Certs or College Degree IT
Posted by Ordinary-Scratch-940@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 64 comments
I am very green in the IT industry and I am wondering if Certifications or a college degree would be better to become a sysadmin? I am planning on attending college in the fall but may change plans if there is a better route.
Excellent_Pilot_2969@reddit
hands-on experience beats both. If you must, do certs first. You could do college but the question is how that will fit in to your future career. Do you want to switch to software development, then yes. You could do online on the side while you work, takes longer but doesn't put you in debt up to your neck...
Ok-Juggernaut-4698@reddit
A degree will carry you through a lifetime of work.
nationaladventures@reddit
Old +25y expired high level certs, ged, director. I say no to both if you can prove yourself.
Ok-Juggernaut-4698@reddit
And your advice is as stale as your knowledge and career. Market had changed, boomer. Can't get into tech with a calculator watch and a bow tie anymore.
KindlyGetMeGiftCards@reddit
Experience trumps both, but if you can get experience while getting a cert and degree you will be set.
Remember with experience you get paid, where as the other 2 you have to pay.
Ok-Juggernaut-4698@reddit
Not in today's market anymore.
anonMuscleKitten@reddit
Do NOT waste money and get a useless degree in IT. Everything you need for IT can be found on the internet and quite frankly having the curiosity and tenacity to do that is what will get you far in this field. I can’t tell you have many threads I’ve seen on here where more senior people complain about the new guys wanting everything spoon fed to them. Just google it or in a more modern world, ChatGPT it.
If you’re going to spend the money on a four year degree, it better be in engineering or some other field where the college prepares you for a career with HARD skills. Thats what employers expect now-a-days.
Ok-Juggernaut-4698@reddit
You sound like someone who probably does a shit job too, but think they're a god. I replaced someone like you, for a lot more money as well.
Training-Manager-352@reddit
As a hiring manager who works in IT and has been through many of the steps it took to get here.
Both.
Good classes will teach you a lot of what you need to know about the work that’s expected of a sysadmin. Use ratemyprofessor to get the rundown on professors at your choice of school. A lot of companies and organizations want to see their hires have a degree.
Certifications represent industry standards. A lot of businesses will look for these too. Some of the lower level ones are just stepping stones to the big boys, but they will still put you ahead of others that do t have them.
narcissisadmin@reddit
None of the graduates I've met or worked with were taught anything of the sort in school.
Ok-Juggernaut-4698@reddit
Doubt that. You refused to learn anything new because you think you know it all.
Training-Manager-352@reddit
Then I’m sad to say the curriculum failed them . I was lucky enough to have some very great professors at my college.
I’d also recommend trying to get an internship, if OP decides to pursue a degree.
SilentSamurai@reddit
My personal take: Both.
Use your time in college to get a stint doing the work, because experience in conjunction with certifications and education is highly attractive.
If you pop out with just a degree or just certs you're going to have to settle for a helpdesk job until you prove your mettle.
XL_Jockstrap@reddit
Assuming if they can even get helpdesk in the first place against the hundreds of applicants for each job with degrees + certs + years of experience.
FederalDish5@reddit
what? degrees? certs? for helpdesk jobs?
are you nuts? in most scenarios, for L1 you need basic reading and communication skills
Ok-Juggernaut-4698@reddit
OP said they're looking for sysadmin work. Maybe a degree would have helped your reading comprehension.
mkosmo@reddit
The entry level hiring isn't that bad. A degree places you in the top - most of the applicants our service desk teams get are woefully underqualified in the first place, nevermind educated. Certs+BS would get you an interview, no doubt.
The problem is that a lot of the graduates think they're above it and are applying for roles where there's experienced (and qualified) competition that puts them at the bottom of the list.
Igot1forya@reddit
As an engineer who has been involved in the hiring process, I have only a HS diploma and a single cert that's old enough to graduate. I don't directly look at education or certs as the end-all-be-all indicator that you'll be a good employee.
What I do look at is if you can show your hunger and willingness to educate yourself continually as the industry practically renews itself yearly with new technologies. There is a ton of free information online, build a home-lab, or build up your own consulting base (however means to show you're capable of solving problems or solve problems) that can prove your value, then that makes you a candidate for hire.
