Will getting an AAS help me land a job in the IT field? In three years time I've managed to get a nice roll at 62,500 and 4 grand bonus yearly. So much of this. All 3 are good to have, but the degree is the least looked at. Right now I have a job as a field tech for a MSP and I'm learning so much more than I did getting my associates degree. From that point, it's up to you to constantly study, be very aggressive about your career, make sure you learn as much as you can and all walks (sysadmin, network admin, web programming, database programming) and progress each year. So it's worth something. Sysadmin on a team of 3. There was no need. If I were trying to learn everything by myself I wouldn't know where to start. Should I get an associate's in web development, web design, computer programming, information technology, business analytics, etc. But you … Living in a rural area I'm not sure how far your have to travel for it. When I first started my IT career I worked as a help desk analyst for $18 hr, 40 hrs per week.I only went to a technical school like Lincoln technical institution for a year and landed that job right after with no certification. It helps organizations design, utilize and support the computer systems that help streamline their production processes. If people that are interviewing you are IT people, all they care about is if you actually know your stuff and even better yet, have experience. 45,000 + benefits include health care insurance,dental. And I still plan on working towards certifications. Evolving and new areas in cloud computing, data security, and collection of big data are expected to churn out a total of over 500,000 new jobs in the U.S. As someone who has spent the last 3 months desperately trying to get my foot in the door in this industry,I truly appreciate your help/comment. There are still companies out there that still hire for good character and still believe that while skills can be taught, good character and motivation cannot. The education will help you speak and write better and having a more rounded education is great. How far can i go before I need a Bachelors? 15 years in IT, Sr Sys engineer, making 6 figures and some change. Classrooms and certifications can be cheesed, but your track record of motivation and determination cannot. I am working on getting some other certs too. I studied for and got NT 3.5 MCP. Sadly, job-hopping is the best way to move up. I currently just finished my associates degree in technology studies and currently have net+ and a+. It took me 6 months to get that job after I graduated though, it was a little rough. This was huge for me to stand out from the crowd during the interview. Without getting that all important experience/real-world knowledge, it's extremely difficult to get even an entry level IT job now. I just got my first IT job while I’m currently studying for an associates in IT with a networking concentration. Colleges and universities offer degree programs in computer science and information technology in order to supply knowledgeable people to fill the various positions. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Information technology jobs offer high salaries, with an average wage of nearly $85,000 a year. Help Desk/Desktop Support. I currently just finished my associates degree in technology studies and currently have net+ and a+. On my resume I included a "Related Experience" field where I listed major projects I created and/or worked on in my free time (managing game servers, community events, etc). What directions should/can I go with this experience? But people don't value an associates degree much. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t easy to find this position (it took me four months of aggressive job searching and failed interviews) but I did it. Not very far. Ended up getting hired for a Win 95 to Win 98 migration for a govt. Huh, bombard the craigslist links huh? Currently responsible for patching, reporting, software distribution and AV. 401k with 6% match, $50 a month cell phone reimbursement, $500 a year for certification reimbursement, 10 paid Holidays a year, two weeks vacation, and one day a week telecommuting from home. Yes, with the ever-growing increase of the us… For sure! My best advice would to be get your Associate's, study up on and obtain these CompTIA Certs (A+, Net+, Security+), and that will hopefully get you in the door somewhere for entry level. The reason being is that I've heard is that a associates is merely just a way to get into the door and certifications do the same thing. I have been on more than a few interview panels for IT positions. According to estimates by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), computer and information technology jobs are projected to grow by 12% from 2018 to 2028—much faster than the average for all occupations. It is busy varied work that touches many different aspects of IT (database admin, telecom, VOIP, networking, app integration, user interface, software testing). Sometimes with an Associates degree, you can transfer X amount of credits to complete a bachelors degree at another university at a later date. I actually regret going to college. Also, it depends ont he organization. 