Getting A Degree In IT vs. IT Certifications
September 14th, 2009 by Ben Moreno
’)There is a debate that has been around for some time now. Is it better to get a degree in Information Technology or get certifications? Of course you can go after both but let me provide some insight from personal experience. I have a BS in Technical Management from DeVry University in Long Beach ,CA. So far it has served me quite well. I have already had a decent career so far. I don’t have any certifications either. I noticed that during an interview the degree gets acknowledged but so far nobody questions what specifically I learned. What they do question is demonstrated ability to perform the job functions they require. In other words, experience.
Experience Wins
In past interviews I almost always have been asked about the previous companies I have worked for and exactly what I did for those companies. I have been asked if I had certifications before but it didn’t seem to matter that I didn’t have any. Lots of times job descriptions state that they require A+ or other certs but will often over look it if you show relevant experience. This why it is very important to list on your resume the specific job functions you performed for your previous companies. These experiences are key to a support related career.
Of course if you have no experience then you need to break down what you learned in school and show some examples of work. Along with experience you also need people skills. In the desktop support/helpdesk world (which is where I have specific expertise), you need to have people skills and certain personality traits. These traits along with demonstrated experience is the key. Specific traits are, able to communicate well and deal with any type of personality, excellent communications skills, patience and punctuality. I am sure you have heard the term, “different strokes, for different folks”, right?
Where you get your IT education really only matters on a per job basis. Some companies won’t even consider you if you don’t have a specific certification. Some companies won’t hire you if your degree is not from a UC college. This is because they are looking for a specific skill set and/or believe that quality people come from these types of colleges. (I disagree of course)
In helpdesk/desktop support you need only know how to troubleshoot PC’s and specific applications. The applications vary from company to company and they usually desire experience with a specific application or a similar one. Most of this job is successful communication with users and professionalism. Having an A+ certification pretty much proves that you have the knowledge of understanding how a PC functions, but professionalism and communication come from practice. I am willing to bet that a person with no formal education in computers but a few years of support experience, in most cases will be a better support person than a person with a BA in computer science but no support experience.
Final thoughts
So the answer to the question, “Is it better to have a degree or a certification?” is that it really depends on the job and the company. In the helpdesk/desktop support world I can tell you that experience working with people is key and education can only help. I have met excellent support people who have just high school education. I look forward to readers comments on this one because I know that there is a ton more insight that people can add to this discussion. I can only speak from my own experience which is of course limited. I would really like to hear from someone who only has certifications and their experiences getting jobs.
Tags: degree vs certifications, helpdesk/desktop support, Tech
September 23rd, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Dear Ben,
I read your views about IT Certification Vs. IT Degree. I would like to share my experience with you. I dont have any specific degree of IT with me still on the basis of experience now i am working in a organization as a National Service & Support Head. Hence i agree with your views about certification Vs. degree.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Prashant,
Thanks for your input. It really does come down to experience.
September 24th, 2009 at 5:34 am
It Truly does come dowm to experience. When I first relocate from one state to another I had a Bachelor’s in operations management. NO degree or certification in IT, but my current job has nothing to do with my bachelors but only with my previous experience from the previous state. A certification or degree within the field of your experience only secured that experience/career for you.
September 24th, 2009 at 9:51 am
That is good to hear Peirre. I think that having either a BA or a cert in a related field is necessary. At least one or the other to get your foot in the door.
November 19th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Hello Ben,
I agree with you about that experience helping to get your foot in the door. I started in a computer operations department working mainframe print operations without any experience. I was exposed to the help desk responsiblities and agree that having good communication and listening skills is important as well as having OJT for anyone who is interested in this field or any field. During my time at the help desk, I continued my education at UT-San Antonio and received a BBA in Information Systems Management which means I took alot of programming and database courses. I don’t have any certifications but certifications are valid forms of exposure to IT knowledge. Exposure and knowledge are key to having a successful career. Good Luck to you and I have enjoyed reading your Navy storys as well.
November 19th, 2009 at 11:55 am
David,
Thank you for the comments. That is good that you had a lot of OJT. It really makes the difference. There are so many applications and different hardware that the little details are really important and you learn those from doing and not reading about it.
November 27th, 2009 at 5:40 am
Hey Ben,
I enjoy reading your blog. I am thinking of joining the navy reserve in stuttgart germany . .I work in the IT field doing a certifcation right now APO IT System Admin. I have a lot of support experience in IT wanted to know if you have any advice on doing Tech work in the Navy. What are the skills they are looking for? Are there anykinds of special programs or incentives , as someone who appears to have been down that road maybe you know something I don’t. .
I am curious to know if you have any advice on how people are stationed in the navy.. it appears that bases are in italy and spain. I live in germany. .(don’t ask me how or why but I have kids and can’t leave) there is a lot of army here in the south of germany, only a litte bit of navy. .any feeling on army vs navy stuf,. .first duty stations? sorry this is a lot to ask. I know.
thanks
jeremiah
November 27th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Jeremiah,
Keep in mind that the military changes things all the time so what I say might be outdated. However, you will need to talk to a recruiter about stationing. As far as I know there are no guarantees. When I was in boot camp they simply sent me where I was needed. Depending on what job you have will determine where you might go. Be very aggressive and pushy with the recruiter because they can be manipulative. It is their job to be.
I think joining the Navy is a good decision if you don’t have any other plans. It can really help you in the future, plus you and your family will be taken care of while you are in. It all depends on what you want to do so the decision to go in the Army or Navy is up to you. In the Army you will be trained toward ground combat mostly, and in the Navy you will learn about ships mostly. Also in the Navy you might get a great opportunity to travel to different places in the world.
I wish the best of luck for you in whatever you decide to do.