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Re: Advice
By itself not really, however in combination with a certification or two yes.
The issue with degrees, including associate's degrees, is that they are very broad and general, sticking many fingers into many pies. Certifications are very specific, and are geared towards specific roles and/or products. For example the CompTIA A+ certification is the industry-standard first-tier desktop support certification, while the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator/Engineer (MCSA/MCSE) is specifically geared towards building, maintaining, and administrating a Microsoft-centric network with Windows and other MS software involved.
One thing to note regarding the education-aspect is the certifications can be self-studied. While it is a good thing and is fairly recommended to take class instruction for these certs, you don't need to. You can teach yourself the required material by having the right books and can practice for the exams using exam simulation/study software. It also doesn't take nearly as long to acquire as well, depending on how much you already know, study, have experience with, and so on.
Degrees are of course not useless, and are especially useful for more programming-oriented jobs. They also prove your commitment and effort, as it shows you took the well-recognized and often respected academic route. However if you wish to take support/administrative-oriented jobs, then getting a cert or two would help immensely.
Last edited by Cellus : 03-31-2008 at 11:53 PM.
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