WGU lowered their requirements for their IT Bachelors programs

[papa pimp]

Interested in exploring the risk/GRC space but more importantly looking for job security and less salary variance. Staying private means more $$$ but I hate the unsurety working in the private tech space. I earn a fairly high salary and that always makes me nervous with all the outsourcing that’s going on in the States.

i find GRC very boring but easy work and I know its all the rage. Godspeed on your transition.

 

[IIVI]

There's no way to bypass the automatic degree filters if you don't have a degree no matter how much experience you have.

Speaking from the software side, if you have no formal education and are somewhat older already with experience, then WGU seems like a great way to get past the degree filter. I'm guessing most average people with experience can probably finish the program in ~2 years if they're starting from scratch (faster if you can transfer in credits).

It looks like they've changed their CS program so it's harder to speed run, added group projects, more technical courses, etc. 2025 especially looks like it'll be tougher.

 

[O.T.I.S.]

I agree unless you enjoy it of course. If ya don't, should really be 3-5 years max. I did it for 10


Folks will rarely ever big up your skills because they want you to stay where you at.

It's cheaper for them

FACT

 

[O.T.I.S.]

Interested in exploring the risk/GRC space but more importantly looking for job security and less salary variance. Staying private means more $$$ but I hate the unsurety working in the private tech space. I earn a fairly high salary and that always makes me nervous with all the outsourcing that’s going on in the States.

Well at least you know government not outsourcing shyt

 

[O.T.I.S.]

There's no way to bypass the automatic degree filters if you don't have a degree no matter how much experience you have.

Speaking from the software side, if you have no formal education and are somewhat older already with experience, then WGU seems like a great way to get past the degree filter. I'm guessing most average people with experience can probably finish the program in ~2 years if they're starting from scratch (faster if you can transfer in credits).

It looks like they've changed their CS program so it's harder to speed run, added group projects, more technical courses, etc. 2025 especially looks like it'll be tougher.

Group projects

Do they still allow Certs to skip classes?

 

[IIVI]

Group projects

Do they still allow Certs to skip classes?

I think they do, but I know it changes frequently.

But yeah, they definitely increased the rigor of their CS program it looks like.

 

[O.T.I.S.]

I think they do, but I know it changes frequently.

But yeah, they definitely increased the rigor of their CS program it looks like.

Whole reason Im going to WGU is not to deal with more people than necessary

 

[IIVI]

Whole reason Im going to WGU is not to deal with more people than necessary

The way I see it, it's a small price to pay for a big payout. Chances are it won't be nearly as bad as you think. Think of it like the last round of a title fight: win the last round and the battle is done. Come all that way, there's no sense letting the last round/battle stop everything.

Remember: once you got your degree you will never have to worry about answering that question of why you don't have a degree again.

Keep the focus on all the benefits of having that degree and the doors it unlocks

 

[At30wecashout]

Problem is I don't want to stay in the IT world anymore.

I may be better off in a non support role but getting my job to pay for a degree may send up some red flags for them.
I'm really not sure what my next steps are, but I gotta make a choice before I get put into the "ageism" bracket haha.



That $80k is as a System Administrator breh. I had to request the title change numerous times before I got it (and a raise that I had been fighting for as well).

Took almost three years in this company and I was already doing the work. I've been doing Sys Admin work for years. Never got the title because then they would have to pay me more.

I'm at a family owned (ugh) Real estate company so it's a small IT department. I have to do support.

Do yourself a favor and change your title to System Administrator on the resume and/or LinkedIn. If you are in and out of servers, you can call yourself one.

I sold myself short for a decade, you have certs and experience now. Don't sell yourself short, I'm confident you got the skills already. I've spoken to you enough times to feel that way.

But @At30wecashout I will be honest, 6 years at help desk is too long. Yeah it may be easy because you know everything at that place by now (you should), but if they not letting you advance to some kind of Tier 2 type shyt, then might be time to bounce unless you cool and comfortable. I know a lot of the older old school guys that might take positions beneath them just to chill and get a check

And just know, every new place has a learning curve, different structure, different goals, different focuses, different equipment and tools…

But as above so below. If you understand the basic theory of computers with the A+, pretty much everything is the same with anything. Using equipment, communication with devices, and protocols.

