IT Certifications and Careers (Official Discussion Thread)

xXMASHERXx

Superstar
Joined
May 15, 2012
Messages
8,555
Reputation
1,226
Daps
32,713
Do you have any insight to how things are in this field? I'm thinking about going this route

Does anybody know anything about the digital forensics career path :lupe: ?

I can't speak on digit forensics but cyber security is definitely an field that's in serious demand. Especially with the recent increase in cyber attacks. It's a little hard to get in initially but once you do, you're set.
 

Redguard

Hoonding
Joined
Oct 18, 2013
Messages
10,361
Reputation
1,342
Daps
29,614
Reppin
Hammerfell
Is getting a degree in an IT related field such as networking worth it?

I am going to school part time and my tuition is covered by my employer. The only issue is I currently hate my job and my job schedule.

I was wondering if I would be better off just trying to find a help desk or desktop support job.

I already have a bachelors in an unrelated field and I just got the A+ certification. I just don't have much experience except for a 5 month seasonal role in the IT department at my employer.
 

Spin

All Star
Joined
Jul 11, 2012
Messages
1,010
Reputation
390
Daps
2,859
Is getting a degree in an IT related field such as networking worth it?

I am going to school part time and my tuition is covered by my employer. The only issue is I currently hate my job and my job schedule.

I was wondering if I would be better off just trying to find a help desk or desktop support job.

I already have a bachelors in an unrelated field and I just got the A+ certification. I just don't have much experience except for a 5 month seasonal role in the IT department at my employer.

If you have a bachelors degree then another degree at the same level isn't going to help you. If they're paying for classes, see if you can find a class in cyber security, AWS, or something useful. While you're looking for an IT job, find a non-profit and do some freelance IT work even if it's free. Leverage everything you can and attend meetups in your city.
 

xXMASHERXx

Superstar
Joined
May 15, 2012
Messages
8,555
Reputation
1,226
Daps
32,713
Is getting a degree in an IT related field such as networking worth it?

I am going to school part time and my tuition is covered by my employer. The only issue is I currently hate my job and my job schedule.

I was wondering if I would be better off just trying to find a help desk or desktop support job.

I already have a bachelors in an unrelated field and I just got the A+ certification. I just don't have much experience except for a 5 month seasonal role in the IT department at my employer.

Don't focus too much on not having a degree in IT. Have you looked at what IT positions are open at your current job? With a Bachelor's and an A+ you should at the very least qualify for a helpdesk position. And like Spin said, I would use the money going towards tuition to take some classes towards a certification/training. Do you know what IT area you would like to go into?
 
  • Dap
Reactions: Czr

Hahahaha

All Star
Joined
May 1, 2012
Messages
1,784
Reputation
320
Daps
4,110
Is getting a degree in an IT related field such as networking worth it?

I am going to school part time and my tuition is covered by my employer. The only issue is I currently hate my job and my job schedule.

I was wondering if I would be better off just trying to find a help desk or desktop support job.

I already have a bachelors in an unrelated field and I just got the A+ certification. I just don't have much experience except for a 5 month seasonal role in the IT department at my employer.

if your work will pay for degrees, look into a school like WGU which is competency based and the IT courses are based on certifications. They'll provide you vouchers to take the exams and it's a decent loophole to save money.
 

Redguard

Hoonding
Joined
Oct 18, 2013
Messages
10,361
Reputation
1,342
Daps
29,614
Reppin
Hammerfell
Don't focus too much on not having a degree in IT. Have you looked at what IT positions are open at your current job? With a Bachelor's and an A+ you should at the very least qualify for a helpdesk position. And like Spin said, I would use the money going towards tuition to take some classes towards a certification/training. Do you know what IT area you would like to go into?

Well I was going into networking. I took and passed the Cisco net academy at my community college. Currently I am preparing for the CCENT. I want to be a network engineer.

I have thought about trying programming but I'm not good at math.

The IT department at my job doesn't have any openings. Their staff is full. The manager told me that one of the support technicians is going on a leave of absence next month so he may bring me in for a month to take his place.
 

xXMASHERXx

Superstar
Joined
May 15, 2012
Messages
8,555
Reputation
1,226
Daps
32,713
Well I was going into networking. I took and passed the Cisco net academy at my community college. Currently I am preparing for the CCENT. I want to be a network engineer.

I have thought about trying programming but I'm not good at math.

The IT department at my job doesn't have any openings. Their staff is full. The manager told me that one of the support technicians is going on a leave of absence next month so he may bring me in for a month to take his place.

In that case I would try to pass the CCNA R&S before leaving your current job since they are willing to pay for classes and I assume the cost of the test. Then once you pass it, start looking for some junior network admin/engineer roles.
 

Silkk

Thats My Quarterback :to:
Joined
May 2, 2012
Messages
187,928
Reputation
19,035
Daps
475,568
Like my job but I think its time for me to make a move

I miss them contract + OT checks :noah:
 

Sonny Bonds

Superstar
Supporter
Joined
Apr 24, 2014
Messages
4,581
Reputation
916
Daps
13,098
What is up with recruiters? I put my resume on Dice and I've been getting phone calls from (mainly Indian) recruiters. One called me today about a job (yeah, on Saturday).

