IT without a degree.

[hockeyfreak79]

I've been in IT for about 8 years now, 2 companies. I'm getting close to burning out and ready for a change. Current company I work for is small, very little room to grow. Before that was in corporate world.

I don't know any programming languages. I'm intermediate level at UNIX/SQL at best. I've been an Operations Analyst, Process Solutions Specialist and currently a Systems Engineer.

I've been looking at CompTIA A+ certification at local uni and then Network+ and Security+......are these certs even worth it if I don't have the experience?

Any advice from IT gurus? Should I look into SQL classes since I already have a base knowledge. Yeah, I know should have done this 10-15yrs ago.:kick:

 

[canihaveit]

I have my CompTIA trio (A+, Net+ and Sec+) and used a book to self study for each of them. Super easy certs to get, don't take a class on them if you already have IT experience. Just buckle down on a book.

My advice is to go to college and get a CS degree, or at least some sort of MIS degree if you're not interested in the rigorous theoretical curriculum for CS. Or to look at specialized certification paths depending on what you're going for. Ie Cisco for networking, CEH/CISSP for info sec, VMWare for virtualization etc etc.

But a degree never hurts with job security and promotion. At all.

That being said I'm a college junior so maybe I don't know as much as someone with more experience. But I do know those 3 certs are easy peasy if you're knowledgeable and can study hard. And see if you can get an academic discount on the test costs through your community college CS/CIS department if you choose to get them. I paid half off for all my certs.

 

[Eph]

If you're looking for entry level jobs, sure go get the CompTIA tri-fecta. With 8 years experience, go study for certs more suited towards you. As a systems engineer you probably want to look at the Microsoft certs MSCA or the MSCE, assuming your job is basically dealing with individual systems instead of the entire network. Really, you can sum it up to this: if you're dealing with Windows, look at Microsoft certs. If you're dealing with (Cisco) routers and switches and other networking devices, look at Cisco certs.

If you can tell us a few things like:
Do you work on individual systems or do you work on the network as a whole?
What OS? Windows, Windows Server, *nix, *nix Server
(If you work on the network) Do you work on network infrastructure (devices, cabling, etc) or do you work on the OS?
Is there another aspect of IT you want to work in? (Wireless, Security, etc)

We can recommend some certs and possibly some study resources for you.

 

[Tenacity]

Yes, do what Eph said, I too have a CompTIA certification but it's the entry level Project Management one (Project +). I'm not in IT or Project Management though, it was included in one of my bachelor's degree programs.

If you are going to move up in the IT world, you are going to need relevant experience, certifications and at least a bachelor's. There are college out that allow you to complete a Bachelor's in various IT disciplines and include the CompTIA and other major certifications as apart of the degree program. So you end up completing the certifications and the degree at the same time, saving a significant amount of time/money.

 

[Rave18]

The replies above

Also check > http://www.techexams.net/forums/ [Useful forum for those in the IT sector.].

 

[synergy1]

If I was not trying to break into the web development world as we speak, I would be aggressively pursuing something in cyber security. The field will blow up, and the salaries will be competitive.

 

[Jason9]

If you want to move up as another has stated go to college and get a CS degree. or take the CCNA route and work your way up as you get more experience.

 

[prison/con.net]

know a vet? how much money can you scratch together? If you know a vet who can get a homeloan and if you've got at least 10k that you can spare, you can be retired in 3-4 years, especially if you are single. You don't need to know much of anything special, either.

 

[speed dawg]

I've been in IT for about 8 years now, 2 companies. I'm getting close to burning out and ready for a change. Current company I work for is small, very little room to grow. Before that was in corporate world.

I have zero knowledge of IT, but I can address this. If you're in a small company and have no room to grow, either create some new business line for the company, or leave. That's basically your two options.

 

[logicallefty]

Networking and security. Security has zero unemployment. So long as there is technology, there will be crazy people to try and exploit it. Networking is pretty good too. The Internet and TCP/IP are not going away. Doesn't matter if you network a computer or a phone or a tablet or a stove or a toilet, IP addresses are IP addresses are IP addresses.