Seeking advice on Job offer vs Finishing AAS: Network Sys Admin

IT-FNG

Hello there,

I was offered a job that I'm really interested in taking. However it would require a move and stopping the degree i'm working for right now. I'm about halfway through an AAS: Network Sys Admin at a local community college. I have an internship I work at that will last me until I graduate in May 2017. The job pays almost triple what I make now and a few friends of mine in IT say that they would take the job as they don't have degrees either and don't think it's really necessary once you have the work experience. They say that once that job has been held for a year or two more on top of my internship I shouldn't have any issues looking for other jobs in the future despite not finishing the degree.

Since it's only an AAS what do you guys advise?

Thanks!

TheFORCE

The degree will always be needed in you thinking of moving up the ladder and not just do the same job year after year. You can take the job and look into transferring your credits to another school and continuing your educations. Don't stop something that you started, especially since you are half way done.

markulous

Do you know if the new job has tuition reimbursement? I'd personally say ditch the community college, take the job that triples your income, then enroll on something online like WGU so you can sustain a full time job and still attend school.

OctalDump

markulous wrote: »

Do you know if the new job has tuition reimbursement? I'd personally say ditch the community college, take the job that triples your income, then enroll on something online like WGU so you can sustain a full time job and still attend school.

Yes, something like this that isn't an either/or choice. Can you finish out your current courses and take leave of absence from the degree? Or transfer into evening classes at a slower rate? Or get credit transfer into somewhere like WGU or other online program... Even better if you can get the employer to pay for it

Having a degree will serve you in the long run. An AAS can become a Bachelor's can become a Master's. The days of "experience only" IT are passing. I couldn't see anyone in a management or supervisory role without a degree (although I am sure there are still too many examples). Some risk adverse companies are already asking for degrees even for entry level helpdesk roles. So, even if you park the degree for a little while, it's something you want to make sure you can get back to when the timing is right.

Part of it is money, part of it is the experience you will get on the job, so it depends also on the kind of work you will be doing. If it's mindnumbing repetition, then the experience isn't going to mean much. Ideally, you want to have experience AND education AND certifications.

alias454

I wouldn't make it an either or decision, you can do both. I would take the job and finish your degree. As Octal stated, having the experience, degree, and certs is the best way you can set yourself up for success. Just having experience is great but you may be unqualified later on for certain jobs. Having a degree and certs to back up your experience allows you to be more flexible and have more choices.

Good Luck

IT-FNG

Wow, thank you so much for all the responses. I had a pretty great heart to heart with my wife and talked to some co-workers and friends and have decided to finish out my degree now since it won't be long now to finish and then I can finish out my internship where I'm actually really learning a lot of stuff very quickly. It feels like I'm getting my hands on a bunch of different technologies and software. We then decided looking into moving into the area where the job offer was after school and secure a career path there. We are from a smaller area in Wisconsin and will be looking at moving to Minneapolis/St. Paul area now after school.

I suppose since i'm very green and fresh that I just lost a bit of patience and wanted to get going now even though where I'm at I'm still learning and making good progress.

Cheers,

IT-FNG

techfiend

I would have taken the job especially considering how enthusiastic your words came across. Education will always be accessible, the job will not. Best of luck on your decision to stick with school but I think you're delaying your new career by 2 years. In that time you could likely earn a bachelors from WGU, earn 5x more than you make now in a position you love if you play your cards right.

In MSP there's many system openings but a lot of competition. There's been a few network positions lately but they aren't very common. I've seen more interesting network positions in MLW. You really have to get in when you can in IT, many spend months or even years trying to get in.

The impatience you're having is good and something you'll need to succeed in IT. Of course coworkers and local friends want you to stay around but you have to do what's best for you and your family.