Hell, what's with the entire interview process taking forever? Or the amount of hoops you have to jump through just for a desktop support role?


For a part time 30 hour/week temporary role (that pays more than I made at my full time job):
May 25 - I applied to a temp part time
June 1 - Video Interview (went perfectly)
June 12 - Sent a follow up email
Jun 15 - "How about another video interview tomorrow?"
Jun 16 - Video Interview #2
Jun 21 - "What's your preferred name and phone number?" - i replied the same day
Jul 3 - "Oh yeah, Welcome to the team" - I replied that I'd love to join the team
I haven't heard anything since.

For a full time job, I'm in the running for I had an hour long phone interview with the IT manager. The next step is an in-person interview. I have to meet 5 people one after the other for 30 minutes each. The whole process is gonna take 2 and a half hours. If I wasn't unemployed, I would've had to take time off to do this.
 

Silkk

Thats My Quarterback :to:
Joined
May 2, 2012
Messages
187,928
Reputation
19,035
Daps
475,568
What is up with recruiters? I put my resume on Dice and I've been getting phone calls from (mainly Indian) recruiters. One called me today about a job (yeah, on Saturday).

Hell, what's with the entire interview process taking forever? Or the amount of hoops you have to jump through just for a desktop support role?


For a part time 30 hour/week temporary role (that pays more than I made at my full time job):
May 25 - I applied to a temp part time
June 1 - Video Interview (went perfectly)
June 12 - Sent a follow up email
Jun 15 - "How about another video interview tomorrow?"
Jun 16 - Video Interview #2
Jun 21 - "What's your preferred name and phone number?" - i replied the same day
Jul 3 - "Oh yeah, Welcome to the team" - I replied that I'd love to join the team
I haven't heard anything since.

For a full time job, I'm in the running for I had an hour long phone interview with the IT manager. The next step is an in-person interview. I have to meet 5 people one after the other for 30 minutes each. The whole process is gonna take 2 and a half hours. If I wasn't unemployed, I would've had to take time off to do this.
A lot of them are just dikkheads looking to submit as many resumes to their clients as possible and don't give a fukk about the actual recruits.
 

Mr Rager

Leader of the Delinquents
Supporter
Joined
Feb 9, 2014
Messages
15,572
Reputation
5,650
Daps
69,883
Reppin
Mars
What is up with recruiters? I put my resume on Dice and I've been getting phone calls from (mainly Indian) recruiters. One called me today about a job (yeah, on Saturday).

Hell, what's with the entire interview process taking forever? Or the amount of hoops you have to jump through just for a desktop support role?


For a part time 30 hour/week temporary role (that pays more than I made at my full time job):
May 25 - I applied to a temp part time
June 1 - Video Interview (went perfectly)
June 12 - Sent a follow up email
Jun 15 - "How about another video interview tomorrow?"
Jun 16 - Video Interview #2
Jun 21 - "What's your preferred name and phone number?" - i replied the same day
Jul 3 - "Oh yeah, Welcome to the team" - I replied that I'd love to join the team
I haven't heard anything since.

For a full time job, I'm in the running for I had an hour long phone interview with the IT manager. The next step is an in-person interview. I have to meet 5 people one after the other for 30 minutes each. The whole process is gonna take 2 and a half hours. If I wasn't unemployed, I would've had to take time off to do this.

What kind of questions do they ask?
 

Spin

All Star
Joined
Jul 11, 2012
Messages
1,010
Reputation
390
Daps
2,859
What is up with recruiters? I put my resume on Dice and I've been getting phone calls from (mainly Indian) recruiters. One called me today about a job (yeah, on Saturday).

Hell, what's with the entire interview process taking forever? Or the amount of hoops you have to jump through just for a desktop support role?


For a part time 30 hour/week temporary role (that pays more than I made at my full time job):
May 25 - I applied to a temp part time
June 1 - Video Interview (went perfectly)
June 12 - Sent a follow up email
Jun 15 - "How about another video interview tomorrow?"
Jun 16 - Video Interview #2
Jun 21 - "What's your preferred name and phone number?" - i replied the same day
Jul 3 - "Oh yeah, Welcome to the team" - I replied that I'd love to join the team
I haven't heard anything since.

For a full time job, I'm in the running for I had an hour long phone interview with the IT manager. The next step is an in-person interview. I have to meet 5 people one after the other for 30 minutes each. The whole process is gonna take 2 and a half hours. If I wasn't unemployed, I would've had to take time off to do this.

Noticed the same games being played. I have shifted to applying less and meeting more companies at meetups and joining specialist IT groups. It seems the "general" IT market is flooded with people.

Someone on another board mentioned something I think is true. Example, While there are many Windows system admin jobs available, there are plenty of people out there with Windows experience. There are fewer Linux total jobs available, but there is a shortage of qualified candidates. Specialization is key.
 
Top