Should I get certified with no experience??? 1

[nashvillemba]

I am 25 and have been out of school for two years. I have a Markteting degree and a Masters Degree in Business. I work for a large investment bank and want to get into the computer industry, preferabley software or hardware consulting. I am fully self-taught (besides a VBA for Excel class). I am familiar with networks, installed wireless, wired, created webpages, FTP, and am very comfortable with any new technology. Most people come to me in my office for computer help/advice. I want to get into the industry. What certifications should I get, if any? And what is the best track in obtaining a position. Any advice is greatly appreciated,

 

[SteveTheGeek]

A+ and Network+ are good places to start with certification, in my opinion. Vendor-neutral, fairly broad-based but shallow, and still known well enough to help.

The best possibility for career transitions is to see if you can migrate to an IT position within your current company. If that answer is no, the traditional "entry-level" for IT is helpdesk-type work. What will give you a jump-start is if you can hook up with a local IT consultant (or consulting company) and start out basic but work upward. The learning curve is pretty steep at times, but it's worth it, in my opinion.
-Steve