You don't necessarily need to burden yourself with student debt or years lost not advancing your hands-on experience in a classroom. A bright student does not necessarily equal a bright employee (God I wish this were true). But not everyone becomes aware of this starting out, which is why so many fall into this trap.
uptimefordays@reddit
This worked for many of us 20 years ago but doesn’t work as well anymore. If your options are Candidate A: 18 years old, no experience, no formal technical education or Candidate B: 22 years old, engineering degree, several years experience interning under their belt, who are you seriously considering?
Igot1forya@reddit
That depends entirely on the position. But you also have to keep in mind equal progression of time.
You're not going to hire a senior level engineer for a help desk role or even mid-level role, obviously. However, if you compare a fresh out of school candidate with a degree vs a candidate who started as an intern, established experience and developed equivalent years of hands on real-world experience. Both have different means to prove qualifications.
Both have pros and cons when it comes to hiring. The scales are not always equal, however.
uptimefordays@reddit
Nobody is suggesting hiring a mid or senior level engineer for a help desk role. A candidate with a degree and 0-4 years experience is still entry level. Do people with no qualifications or experience still get hired in entry level roles, sure. Is it as common as it was in 1998? Absolutely not.
For people interested in starting technical careers today, what worked in the late 1990s or 2000s just isn’t as relevant. In those days, as an entry level tech, you could get away with not knowing wireless networking. Today, I think one would have a really difficult time finding an entry level support role without at least some understanding of wireless networking.
Own_Back_2038@reddit
He probably needs the certs and degree to get the help desk job tbh, unless it’s a position a monkey could fill
uptimefordays@reddit
Yeah today’s entry level has a stronger degree requirement than it did in 2000, more people have technical degrees these days so employers have less trouble finding people with formal education and experience.
I’ve had a couple interns 3-4 years, these kids are graduating with a CS degree and 3-4 years experience at a major company! What entry level certs can realistically compete with that?
Ok-Juggernaut-4698@reddit
Both. At minimum get your AS in an IT field and add certs.
hihcadore@reddit
U get both from WGU
drawnbutter@reddit
I was about to say the same thing. Let's be honest, when it comes to colleges and degrees, it matters less where you went than the fact you got a degree, and with Western Governor's, you also earn certs at the same time. And you don't have to take out 50-150K in student loans to get the degree. That alone makes it worth looking into.
https://www.wgu.edu/online-it-degrees/bachelors-programs.html
canadian_sysadmin@reddit
I would classify WGU as more of a technical diploma (versus traditional bachelors).
I'm not saying that's a bad thing - I think technical diplomas can strike a good balance. You get mostly technical and some of the softer stuff.
But details do matter, and some programs like a lot of WGU's wouldn't really align with what most consider a 'bachelors'. Unfortunately for better or worse tons and tons of places offer 'bachelors degrees' and often they're out there.
Clydicals@reddit
WGU was a god send as someone who worked full time during college. I know it gets a lot of shit sometimes but if you're wanting to do sysadmin work it's not a bad way to go.
Plus it's cheap.
canadian_sysadmin@reddit
Don't forget to search, as this question is asked thousands of times across all the IT subs.
The realistic answer is both. It's never either/or.
Certs are good to a point - they help teach you about specific technologies. Degrees can help teach all the other stuff like communication skills.
Degrees are fine up to a point. It's not worth going into like $100K of debt to get a lot of degrees. College is also what you make of it - at least half the value of a degree is what you put into it and the overall process.
obi647@reddit
Both
ChunkyMooseKnuckle@reddit
A lot of the advice you'll hear, particularly older advice or just from old heads in general, is the whole "You can do it with certs!" with a bit of "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" mentality.
It's a different game than it was 20-30 years ago. Even 10 years ago. And I reckon it's only going to keep changing (read: getting harder) in the near future. If you want the best chance at landing a decent job, and not getting stuck working at the help desk for years, get a degree.
uptimefordays@reddit
Correct, 20-30 years ago you could break into the field with just certificates, heck even 10 years ago even big tech companies were willing to hire people with unrelated degrees but an openness to learning. However with the second dotcom boom brought about by smartphones and app development, a huge number of students sought and obtained computer science degrees. The entry level market can now ask for, and get, candidates with formal education and experience.
uptimefordays@reddit
A four year degree should teach durable concepts while certs will generally help expand your knowledge of specific technologies. As others have said, get both starting with the degree. I would recommend computer science over an IT degree because it offers more opportunities.
