Breaking into the IT field

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MadMarkJD

Limp Gawd
Joined
May 2, 2006
Messages
135
I am starting to get dissatisfied with my current career and I'v often thought about trying out a career in IT.

I was wondering would it be better to go back and get another Bachelors degree or to get certifications?
 
That really depends on what you want to do in the IT field. It's kind of like saying you want to work in the automotive industry. Need to be more specific.

In most cases, if you have a degree already (even a non-technical one) certs will be more valuable than an additional degree.
 
I'm not a 100% sure what I want to do. I was looking at network engineer or systems analyst as possible options. But I'm not up to date on the types of positions that are available.

I was CS major in college untill I decided to go to law school and switched majors (HUGE mistake if i had stuck with CS and gone to law school I could right my own paycheck with the current demand for CS/JD's right now.

I
 
The problem is that other than entry level jobs, you aren't going to be able to get a job without previous experience. You will pretty much have to start with a help desk job or something like a Best Buy Geek Squad tech which is not going to pay much while you build some experience. You MAY be able to find someone to higher you as a mid-level tech if you get your MCSE first, but you what you learn from the certs isn't all that useful in the real world so you will have to scramble to get up to speed quickly to keep the job. I'm not trying to discourage you, but want you to understand that if you are already working in another field and making decent money, you may be looking at a substantial pay cut for the near future.
 
I had thought about getting a weekend gig as a Geek squad type person. Some of those people don't know shit.

I'm not sure if it was idiocy or sales tactics but they tried to convince my fiancee to get a 1600pro instead of a 7900GS because the pro had 512mb ram and the 7900 only had 256 and the were the same price. needless to say I corrected this with all due haste.
 
Since you already have a degree, I would focus on certifications.
 
The PT job with the Geek Squad isn't a bad idea. You will get some experience, earn a little pocket money and the employee discount is AWESOME on a lot of items. I worked their PT one xmas and it was great. If we had not bought a house that was much further from the store I would probably do it every xmas season just for the extra cash and the discount for all my xmas shopping.
 
Thanks for all the replies I think i will start looking into some cert programs around here. I had read an article that said if you already have a degree then certs were the way to go but I wasn't sure and wanted to hear it from people who are in the know.
 
MadMarkJD said:
Thanks for all the replies I think i will start looking into some cert programs around here. I had read an article that said if you already have a degree then certs were the way to go but I wasn't sure and wanted to hear it from people who are in the know.
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Another option is to take a few class' at a jr college or something to get more into the field. Could do it at a normal college as well. Get to know the professors a lot of them in my experience do side work. They can really help get you some good experience.
 
A lawyer switching careers into the IT industry? Really?! so are you that bad of a lawyer? hehe.
 
enginurd said:
A lawyer switching careers into the IT industry? Really?! so are you that bad of a lawyer? hehe.
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haha no I'm actually a damn fine attorney about a 90% trial success rate right now, but if comes down to dealing with divorce clients or computers for the next 20 years of my life

I'm starting to lean towards computers

another difference:

Legal clients know EXACTLY what they want and they want you to get it no matter what the facts are or what the law says, and when you tell them thier fucked they get pissed and file a complaint

Computer clients just want their shit to work, and when you tell them thier equipment is fucked they just cuss and buy new shit.
 
Ockie said:
Since you already have a degree, I would focus on certifications.
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I agree with this one. Thats what im doing. I hate school too much to go get a third degree, so i have decided to go the certification route. Very convenient and doable. Also im loving my classes thus far.
 
MadMarkJD said:
Legal clients know EXACTLY what they want and they want you to get it no matter what the facts are or what the law says, and when you tell them thier fucked they get pissed and file a complaint
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If that bugs you, stay away from software development. Software clients know EXACTLY what they want and they want you to do it no matter what the facts are. And they want it yesterday and at half what it should cost.
 
Michael Daly said:
If that bugs you, stay away from software development. Software clients know EXACTLY what they want and they want you to do it no matter what the facts are. And they want it yesterday and at half what it should cost.
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QFT. ROFL. Just reminds me of a recent convo... "...and when do you need this by?" ... "yesterday, of course!" ... lol.
 
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