Tertiary education - Necessity?

[EJK]

Someone please tell me if Tertiary education is a necessity when it comes to IT industry. I know I've heard some of you have a healthy career even without attended/ finished tertiary education but I'd be delighted to hear the pros and cons from you experienced people.

The life I'd known since the cradle may change as soon as next week so please, someone enlighten me.

Cheers in advance.

[crazyhorse]

I believe Teritary education is important more so these days than say, 20 years ago. not sure about IT industry though

[mashman]

Pah!!! how long is a piece of string. Depends on what area of IT you want to go into. It's not always a necessity...

[EJK]

Pah!!! how long is a piece of string. Depends on what area of IT you want to go into. It's not always a necessity...

People here I met early this evening told me that a position (what they call it) Technical Support and Customer Service is avaliable and that I can apply whenever I want. I spoke to the staff and the manager also. He further told me that from there I could begin my career in IT Industry. That I can move upto higher job as years go on etc...

I am so tempted, but I am a student at the moment but the pressure is the application closes this Friday.

I don't know what to do. Someone please give me a direction since I lack the experience. I humbly ask.

[firefighter]

People here I met early this evening told me that a position (what they call it) Technical Support and Customer Service is avaliable and that I can apply whenever I want. I spoke to the staff and the manager also. He further told me that from there I could begin my career in IT Industry. That I can move upto higher job as years go on etc...

I am so tempted, but I am a student at the moment but the pressure is the application closes this Friday.

I don't know what to do. Someone please give me a direction since I lack the experience. I humbly ask.

What are you studying? Not having that piece of paper may hold you back in the future.

I found that out the hard way, now that I have baggage like a mortgage etc, and trying to stdy full-time, it's hard. Your brain literally does slow down dramatically after 25, so getting that paper for the CV is better earlier rather than later.

It may not hold you back, but it's something to think about, there will always be more opportunities, especially when qualified. I.T is hardly a niche' market.......

[EJK]

What are you studying? Not having that piece of paper may hold you back in the future.

I found that out the hard way, now that I have baggage like a mortgage etc, and trying to stdy full-time, it's hard. Your brain literally does slow down dramatically after 25, so getting that paper for the CV is better earlier rather than later.

It may not hold you back, but it's something to think about, there will always be more opportunities, especially when qualified. I.T is hardly a niche' market.......

I'm an IT student. 2nd year of computing. It is what I've studied to become, but that I can become without finishing the course!
Decision, decision...

[mashman]

I'm an IT student. 2nd year of computing. It is what I've studied to become, but that I can become without finishing the course!
Decision, decision...

Networking side? Development? Analyst, architect, db guru etc...??? irrelevant really... finish the course just in case... but what area ha ha ha...

[sil3nt]

Take the job. Experience is worth so much more than anything else.

Just ask yourself if you wanna be stuck in IT support for the rest of your life!

[GaZBur]

Will they allow you to continue your studies part time, let you duck away for a couple of lectures/labs during the week if you make the time up? It would help make the decision easier if you got best of both worlds. Third year is where you learn the most so I would keep at it if you can.

[firefighter]

I'm an IT student. 2nd year of computing. It is what I've studied to become, but that I can become without finishing the course!
Decision, decision...

Oh dude, if I were you i'd finish the degree/Dip. No point in giving up what you've put in. As I said, I.T is massive, there is always going to be plenty of opportunities when you have finished, especially for I.T support......if you were being offered a very rare career opportunity then yes, but that's not the case, really is it?

To me it's a no-brainer. Stick with the study. Unless it's DataCom and they're going to take you on as an intern and support you and your personal development, which it deos'nt sound like it is.

[EJK]

Personally even I am studying Web Development, basic programming, 3D design and Information Systems Methodologies at the moment, I am very into customer service. I want to meet people and communicate and deal problems with people. The front-line work.
After finishind the course, I had a plan to work at a new car sales dealership (Peugeot & Subaru as a Service Advisor not sales) here in Christchurch just to gain experience dealing with customers in real life. That's how I'm devoted to customer service. I thrive on it. That's my thing.

...and this job position is SPOT ON.

Take the job. Experience is worth so much more than anything else.

Just ask yourself if you wanna be stuck in IT support for the rest of your life!

Nah, no way I want this for the rest of my life. I'll think this as a maybe stepping stone? But who knows?

Oh dude, if I were you i'd finish the degree/Dip. No point in giving up what you've put in. As I said, I.T is massive, there is always going to be plenty of opportunities when you have finished, especially for I.T support......if you were being offered a very rare career opportunity then yes, but that's not the case, really is it?

To me it's a no-brainer. Stick with the study. Unless it's DataCom and they're going to take you on as an intern and support you and your personal development, which it deos'nt sound like it is.

I hear you. Also the manager said that in time, most service desk (frankly) people gets an opportunity to step up to Infrastructure Architect or some similar for training. That's quite brief but I'm sure thats what he said.


So, 1 vote for the employment and 1 goes to the study.

Will they allow you to continue your studies part time, let you duck away for a couple of lectures/labs during the week if you make the time up? It would help make the decision easier if you got best of both worlds. Third year is where you learn the most so I would keep at it if you can.

Edit: 2 for empolyment, 2 for study.

Thank you all for the suggestions. Every word is worth it for me. Cheers.

[mashman]

I hear you. Also the manager said that in time, most service desk (frankly) people gets an opportunity to step up to Infrastructure Architect or some similar for training. That's quite brief but I'm sure thats what he said.

To be honest that's some fuckin leap... service desk to Infrastructure Architect... not saying it can't happen, it's just a rather large leap... finish the study... it'll give you the basics and they're pretty important

[Tank]

Hey EJ.

It really depends on what you want to do.

20 years ago it wasn't a problem - you could have no education and you could end up anywhere in IT you wanted.

Times have changed. You really dont need a uni degree now for entry level jobs (helpdesk etc), and you will be able to move up - but it will be slow and really options will be limited.

Technical roles like programmers / dba's / networking engs etc - again they dont require a deg - but you have to have a pretty solid skill set in the area you want to work.

IF you want to move to a role that is more snr - Consulting, BA, Management, etc you really need a degree - not so much for the IT side of things, but for the business side. By way of clarification our when it comes to our development graduates (we have about a dozen) only (I think) 2 have IT degrees - the other 10 have deg in law, accounting etc.

I personally think the best way forward is understanding business and how IT can help it (being an enabler) - not being the IT guy who just fixes things.

Best of Luck!

[mashman]

I personally think the best way forward is understanding business and how IT can help it (being an enabler) - not being the IT guy who just fixes things.

Where can I find a job like that... I haven't seen one in years...

[EJK]

"Finishing the degree is ideal" is what sums up the thread. For that I shall take the advice.

It is no pity that I lose an opportunity to work full time in entry IT Industry, also believing (as said by the professionals above) that more opportunities such as this will shall remain, I have made the decision to finish the course and continue seek thereforth.

Cheer everyone.