ExceptionEX@reddit
A degree will nearly always help you gain employment, no matter how many years pass. Certs, not so much, no one will care about the certs that are 10 years old.
Not only that, if you want to change industries, degrees will help you, and certs aren't useful at all.
Opening_Cat_838@reddit
Hey, I’m currently in high school and I’m taking a ITF+ cert in march, Network Admin cert in may, and python cert in may too. I’m also going for a degree after high school. I’ve signed up for an IT internship in my county and at school we do numerous labs that helps us prepare for the workforce. With all these, is it possible for me to at least get an entry level IT job right out of high school.
ExceptionEX@reddit
If you have the skills to perform the job, and you can reasonably demonstrate that, and talk about it with knowledge and confidence, it is very likely you'll be able to find a job right out of high school.
Having the knowledge is more important, than having the cert with that said, The biggest issue these days is that a lot of jobs require a 4 year degree, and a lot of hiring managers won't even get to interview you without that.
This isn't always the case, but it can effect the number of jobs that you can get. Don't let this discourage you, as there are always those who value skill over education, and they are always looking for people like you, so go for it.
But personally, I would recommend college, working at your college for your computer science dept. or the networking/infrastructure team. Is a good way to get real world experience while getting your education also.
Best of luck, it sounds like you are off to a good start!
Opening_Cat_838@reddit
Thanks, I needed that insight from someone who’s experienced in the field.
CantankerousBusBoy@reddit
Yes, the internship you mentioned will actually be the most helpful in getting an entry level IT job, as it will give you real-life skills and demonstrate to future employers that you are responsible and can manage a 9-5.
TacodWheel@reddit
Experience over both. But go to college, maybe get some certs, then work your way up. I see a lot of folks trying to shortcut their way into higher positions with education and certs, but I’d hire someone from the trenches first.
LabRepresentative777@reddit
I would do both. That degree is valuable. Certs are a plus. The degree I would take some financial or computer science. Many businesses love an IT director that knows the financials of a company.
Ok-Pickleing@reddit
Experience. Past that a four year for fortune 500s
Ape_Escape_Economy@reddit
Why not both?
In the US, schools like WGU offer IT degrees where you also simultaneously earn multiple industry related certs.
Would highly recommend!
Maxplode@reddit
From the UK. If I could have my time again, I wouldn't have bothered with college but would have opted for an apprenticeship and just networked my way around to find work. You can do your certifications while you work and get paid and then get a good idea of what avenue you want to pursue.
My fall upward was college first. Luckily for me, it was cheaper back then, but I had some debt, and we didn't have LinkedIn or anything like that. I spent ages trying to get work, and all I could get were gigs at MSPs. After some trials and not enjoying the work very much, I slugged it out for nearly 10 years. Now, I work as an in-house SysAdmin for around 60 users and enjoy it a lot more. I don't have any certifications, but I live comfortably.
sylarrrrr@reddit
Neither , get a job as level 1, learn and you will move up easy as
everettmarm@reddit
I got carts and used the middle tier IT salary to pay for college.
csmflynt3@reddit
College is totally pointless for the majority of IT jobs.... Anyone who says otherwise is lying. You won't learn anything relevant to a specific field in college, and on top of that, you have to take bs classes like psychology/sociology for the first 2 years. Self study and get certs
Impressive_Alarm_712@reddit
Repeat after me, “college is not a vocational school”. Redditors are seriously dumb-dumb when it comes to this. You don’t go to a 4 year university to learn how to do a job, you go to university to become a well rounded and educated individual. Also psychology is a seriously useful course for your career and life in general.
Certs expire and mean very little. We don’t hire anyone without a college degree.
carlos49er@reddit
If you can keep the costs low, college is totally worth it for any IT job. Also psychology provided me with some unexpected benefits when dealing with team dynamics.
AuPo_2@reddit
Go to WGU for both and a flexible school schedule
orev@reddit
College degree is more important. Also you usually only have one chance in your life to go to college, while you can get certs any time.
