Networking Degree

[nateholtrop]

Is an assosciates in networking really mean anything or would I be better off to study for the tests and take my certs??

nate

 

[Vegito]

These days, having a degree = turning down for jobs... I turn away so many guys because they don't know what they're doing, they have a piece of paper.

BTW I'm 23, MCSE, CCIE, blah, blah, blah, went school as a Economic, Pol Science and business minor. And I'm in charge of a semi-large node WAN/LAN network between NYC, CT and Seattle WA. Crap, I don't even understand half the crap in that mcse, but I had good memorizing skills and knows NT and cisco routers well.. plus you just gotta read and try.

I understand that's hard since we can't even afford a cisco router to practice.

See most people are either LAN administrator or system administrator, very little of the group are both LAN & System. Thats were I kicked in.. using my Anandtech knowledge, I upgraded some old dell crap and save company thousands of dollar by using slockets & fc-pgas, something dell won't let you do.

It is better to have the certifications but you better have real world experience to back it up, these people can tell if you really know something or not. Unless someone is willing to take you in and train you..

 

[nateholtrop]

Ok...I got real world knowledge cuz I know hardware decent but...dont know routers at all. ok thanks.

nate

 

[Spiff]

I would urge you to get your college degree. Some businesses require a degree in order to advance to some positions. Think about this from a long term perspective. Where will you be in 10 years? or even 5 years?

The degree is not going to mean you will get a hi paying job walking out of school. You'll still have to earn your place, but it may mean greater potential for advancement in the long run.

Now having said this, I don't have a college degree. I have some certs and I have working experience. But I also had to work hard in order to insure I earned people's respect. I have had to present myself in a professional manner in interviews and demonstrate a good knowledge of IT and a good business sense... demonstrating my worth to potential employers despite the fact that I do not have a degree.

So I urge you to get one.

 

[Vegito]

True, college is definite more important, it means you have some basic knowledge skills and ability to do tasks. I have a lot of friends that dropped out and took certs but no skill and no hire. I wasn't even a comp sci major so it doesn't even matter as long as you goto college and do well.. it's hard to get router experience since it's a rip off..

 

[Daniel]

Not too familiar with a associates in networking. Some places look on certifications much differently then others. Like I went for a interview at one place once, didn't have alot of paid experience, some, but I had my mcse too, the guy totally ripped me about how certs mean nothing vs real world and all that. My buddy went to a place, oh you are taking the mcse track, he was only done a few tests and they put him right in the networking center to get trained, so it depends on the place really. I'm done a associates, almost done my bs in MIS, I started in business so it was a easier transition than straight computers and I figure it will help later down the road if they are picking someone to run a center. I put on my resume what degree I do have but that I'm 19 credits from my bs, and all deans list and stuff so that at least shows I'm in the process of going for it.
Oh, and forcesho you got the ccie without router experience? I thought that was supposed to
be impossible but I might be mixing it up with something else. I just started studying for my ccna, any suggestions?
Daniel

 

[TerreApart]

This question has so many answers it can be confusing. My best advice is to say "Depends on the person".

Spiff has an excellent grasp of how the networking field currently views employees. The degree will ALWAYS have more weight than the MCSE. Let me explain, the degree shows you have been exposed to networking as well as general college requirements(i.e. english, math, some-business, etc). The MCSE shows you have "some" knowledge of networking(no english, math, business, etc). Thus, the degree may not get your dream networking job, but you may get offered a job that could lead to networking = more offers.

This is why the trend has been, and will continue to be:
&quot;Some businesses require a degree in order to advance to some positions&quot; (<--quoted from Spiff) (degrees have ALWAYS been valued by business)

I have NEVER heard anyone EVER say:
&quot;Some businesses require an MCSE in order to advance to some positions &quot;(i could be mistaken tho, at one time MCSE was highly valued)

By having both a degree and an MCSE you show that you not only have a broader education base, but you also show an above-average desire to learn networking.

*just my 2 cents*
I only used MCSE in this example to keep this short, MCSE could be substituted for any of the networking related &quot;certs&quot;.

 

[dirtboy]

Get the degree. Not long ago, I asked for a raise to bring my pay up to the average pay rate in the area...this is the response I got: &quot;If you had a degree this would be no problem.&quot; I pointed out my skills, (no certs) are far superior to the degreed person they had before me. They agreed, and left me hanging with the fact it would be complicated but not out of the question. Still no raise. :frown:

 

[Duckers]

I am currently studying for my CCNA degree.
In order to get a CCIE or other similar cisco degree; do I need to have a CCNA first?

 

[Phokus]

Duckers: You have to get your CCNA, then CCNP, then CCIE... I heard the CCIE has an 85% failure rate so good luck!

 

[Inosuke]

I don't know a hell of a lot about networking, BUT I like to shoot off my mouth a bit. I am in a 21 week bootcamp for networking admin certificate.

I already have a BS in Econ and an MA (in psychotherapy) but I will tell you this; when I walk into a place, even as a temp, I have the professional confidence to look everyone in the eye and hold coversation. Afterall, I was these people's therapist 2 months ago.

I don't think you can go wrong with education. Even if it seems trivial, why couldn't you get an associates and get certified along the way?

My plan is to do this bootcamp, take one of the Microsoft core exams (making me a MCP), and then hit the CCNA track. Along the way, I am temping anywhere I can get network work, and offering free networking help to people I know who have small businesses. Finally, I am assembling a horde of OSes at home (Win2000, Redhat Linux, Win98, solaris is free too remember, and getting more familiar with them all).

I also learned that some companies that are Microsoft associated must hire a certain number of MCP's in order to keep this affiliation. Typical. Anyway, this says get the cert. (not the full MCSE) and move on to what you want to study. You may get hired just cuz of that cert.

The way I learned the inside-outs of PCs was dinking at home. I plan to do the same with networking, though I obviously cannot get the high-dollar routers for home use. That's what the bootcamp and the temping is for; the hands on.

My 2 centavos.

Inosuke

 

[pcmark]

Hey Forcesho, what's your CCIE#?
It's not impossible to get a job without a certification. I got a job at an ISP without having any certifications. I'm currently studying for my CCNA,and the hands on at work is going to benefit me plenty. I can access Cisco routers on our OC48 all day long. I would try to get an entry level job first. Most companys will pay for you to get certified,and the hands on experience will help you do that. Cisco cert's are the way to go if you want to get onto networking. Maybe Juniper cert after that.