100 upvotes on this! Information technology plays a key role in any organization. What about startups / small business that have a record of growth ~20% a year? I just started a new page for people trying to get into it and infosec on my website https://infosecjon.com check it out and I can try and answer anymore questions best that I can. They prefer a Bachelor's. Associate’s Degree versus Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology Posted December 3, 2013 | By csponline. This. I am working on getting some other certs too. Will an associate's in Information Technology help me considerably find work without experience? Keep racking up experience. I would suspect that an Associates on your resume is weighted about as much as two years of work experience would be. It to some companies gets you noticed over the guy with just certs but no degree. Best of luck. My operations manager was looking for someone with character and determination and my IT manager was looking for someone with a willingness to learn, someone who came into the position expecting to learn and not thinking she knew everything. A reddit dedicated to the profession of Computer System Administration. Our Bachelor of Science Information Technology degree program was designed, and is regularly updated, with input from the experts on our College of Information Technology Program Council, ensuring you learn best practices in systems and services, networking and security, scripting and programming, data management, and the business of IT. Some higher positions require a degree (or equivalent experience sometimes) that are more than the four years spent in undergrad. En-route associate degree credits apply to the relevant bachelor’s degree. Personal experience here: AA from Heald (Not really worth anything) and some certs. They can't talk to upper management without sounding like a rube. Use your best personality to your advantage during interviews. With Purdue Global’s information technology associate's degree, you can enhance your skills and knowledge and be ready to pursue your career goals. The one great thing about IT / Programming and any of these tech fields is you really dont need any degree at all. 3 Jobs you can land with an Information Technology Associate’s degree. So I'm now currently, working on my associates in information technology with a concentration in cloud computing. Maybe work on more specific certs like CCNA-CCNP, Security. Prospective students who searched for Associate of Information Technology: Degree Overview found the following resources, articles, links, and information helpful. Just know if you go for only an Associates without certifications, it’s an uphill battle to get a position but it’s not impossible. This got me all my first positions, eventually I ended up working with recruiters after 2 years of experience which helped significantly. Everything from Windows, Vmware, Citrix, Networking. Join Date: May 2008 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Age: 28 Posts: 400 Rep Power: 270 How far can i go before I need a Bachelors? New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the InformationTechnology community, Continue browsing in r/InformationTechnology, Press J to jump to the feed. No degree here and dropped out of high school and joined USN (got GED while in). I live in rural area if that helps. So, that alone will not help you. In this Ask Me Anything video I answer the question of: What I.T. I don't know about anyone else but I got my first job on a help desk with my a+ sec+ and as in cis. What career path that i can get into having this degree? Hang in there, you will land a job. I started off at Help Desk level 1 and worked up from there. Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. Is it worth it getting an associates degree in computer science-information technology? Associates in Information Technology Online. Your two-year degree will prepare you for an entry-level job and provide a basis of knowledge that can perhaps support further non-academic certifications. Edit#1 Thanks for all the help so far I am not ruling out the idea of getting my bachelor's degree. Earning an Associate Degree in Information Technology is a fantastic way to launch a career. all about experience combined with Certifications, I see a lot of listings require a degree. 16 years later I am sysadmin. Sys admin for about 3 years and now Sys Engineer. On the other hand, only a handful of colleges teach useful skills that help in the real world and, unfortunately, some employers think a college degree means the graduate is smart, when, in reality, they are some of the dumbest people you can meet. The hardest part was getting my foot in the door, after that it's been much easier. Stay on top of the information you need to navigate the admissions process amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The experience you're getting now working at an MSP will add up to more than an AA. To this day, I feel like my resume is definitely what caught their attention. But that's just me, some people are great at learning on everything on their own. Bust your ass and you will be successful. One of my first contract gigs was for a large health company and one of the guys bullshit his way through the intervew with buzzwords. My starting pay is 16.50 an hour for 20 hours a week until the end of the year when we evaluate how I met my end of year goals (and I can’t go full time until after December anyway). There’s no wonder why there are more than ten IT-related jobs listed as the one-hundred best jobs in America 2018 by U.S. News and World Report. Located in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin University is an independent, nonprofit institution. Then we decided to have a kid. The average information technology salary varies by industry and location, but professionals with an associate degree in information technology can earn above-average salaries. You never need the bachelors, the associates should get your foot in the door. 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