to be admitted to the Engineering/Science college of a University to receieve the Computer Science/IT degree. After that, your employer will comp you for exams and certifications in order to retain your skillset.

*edit*
https://chicago.taleo.net/careersection/100/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en

Here's the link, in case anyone needs to see it to believe it. Title is "IT Security Specialist"

 

[Rayzah]

What yall think about getting that overseas money? One of my friends trying to get me to come to Kuwait and stack some paper.... Has anyone ever done this?

 

[jaydolf spitler]

I done came up brehs, current contract at $28 per hour working in a hospital tier 2 team.

Network+ set for the 26th, then ima try to get that security+ in august.

Setting goals and reaching them is a great feeling

Congrats breh

What kind of hospital? (Specialty Clinic, outpatient, inpatient, behavioral, ambulatory, etc)

 

[BamdaDon]

What yall think about getting that overseas money? One of my friends trying to get me to come to Kuwait and stack some paper.... Has anyone ever done this?

Bro if you willing to do it will change your life. One of my dudes works for haliburton as a electrician and is damn near a millionaire off of like 6 years of work. Craziest come up I seen. Breh super hood too got stupid jewelery 550 Benz on 22's. I ain't about that life though..... That said I need some advice brehs. I got into IT solely off this thread about a year ago. I worked two windows 7 migration projects which helped me get some good help desk and field service experience. Now I'm pretty sure I want to go the Cisco route, but here's is the thing my last contract was with a hospital and this new medical record software called Epic/ihis cashes you out if you get certified. Long story short I put my resume online and a recruiter sent me a email straight from them to work in Wisconsin on on their Cisco team at the campus. The problem is I don't even have a network +cert let alone Cisco. I have dealt with the Cisco stuff on a low level because of needing to push software for jabber and the phones ect. But that's about it. So what should I do ? This would be killing two birds with one stone for me and put me in the 80/90 k range if I could get this going. I need this money Brehs I can't fukk this up. It's like I want to keep it real with them, but at the same time I'm like fukk it you already seen my resume and told me to apply.

 

[jaydolf spitler]

Bro if you willing to do it will change your life. One of my dudes works for haliburton as a electrician and is damn near a millionaire off of like 6 years of work. Craziest come up I seen. Breh super hood too got stupid jewelery 550 Benz on 22's. I ain't about that life though..... That said I need some advice brehs. I got into IT solely off this thread about a year ago. I worked two windows 7 migration projects which helped me get some good help desk and field service experience. Now I'm pretty sure I want to go the Cisco route, but here's is the thing my last contract was with a hospital and this new medical record software called Epic/ihis cashes you out if you get certified. Long story short I put my resume online and a recruiter sent me a email straight from them to work in Wisconsin on on their Cisco team at the campus. The problem is I don't even have a network +cert let alone Cisco. I have dealt with the Cisco stuff on a low level because of needing to push software for jabber and the phones ect. But that's about it. So what should I do ? This would be killing two birds with one stone for me and put me in the 80/90 k range if I could get this going. I need this money Brehs I can't fukk this up. It's like I want to keep it real with them, but at the same time I'm like fukk it you already seen my resume and told me to apply.

I just read about epic a few days ago. I just took an internship for a medical record software too and am facing some challenges. I might wanna ask you a few questions about your experience

 

[Silkk]

Congrats breh

What kind of hospital? (Specialty Clinic, outpatient, inpatient, behavioral, ambulatory, etc)

Outpatient i guess

 

[Rayzah]

Bro if you willing to do it will change your life. One of my dudes works for haliburton as a electrician and is damn near a millionaire off of like 6 years of work. Craziest come up I seen. Breh super hood too got stupid jewelery 550 Benz on 22's. I ain't about that life though..... That said I need some advice brehs. I got into IT solely off this thread about a year ago. I worked two windows 7 migration projects which helped me get some good help desk and field service experience. Now I'm pretty sure I want to go the Cisco route, but here's is the thing my last contract was with a hospital and this new medical record software called Epic/ihis cashes you out if you get certified. Long story short I put my resume online and a recruiter sent me a email straight from them to work in Wisconsin on on their Cisco team at the campus. The problem is I don't even have a network +cert let alone Cisco. I have dealt with the Cisco stuff on a low level because of needing to push software for jabber and the phones ect. But that's about it. So what should I do ? This would be killing two birds with one stone for me and put me in the 80/90 k range if I could get this going. I need this money Brehs I can't fukk this up. It's like I want to keep it real with them, but at the same time I'm like fukk it you already seen my resume and told me to apply.

