IT Career Advice....Redux

I was going to bump my original thread but caved and started a whole new one.

I’m stressing about a career change, and desperately need input from the Teeming Millions.

I went to an info seminar for a local private computer training center (The Computer Lab in Morrisville, NC in case anyone is curious). They have a track that will get me A+ and CNE-5 certifications in about 9 months ( I may also get CCNA cert after that). I’m worried that it won’t be anything more than a “paper certification”, and I’ll find I’ll have spent 9 mos and $7,000 with no realistic job prospects. It’s not a Community College or Voc/Tech school. I already have a BS in an unrelated field (nursing - ugh) and doubt I want to go back for another degree (unless I have to) so the “transfer credits” thing isn’t an issue. They do have a good passing rate on the cert exams (96%), a lot of “testimonials” from satisfied students (but Penthouse also had a lot of letters lucky fellas :wink: ), and they’ve been around for 10-12 years.

Does anyone have any experience/advise/input in this sort of thing? Does this sound like a waste of time, and I should just wait an eternal year until I can start in the local Community College’s certification program or AD program?

Any insight anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated. As I said, I’m stressed over this decision. Pardon me while I puke.

Thanks,

Shaky Jake

Ask them for the names of genuine graduates who are now employed. (There may not be many, and only happy ones will get posted, but talking to the happy ones in enough depth will get you a better idea of what to expect.)

For what it’s worth, I went to Control Data Institute 20 years ago (with a useless degree on my resume). That was back in the COBOL days, of course. There were a number of problems with the way CDI was run, but I definitely learned enough to get a job. I’m still in programming.

The basic idea is sound. You already have a degree. Future employers look for the funny lteers and a college, but rarely care what your major really was. If the school will give you genuine knowledge, then it could really pay off.

The two most important questions are:

  1. Will the new career be something I will truly enjoy?
  2. Will this school give me the tools I will need to get in to a successful job/company?

Only you can answer question 1. You need to know enough about what kind of jobs you might get and how you would like them.

Only a graduate can tell you whether their training is adequate. (If they refuse to name a graduate, get them to give you a list of companies that have “successfuly” hired their grads, call personnel at some companies, and ask how those graduates did. You may not get an answer, but then, you may. If you claim to be the ER assistant manager of the Iron Widget Co. looking for advice on hiring Computer Lab grads, you might get better info.)

I considered enrolling in a school similar to the one you describe, but ultimately decided against it. Certifications look good on paper, but hands-on experience is what employers want. A tech school would probably be your best choice. Then again, there are a few hundred thousand unfilled computer jobs in this country. A certification would probably be enough to get your foot in the door.

I’m going to a tech school for networking. The program is a year and nine months. Cost is about $3,000 for the entire program (including books and supplies). When I signed up, they put me on a year-long waiting list. A month later, they sent me a notice in the mail inviting me to take an enrollment test and start school. So a year doesn’t always mean a year. Sign up and see what happens. The only thing you have to lose is the registration fee (mine was only $5) if it doesn’t pan out.

If you don’t know anything about the technical side of computers, don’t count being employable when you graduate that program. The A+ crt might get you an interview for a junior-level IT job, but if you aren’t really sharp you’ll just flunk it. (i.e. if all you know is what you learned in the A+ classes, you’ll flunk it).

Those certifications are a good way for hobbyists and really, really interested people who already have a ton of experience playing around with computers to get some sort of credential which will open some doors.

If you’re not a person like that, and you’re just looking for a career path, I would recommend possibly training to be a web developer. The skills aren’t that hard to pick up, but you do need to have a good sense of aesthetics. And learn to focus on solving business needs rather than making ‘pretty’ web sites. That’s what employers are looking for, and you’ll ace an interview if you go in telling how you’ll solve their problems, rather than how good you are at making cool rotating logos.

BTW, I think the job market for A+ and MCSE grads has cooled off a bit, largely because of the huge numbers of these people being churned out by diploma mills like the one you’re looking at. This is pushing down salaries (at least in my area) and making it harder to stand out enough to get an interview.

What you first need is a general knowledge of computers. Not programming, not network administration, but basic info on setting up a machine, installing software, copying disks. If you have that, then what you really need is the proverbial “foot in the door.” The certificate might get you that, but it might not. If I were you, I’d start going to some sort of school - certification, tech school, whatever - and at the same time start sending out resumes to tech companies looking for junior level employees. QA and/or Test departments are good places to apply. A lot of times all you need to get into an entry level QA position is a “power user” level of knowledge.

Once you’re in a company, get your experience that way. A year or two of Testing experience and a couple of night classes on programming will give you enough experience to get into an automated test position, where you’ll get some programming experience. A year or two of that, and you’re probably ready for a junior developer position. I see this all the time where I work - we currently have two people who both started as receptionists. One is now in QA, the other did QA for a while and is now a developer. Much more fun, and pays better than going to school for a certificate that may or may not get you a job.

If you got a good basic understanding of computers to start with, going to a class for an A+ certification is probably a waste of money. Get a decent book and study on your own time. I got a $20 practice test book and got my A+ a few months ago.
If you really want to get in the field, and have some basic experience, look at signing up with one of the various IT placement agencies. make sure they specialize in computer jobs though, or you might get stuck doing data entry or something (not that there’s anything wrong with data entry…put the flamethrowers down.) :slight_smile:
I started doing various small jobs, and eventually caught on doing more advanced stuff. As much as I hated it, working on a helpdesk was the best experience I ever had in the field

First, what ever decision you end up making, the high tech career is a good choice for today and the forseable future.
The CNA may not be as hot as it once was, and unless yo have a specific employer in mind whhho requires this look more at an MCSE. The Windows 2000 track will be your best choice.

If you have done self study before, this is an excellent option, the schools are good in many cases, but you may not like the pace, or the cost.

I have also noticed that quite a few employers are willing to bring you in with little experience (and pay) at first, and train you in return for a committment. At least in this area (SF/Silicon Valley).

If you are interested in networking, (A choice I would applaud, since it’s what I do :slight_smile: ) try talking to some potential employers in your area, or search their web sites for openings, and get an idea of the skills most in demand.

Check out this site, whith lots 'o job listings to get an idea of what’s going on. You can start out as a tech, and work up to network admin. But take a swallow, and get ready to do some dirty work for a year or two (while people like me sit on their fat butts).

Main thing is get a home PC (if you don’t already have one) and learn to install anything and everything you can. (Operating Systems, Utilities, Apps, Games, Screen Savers) and read the self-study stuff if you can learn that way.

It would not hurt to look at Linux either, since there has been quite a flurry of activity with it in most major companies. If you get into it now, and it takes off in the next two years, you can ride that wave.

Good luck, if you have specific questions feel free to ask. I’ve got years in this business and would be glad to help.

Sili

(PS - you will notice that they don’t teach techies to spell, it is automatically forgiven)