Being a more attractive job candidate - Certs XOR Degree
- by Zephyr Pellerin
I'm currently working in an IT position, where I do helpdesk stuff, and predominantly security related issues/consulting (In the loosest sense of the term) In-House and for Service-Contract clients (as the only/acting CCSP [I guess I should say only person with Cisco experience] in my organization). I've professionally written Kernel Mode drivers for a gaming company. Among other things that I'm proud to put on a resume. I think of myself as very reasonably qualified as a System Administrator, With excellent Cisco experience, among other things I think would make a good addition to almost any IT staff in need of a new employee.
However, Something has always tripped me up - Human Resources.
Let me explain,
I decided to skip the university route - I'm immensely glad that I did, The computer science graduates that I've met and work with rarely know much of anything about Computers (Until they gain some 'real' experience), Even when asked about Theoretical Computing fundamentals they can rattle something off about Turing Completeness but rarely do they understand the mathematical underpinnings. In short, I think instead of going to college, I'd rather pick up some real world experience.
However, Apparently, Employers rarely think the same way. A quick perusal of jobs through the standard job search engine yields nothing short of a conspiracy to exclude anyone without 'A Bachelors Degree in Computer Science or Equivalent'. Interviews I've had in the past have almost always been entangled with - 1. My Age (Which I can't really change) and 2. Lack of Degree. Employers frequently disregard the CCNA/CCSP, The experience I've gained through internships, My extensive experience in x86 assembly and C, among so many other things I like to think are valuable to employers - In lieu of the fact that I don't have a piece of paper.
So, AS AN EMPLOYER -
Is it even worth working on my CCIE? Or should I pad my resume with certifications that are easier to acquire (Like CISSP, MSCE, Network+, etc.). Or should I ditch the whole idea and head back to get a Mathematics or CS degree?
