I need some advice

technoobie

I'm new to this forum and need some advice.

First, a little of my background. I have an associate degree in liberal arts from a local community college. I have been somewhat tech savvy my entire life. I have built a few computers and a game console. I dabbled in internet marketing. Had a few failed ideas which led to me learning basic HTML, CSS, and to a certain extent, PHP and J QUERY.

I'm interested in getting into the information technology field. Right now my finances are low. Also, I would like to avoid having to pay back loans. I know these circumstances aren't ideal, but I'm trying to work with what I can.

I've been considering attending WGU because of the price and the fact that I will also earn various certificates in the process of getting a degree. Another thing I've looked into is forgoing the degree and just getting the certificates.

I'm basically looking for opinions and recommendations for getting into the information technology field. I know that just saying I want to get into IT is broad, but am trying to narrow down to a more specific field. This is what I need advice on. So, what fields do you guys recommend? What about schools or certifications to help getting into these fields?

Any advice will be appreciated.

Jon_Cisco

The first thing I would ask is what is your current employment situation?
If you have a good job already you can afford to take more time and pick your path. If you are un/under employed then I would recommend you start looking for a help desk job today. You would have very little to lose and the quicker you start applying the faster an opportunity will come up.

As to schooling that's a never ending debate. I think education is great and will benefit that vast majority of people that pursue it.
If money is tight it would probably be wise to pick up a couple certification books and try to study on your own to see how you do.

Since I am in no rush and am working on a two to three year plan to transition into IT I started with an associates degree that I am almost finished with. I will work on some certifications on my own and when the timing is right I will start applying for jobs that interest me. Everyone's path is going to be different.

BlackBeret

Cybrary.it - Free training
Comptia A+ - Cheap entry level cert, good for helpdesk type work.

paul78

Believe it or not - everyone of us on this forum started with zero experience. Since you are just starting out, have you given any thought to just applying to some entry level jobs that is more aligned to your career aspirations. A little on-the-job experience never hurts....

nelson8403

I agree, helpdesk jobs you can usually get with just basic knowledge of a computer and most companies will help train you after being hired. WGU is a great school with their certifications, however it'll cost money and that may be something to look into after starting a job and even inquiring about tuition reimbursement.

When I first started with no experience, I sent my resume out focusing on the skills I had at the time, knowledge of PC internals, ability to diagnose and fix PCs, basic networking etc.. all of these things it sounds like you can put on your resume and back it up. Don't expect a senior position right away but start at the bottom and then once you're at the helpdesk see if you can help with other projects, if it's a larger company maybe shadow a network administrator, system administrator etc.. and find out what you are interested in. Then go from there.

techfiend

I'd focus on A+ while applying for any job in the field you think you can do realistically (help desk, field techs, repair shop). An A+ may be your ticket into the field. After you get the A+ and working then look into continuing education, wgu isn't a bad choice.

gadav478

Another vote for A+ and help desk gig for starters.
Depending on location, you can start at a help desk for about 35k. Low but it gets better.
Good luck!

docrice

I have not attended WGU, but it seems quite ideal from a cost perspective as well as being able to gain relevant certifications along the way.

In addition, I suggest going to the library and spending free time reading technical books that interest you. The A+, Network+, and Security+ books should be commonly available. If they're out of date by a few years, don't worry about it as the material doesn't change that often.

Build a home lab. Make your PC a part of it. Get spare parts and cheap networking equipment off eBay and force yourself to use the network for your day-to-day grind. If something breaks, you're forced to fix it so you can work. That struggle and lessons learned will be invaluable later on. In other words, find ways to completely immerse yourself and build mental resiliency. That quality will greatly help when you're in an actual IT role. It will also likely show when you're interviewing.