Go to college, get the experience of meeting people, making good friends and a good network (of people). The people you're in class with and study with will become invaluable to you for the rest of your life.
ITrCool@reddit
Can’t agree with the “one chance for college” view. Plenty of folks I know went to college later in life and did just fine. Some for a second degree and career change, others for the first time. It may be harder but it can be done.
orev@reddit
If you go when you're older, you're not going through the same life changes as most of the other people in the class, and doing that together creates a strong bond.
Yeah you can learn the same things, but you're not usually doing all the other "college life" type stuff, which is just as important.
ITrCool@reddit
No. But that’s just it. I don’t go there for that stuff as would other adults. They learned that earlier in life already. They’re there to learn their major and earn their degree and move on in life to start a new chapter. That’s what matters most in college and what they care about most.
They might make a few friends and even mentor some of the younger students, but ultimately they’re not there to party, join frats/sororities, or join inter-mural leagues.
orev@reddit
You're missing the point. College isn't only for just going to classes, it's also for building a network of friends who all went through the same experiences at the same stage of life. The act of going through that together is what makes it so powerful. If you think studying is the most important part of college, you're wrong. The people who run the world are the ones with the good connections, regardless of what their major was.
In OP's case, they're currently at that age already, not someone older who's thinking about going back to school. My comments are specifically for this case, not a general statement about all people who might go back to school later in life.
carlos49er@reddit
Very much this. I have several friends that got good jobs thanks to their almuni buddies (yes they were qualified but not more so than average)
narcissisadmin@reddit
You mean learning to adult?
TheWilsons@reddit
Both and intern or part time job in college. I work for a university and have we have student IT workers than transitioned to full time positions in the university. Our CIO worked their way up from a student worker. We also have many students that interned for F500 that got offered full time positions after they finished.
joeymcsly@reddit
Depends on how high you want to go. Not having a degree could be a blocker for higher level roles.
Personally, both. Get educated. Obtain some certs afterwards to demonstrate you are a lifelong learner.
However, there is no hard and fast rule, always exceptions. You need to do what is best for you.
Miserable_Basil_6466@reddit
Get your certs as you go along through college. I regret not doing that when I was in school. It would've made the process lots easier.
knightofargh@reddit
What you learn getting the degree may be largely useless. Having BS/BA on your resume gets you a step closer to passing the ATS so a human could possibly see you. Having MBA on your resume gives you an ATS advantage when trying to get management jobs.
Certs don’t hurt and can give you an advantage in passing the ATS. They also vary widely in value depending on job title and industry. For example CompTIA is generally shit on unless you are in government or military then they are gold standard. Confession time: Sec+ is harder than any of the premier ISC2 tests. ISC2 just has better PR and entrenched CISOs who want it.
crankysysadmin@reddit
The answer is both. They serve different purposes. Try not to go massively into debt with your bachelors degree. Don't go to a private university that charges 50k a year.
stufforstuff@reddit
Certs come and go - college degrees follow you thru life.
NoSeesaw420@reddit
I went the college route, starting with an Associate Degree in Networking. I Went to job fairs while attending and got a helpdesk job. It is common for employers to offer a benefit and help you complete your degree. My employer paid for my classes so I went on to get a Bachelor’s in cybersecurity. I currently have 9 years in IT and am employed as a cloud admin/security admin.
I recommend the school route. You get the training to pass the cert exams from the classes you take. My school had classes that specialized in Cisco. We even had required corses that prepared us for the CCNA and optional courses to continue for the CCNP. All of which counted towards the degree. The classes even included vouchers for the exams.
The other benefits from college is you gain general knowledge and a degree which will increase your salary and you will progress in your career faster. Also, my current position, and higher paid positions in general tend to require a Degree. They are a must if you have managerial aspirations. These positions often require Masters Degrees, some even PHD’s.
The market is highly competitive and having both certifications and degrees is the ultimate way to set yourself apart. I highly recommend.
Ph886@reddit
College degree will get you past a fee of the filters. Use time in college to get ACTUAL experience via internships, jobs, and legit volunteering you can document and have verified They’ll suck, but you’re using your youth to get the suck out early. Use certs to fortify your work experience.
If you have certs, but no experience then all I know is that you’re good at taking tests. You haven’t shown that you can apply what you’ve learned in every day work.