Re: Experience vs College Degree

[KMort@xxxxxxxxxx]

Justin:

Here is my $.02 on the subject.

I see this as a three pronged:

1. College degree
2. Job Experience
3. Professional Certification

I started out working in public access facilities in a PC support role in
college. The job experience this gave me helped to develop and hone my
troubleshooting skills, which I am ever grateful of today. I also worked a
facility that was a 24 hour site with a call in helpdesk. This allowed me
to learn how to work a problem without the benefit of being on site.
Shortly after college I began working with the AS/400, and have been on
that road ever since.

However, I do not let that be the only thing I keep up on. I take a fair
amount of time keeping informed on as many aspects of the IT industry as I
can, whether that be iSeries specific or not. I believe in being well
informed.

My degree is actually in telecommunications, which at the time I saw the
vision that computers & telephony were a sure bet for convergence. There
are cases every day where I recall information that I learned doing
research in college that I can apply to what I do today.

I have something like 10 years working with IT now, which granted is far
fewer than some here. I think that all of the job experience I had PLUS the
educational experience (you are forced to keep up with goings on in your
research) are both huge professional perks.

If I were in your position I would most certainly go for the degree if you
can manage it. I would also work to get yourself certified professionally.
It is my view that obtaining all three of these things will put you in the
best possible position.

Good luck!
______________

Kevin E. Mort
iSeries Technical Engineer
Arrow Electronics - Enterprise Computing Solutions
Support Net Division
Ph: 317.735.0200 ext 7502
Fx: 954.428.3991
http://www.supnet.com

IBM e-server Certified Systems Expert -- iSeries Technical Solutions
Lotus Certified Specialist

" i want everything to work. i choose iSeries. "