I recently decided that I didn't like the way my CS degree path is going and have now switched to something more towards my current job (information systems security). How is you're experience with degrees relating to your job (or lack there of)?

I won't be "using" mine for another 12 years... so to me it seems like my degree will be essentially worthless by then. I always heard experience is the more useful resume filler.

Back during the Internet bubble any hack could have come in and gotted a Software Engineer title. Now a days it's a buyers market. Employers not only feel they can hire the cream of the crop, some aren't taking anyone who went to state. So yeah and meaningful degree is a good start to your foundation. But by itself won't open any doors right now.

Nobody in Northern California now, is hiring anyone straight out of college. A lot of the recruiters I know say nobody will hire you if you don't already have a job. I got my last job because I worked with the manager before and impressed the hell out of him. You need every edge you can get right now to land a job.

Hopefully when you score your degree things will pickup, and there will be some entry level positions open, or you get some great internships while getting your degree. I can also tell you to make as many friends in high places as you can. It's a small industry and you will hear for the same people over again.

> I recently decided that I didn't like the way my CS degree path is going and
> have now switched to something more towards my current job (information systems
> security). How is you're experience with degrees relating to your job (or lack
> there of)?
>
> I won't be "using" mine for another 12 years... so to me it seems like my degree
> will be essentially worthless by then. I always heard experience is the more
> useful resume filler.
>

Unfortunately mine didn't help, but my health issues weren't helpful either. I obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Information Systems with a minor in English Writing in 2000, right when the tech bubble burst.

At this point my diploma's worthless, but at least I tried to get off disability. Still I shudder to think what would have happened when I had my 4th open heart surgery in 2008. I was unable to do squat for 6 months. I wasn't even allowed to do simple things like laundry, shopping, etc, let alone driving, and my lungs hurt like crazy, particularly if I tried to get out in the cold. Even with the employee leave act, how I would have survived 6 months without a paycheck and no health care is beyond me.

I just accept my disability at this point.

Still I get ticked they made me take 2 1/2 years of COBOL back in 1996-2000. Another point is my degree was from a "State University" Clarion University of PA, so that doesn't mean much in the IS field.



The new and improved King of Lamers 2003!

Mostly, because i haven't finished my degree. But in my field of work (i'm a network administrator, focusing on implementation/deployment of servers/services) a degree won't do much. A certification, such as ITIL (very business focused) LPI-1/2 (Linux Professional, very technical focused) can do a lot more, than any high-level degree, unless you graduate with all the honors on the best school, and even them, a professional with experience and a couple of certifications under their belt can do better at getting a better job than you.

The only places were i've seen degrees as requirements are the big companies like Dell and SAP (both have very big presences here on my town) and i have friends who work for both, they make more money than me, but they work A LOT more than me.. (60hrs/week x 40hrs/week)

My idea is to get a Oracle DBA certification by the end of next year and try to improve from there.


> I recently decided that I didn't like the way my CS degree path is going and
> have now switched to something more towards my current job (information systems
> security). How is you're experience with degrees relating to your job (or lack
> there of)?
>
> I won't be "using" mine for another 12 years... so to me it seems like my degree
> will be essentially worthless by then. I always heard experience is the more
> useful resume filler.
>

Look, I've got a college diploma in artistic woodworking and I've been working for the last 3 years and a half in an hardware store (warehouse type) on the night shift. Don't need a college diploma to drive a forklift, but it's easy to spot those who didn't even finished high school.

I'm a psychologist and work as one for public health, so yeah, my job and my degree are matched perfectly. Sometimes I love what I do, sometimes I loathe it, but that's any job right.

All work and no play makes me..., well, you know the rest.

I wouldn't expect any less then a 70/30 split seeing as this board brought in a retro gaming croud. games 10 years ago = geek and geeks 10 years ago = computers or IT.

Personally I am only IT because of the military... if I wasn't in then I would have probably done some sort of mechanical design work (paint cars and shit). Now that I am going to have 20 years of IT behind me and a security clearance... well I don't really want to walk away from that then.

> I'm a psychologist and work as one for public health, so yeah, my job and my
> degree are matched perfectly. Sometimes I love what I do, sometimes I loathe it,
> but that's any job right.
>
> All work and no play makes me..., well, you know the rest.
>

I'm not in IT; I'm a governmental clerical worker. But I am the "Office Computer Guy" that everyone goes to for help doing things on their PC.

Oh, and no degree other than High School. College sucked; so I didn't stay long.

Alyas
"Good... Bad... I'm the guy with the gun."

Work for a small business doing customer service / order fill / price analysis / you name it.




> I recently decided that I didn't like the way my CS degree path is going and
> have now switched to something more towards my current job (information systems
> security). How is you're experience with degrees relating to your job (or lack
> there of)?
>
> I won't be "using" mine for another 12 years... so to me it seems like my degree
> will be essentially worthless by then. I always heard experience is the more
> useful resume filler.
>


My Junk

Computers are my passion, but math pays the bills. I picked up a math degree which has helped at the college that I work at. I've been there full time since 1992 and part before that since 1985. Hehe I already have 18 years in and 30 are required for retirement (with all its state benefits), so in 12 years I can lounge.



> I recently decided that I didn't like the way my CS degree path is going and
> have now switched to something more towards my current job (information systems
> security). How is you're experience with degrees relating to your job (or lack
> there of)?
>
> I won't be "using" mine for another 12 years... so to me it seems like my degree
> will be essentially worthless by then. I always heard experience is the more
> useful resume filler.
>