They will do that, they do keyword searches and if your resume has cisco listed or whatever word they are looking for, they will contact you.. You could just have a little bit of experieence and they will send you senior positions just cause you have it on your resume. It suck cause you feel like they read your resume and chose you when actually they just saw that you had that word on your resume..

 

[ReggieFlare]

Seems kind of scammy hopefully you didnt pay too much, what can these guys really teach you that school/independent study couldnt? Get in touvh with people who completed the program( if you dont know any ask the people who run the program, if they cant/wont connect you to alumni thats a big red flag)

Ask more about the 8 week internship, hopefully its not a bullshyt agreement in which they get an endless supply of cheap labor and no one gets a real job - I know such arrangements unfortunately exist. Looks like youll be specialized to the insurance industry so start networking there now.

It's funny you mention this; the internship I have is not paying me at the moment. The first 30 days are a "trial period" for them to see how you fit within the company. After that you are eligible for a stipend ranging from 100-150 a week. However, it's been almost a week since the trial period and I have been given the runaround about the meeting we're supposed to have for the stipend. My pops thinks I need to tell them fukk off if they're not coughing up the money, which I'm quickly getting close to doing. On top of all this, I have been working damn near full-time at 35 hours per week.

I can't say it hasn't been a good experience because I am learning some things, but I'm beginning to feel strongly that I'm only being exploited for free labor. Suggestions breh(s)?

 

[kevm3]

It's funny you mention this; the internship I have is not paying me at the moment. The first 30 days are a "trial period" for them to see how you fit within the company. After that you are eligible for a stipend ranging from 100-150 a week. However, it's been almost a week since the trial period and I have been given the runaround about the meeting we're supposed to have for the stipend. My pops thinks I need to tell them fukk off if they're not coughing up the money, which I'm quickly getting close to doing. On top of all this, I have been working damn near full-time at 35 hours per week.

I can't say it hasn't been a good experience because I am learning some things, but I'm beginning to feel strongly that I'm only being exploited for free labor. Suggestions breh(s)?

Sounds scammish. You're going to be working there for 30 days with no pay and you MAY be put on a stipend later and a small one at that? It's like you might as well use that time and create your own program from scratch to use as portfolio work. Start hitting up other companies as well for an opportunity.

 

[Richard Wright]

It's funny you mention this; the internship I have is not paying me at the moment. The first 30 days are a "trial period" for them to see how you fit within the company. After that you are eligible for a stipend ranging from 100-150 a week. However, it's been almost a week since the trial period and I have been given the runaround about the meeting we're supposed to have for the stipend. My pops thinks I need to tell them fukk off if they're not coughing up the money, which I'm quickly getting close to doing. On top of all this, I have been working damn near full-time at 35 hours per week.

I can't say it hasn't been a good experience because I am learning some things, but I'm beginning to feel strongly that I'm only being exploited for free labor. Suggestions breh(s)?

Youve been there long enough to put it on your resume. I dont know enough about your current situation but there is no way in hell I would work for 100-150 a week. A good computer science student internship should pay at least 10k for the summer. You have done the work, so you jave gotten experience from it. If you do leave make sure the departure is amicable though.

I dont do shyt for free. Do you feel comfortable saying the name of the company? Im sure there are some testimonials on it online.

In one word my suggestion is

 

[ReggieFlare]

Youve been there long enough to put it on your resume. I dont know enough about your current situation but there is no way in hell I would work for 100-150 a week. A good computer science student internship should pay at least 10k for the summer. You have done the work, so you jave gotten experience from it. If you do leave make sure the departure is amicable though.

I dont do shyt for free. Do you feel comfortable saying the name of the company? Im sure there are some testimonials on it online.

In one word my suggestion is

Well, I just talked to them about the money today and I should be getting 250 a week and I really need the money so I'm gonna settle for it. It just sucks because all my friends in comp sci. have internships paying 15+ per hour

Still on the lookout for something better though. I feel I'm worth much more than they're giving me

 

[Richard Wright]

Well, I just talked to them about the money today and I should be getting 250 a week and I really need the money so I'm gonna settle for it. It just sucks because all my friends in comp sci. have internships paying 15+ per hour

Still on the lookout for something better though. I feel I'm worth much more than they're giving me

Just keep doing you man. This will set up the next thing. Your friends would look at my internship the same way you look at theirs. The experience is whats important breh. I spent last summer working as a glorified janitor. What year are you?