I should clarify. Most of my job is help-desk centric but I am more central to the operation that I let on.

-Senior on my staff so they come to me for everything
-Make the Windows images and software packages.
-Participate in the hiring process when needed.
-Train new hires and do documentation.

There is more, but I am a bit more important than a plug-and-play helpdesk person. I am somewhere stuck between sometimes project manager and sometimes sysadmin but I get paid like the latter with duties generally being beneath the pay. This is a major first-world problem and I love where I work but I am waiting for internal positions to pop to transfer so I can stay within my orgs ecosystem. My place is a world-renown spot so I admittedly don't apply to work much because the benefits are almost second to none where I am and the connections can be gold. I'm just waiting for my moment to either leave for an offer I can't refuse or to see an opening I can move into and finally flex a bit.

 

[O.T.I.S.]

I should clarify. Most of my job is help-desk centric but I am more central to the operation that I let on.

-Senior on my staff so they come to me for everything
-Make the Windows images and software packages.
-Participate in the hiring process when needed.
-Train new hires and do documentation.

There is more, but I am a bit more important than a plug-and-play helpdesk person. I am somewhere stuck between sometimes project manager and sometimes sysadmin but I get paid like the latter with duties generally being beneath the pay. This is a major first-world problem and I love where I work but I am waiting for internal positions to pop to transfer so I can stay within my orgs ecosystem. My place is a world-renown spot so I admittedly don't apply to work much because the benefits are almost second to none where I am and the connections can be gold. I'm just waiting for my moment to either leave for an offer I can't refuse or to see an opening I can move into and finally flex a bit.

Well yeah, they should pay you for that Senior position

I have been in a similar place but it wasnt for helpdesk, more for Tier 2 stuff.

Well yeah man, keep doing your thing then. Nothing wrong with the strategy and the degree will force them to have to pay something.

Do they increase your salary yearly for inflation?

 

[At30wecashout]

Well yeah, they should pay you for that Senior position

I have been in a similar place but it wasnt for helpdesk, more for Tier 2 stuff.

Well yeah man, keep doing your thing then. Nothing wrong with the strategy and the degree will force them to have to pay something.

Do they increase your salary yearly for inflation?

Yea and it's modest as hell but you know how that goes. I'm not struggling so the long game is to focus on the degree, upskill some sys-admin tasks, get more proficient at Python and Bash scripting, and test the market. I'm hoping to jump smooth to cloud after this.

 

[Afro]

I should clarify. Most of my job is help-desk centric but I am more central to the operation that I let on.

-Senior on my staff so they come to me for everything
-Make the Windows images and software packages.
-Participate in the hiring process when needed.
-Train new hires and do documentation.

There is more, but I am a bit more important than a plug-and-play helpdesk person. I am somewhere stuck between sometimes project manager and sometimes sysadmin but I get paid like the latter with duties generally being beneath the pay. This is a major first-world problem and I love where I work but I am waiting for internal positions to pop to transfer so I can stay within my orgs ecosystem. My place is a world-renown spot so I admittedly don't apply to work much because the benefits are almost second to none where I am and the connections can be gold. I'm just waiting for my moment to either leave for an offer I can't refuse or to see an opening I can move into and finally flex a bit.

Oh thank God, you are aren't in dire straits, like an MSP or something
I hope something opens up that you like, that is def the benefit of working at a big org. For those that don't know, smaller orgs the only way to get a serious pay bump is to leave or demand a title change. I did the latter, I'm gonna go for more during my performance review because of course

 

[Afro]

I'm hoping to jump smooth to cloud after this.

You got drive and the wits breh, get that paper

 

[O.T.I.S.]

Yea and it's modest as hell but you know how that goes. I'm not struggling so the long game is to focus on the degree, upskill some sys-admin tasks, get more proficient at Python and Bash scripting, and test the market. I'm hoping to jump smooth to cloud after this.

Oh yeah, you good then.

I had one company that wouldn’t even do that shyt. They had a REAL issue with paying folks and got investigated by the Department of Labor for their bullshyt

 

[Vaselclean]

Glad folks are going the WGU route. Get that degree however you can.

It changes EVERYTHING. Trust and believe.