My IT Career - advice needed

[TurkishGold]

Hi all...

I'm feeling slightly lost on my IT career path. I am about to finish an IT diploma course at a technical college (which is the only "higher-education" I've had since high-school). My course lasted 18 months and was called "PC & Network Technician". What I learned from the course can be summed up by saying that I have my A+, Network+ and CCNA (I am considering adding e-Biz, i-Net, MCSA, MCDST to the list). With or without the certifications in brackets, I am feeling "stuck" on the matter of what I should do next. If I considered getting a job, I feel like I don't know what exactly I should be applying for... To complicate the situation further, I am also wondering if I should "go back to school" to perhaps a better known college/university and presue a degree course. I feel like I'm not quite at my peak of my "IT knowledge", although I am not sure if I can deal with much more school.

Right now, "going back to school" winning in my head. I am thinking of Canada as where I would like to be for school next. I am not exactly a short distance away from Canada (I'm in Europe), but I think I would enjoy getting away from "home". I am also wondering:
What are some computer schools (or schools offering computer courses) in Canada that I should be looking into?.
What kind of course should I go for (2-year, 4-year, Associate, Bachelor, Undergrad., Computer Science, Information Technology, etc.?)?

I would really appreciate any thoughts on my situation.
Thank you

 

[schase]

Well,

Have any real world experience?

I must say the A+, Net+ and CCNA in 18 months is not bad at all. But if you were going to go for a degree I'd suggest a Bachelor degree in whichever field.

If you have had real world experience - what area caught your interest the most? networking, databases, programming? That could give you an indication of what area to prod into a bit more.


"Never underestimate the power of determination"

Stuart
Net+

 

[TurkishGold]

The only experience I have had (aside from volunteering to help people I know with their computer/network problems) is working at in internet cafe. I must say I did enjoy it, I love being surrounded by computers, but it is definitely not what I aspire to do now that I have some more schooling under my belt. I would like a bachelor degree, but I'm not sure exactly in what area...not to mension I really doubt I could survive another 4 years of school (I'm not a "school person" - I opted for the 18 month course as it was compressed). What are your views on associate degrees? Also, what do you think about me going for the e-Biz, i-Net, MCSA, and MCDST certifications?
As you can tell, my mind is anything but clear right now.

Where abouts (geographically) are you, just out of curiousity?

 

[schase]

I'm in Texas - well little Mexico (El Paso)

Personally I don't mind Associate degrees I have one myself in business - but IMHO, if you were going for a college degree and wish to compete a bachelor degree would look a whole lot better than an associates degree. Not absolutely necessary but it cannot hurt much.

IMHO I think the e-biz and i-Net would be great if you go to work for a development company or probably an ISP that also developes. I talked to a couple of head hunters who said they have not seen any requests for I-net (didn't ask about e-biz). But having said that, I do believe any certs will only serve to strengthen your resume and your skills. It's more knowledge that certainly will not be wasted.

There are several smarter people on this board who can give you more pointers on the MCSA/MCDST. The fact you have CCNA is impressive, if you really enjoyed networks you could forget the whole Microsoft part of it for the moment and finish the Cisco side of things.

But the alternate view is - no matter where you look Microsoft is on a computer near you. (well almost anyway) it is an undeniable fact we face and along with that comes more jobs servicing machines that run a version of Windows.

Not much help i'm afraid. I guess a deeper probing question could be - how did you like the CCNA. If that really really got your interest than maybe continue Cisco - if not as much, maybe go towards the Microsoft side of things.

Or maybe while your deciding get the I-Net and e-Biz then contemplate school versus certs.

"Never underestimate the power of determination"

Stuart
Net+

 

[TurkishGold]

I really appreciate your help, the "smarter people" don't seem interested anyway! ;-) I enjoyed the CCNA, as most computer related subjects, although I think many things about it become tedious, and therefore I'm not sure if a "Cisco career" is for me. Good point about Microsoft! I'm trying to get into Linux myself. But, Gates is still grasping his dictatorship to the IT world, and I think he'll be "leading" it for sometime to come. So, I would like to have some sort of Microsoft certification... I think I will go for the i-Net and e-Biz when I have the time, "It can't hurt" - point taken. I would be leaning towards a Bachelor degree if I thought I could transfer credits and cut down on the years, but I've been in Europe, and the school systems are just so different (but perhaps I will look into it). Any recommendations on specific schools?

 

[schase]

Can't help on the schools I'm afraid. I do know some US schools will apply some college credits for certain certs and life experience. But that would require a good deal of research.

I wouldn't be surprised to see others chime in as well when they have the time, it's just into the evening hours now so you never know.

Another whole point I forgot to mention is the simple economics of it. Could you afford i-net+, e-Biz and do MCSA or would the money spent on those two be better put towards the MCSA. I *believe* with A+ & Net+ your only 3 tests or so from the MCSA.

the Microsoft cert forum is here.

http://www.tek-tips.com/threadminder.cfm?pid=468

"Never underestimate the power of determination"

Stuart
Net+

 

[glister]

If you can afford the schooling, go for it. Education can only strengthen you resume (CV). As far as which field to go into, it all depends on what you want to be when you grow up (that's a joke ). IT for the sake of IT is a very limiting field. try to find an area where you can apply your computer knowledge/skills. Manufacturing, Healthcare, Banking, Insurance. These industries USE computers but computers are not their end product. You tend to become more valuable to the organization.

I am a computer technician in a high-speed manufacturing facility (also in W. Texas). I work in the Automation & Controls Group. I maintain the systems that keep the plant running. The work is varied, high paced and never boring. As long as everything is humming along, life is sweet.

As far as MCDST, this is a desktop support cert. In my opinion, you want to get as far away from the desktop as possible. Users are a pain. Try and work your way higher on the food chain.

A+,N+,S+,L+,I+,HTI+,e-Biz+,Security+,CETsr,CST,CNST,CNCT,CFOT,CCNT,CCTT,ACSP,ISA CCST3