DFW Lounge (NSFW)
In my line of work (finance), degrees are definitely required. In my opinion, the importance of the degree is determined by the field of work. For whatever reason, the IT field seems to have a lot of very talented people who never got degrees. It wasn't for a lack of drive - they just don't see the point in my opinion. I'm not knocking anyone at all...if the industry dictates that a degree is not necessary to be successful in an IT career, then why get one? BUT - advancing to high levels usually does require a degree in reputable companies as MadA pointed out.
I am and always will be a proponent of getting a higher education. However, that's not to say that I don't have respect or admiration for people without one either. I know some wickedly intelligent people without degrees. Everyone will do what works for them at the end of the day.
I'm out. *drops mic*
^This......
I think this convo kinda went out of context... My goal when I commented was NOT to say that higher education isn't valued or a benefit.. BUT was to say that I didn't think that having a bachelors degree in the IT field would directly affect his income level immediately.. He was saying he could come out of the military making 65k and figured w/ a bachelors he could make substantially more immediately after getting a degree (or at least that's how I understood it when I read it).. Sure, I'm not dense enough to think that having/not having a degree would/wouldn't hinder him from getting future promotions.. You also have intangibles like how well you network w/ higher ups, and importance and visibility of projects and the role you participated in those projects to also add to your credibility (that's what helped me.. Had very high visibility and played large roles in each one of those projects)..
At the end of the day, I'd say get the degree (in whatever major you choose) but don't necessarily believe that it will help you IMMEDIATELY increase your salary in the IT field.. A job pays what a job pays.. If a degree is a requirement to get in the door, or for that specific role, then you'll have it, and that's great..
I wouldn't necessarily think a comparison of IT and Finance is exactly a fair comparison for this convo.. That's like saying it's not necessary to go to med-school to become a doctor.. I doubt very seriously there are as many people in the Finance/Accounting sector w/out degrees as there are in the IT industry w/out degrees.. Honestly, I can't think of another sector that this is true (white collar work) other than say Sales..
Management of any kind I think would definitely warrant a degree. There are so many aspects of psychology that a higher form of education would benefit.. When I first moved up to VP, I went back to school to take certain classes (MIS concentration) and they have definitely helped me in my experience.. I think certain things are easy to learn on your own, but others definitely warrant someone w/ more experience teaching you..
^This......
I think this convo kinda went out of context... My goal when I commented was NOT to say that higher education isn't valued or a benefit.. BUT was to say that I didn't think that having a bachelors degree in the IT field would directly affect his income level immediately.. He was saying he could come out of the military making 65k and figured w/ a bachelors he could make substantially more immediately after getting a degree (or at least that's how I understood it when I read it).. Sure, I'm not dense enough to think that having/not having a degree would/wouldn't hinder him from getting future promotions.. You also have intangibles like how well you network w/ higher ups, and importance and visibility of projects and the role you participated in those projects to also add to your credibility (that's what helped me.. Had very high visibility and played large roles in each one of those projects)..
At the end of the day, I'd say get the degree (in whatever major you choose) but don't necessarily believe that it will help you IMMEDIATELY increase your salary in the IT field.. A job pays what a job pays.. If a degree is a requirement to get in the door, or for that specific role, then you'll have it, and that's great..
I wouldn't necessarily think a comparison of IT and Finance is exactly a fair comparison for this convo.. That's like saying it's not necessary to go to med-school to become a doctor.. I doubt very seriously there are as many people in the Finance/Accounting sector w/out degrees as there are in the IT industry w/out degrees.. Honestly, I can't think of another sector that this is true (white collar work) other than say Sales..
Management of any kind I think would definitely warrant a degree. There are so many aspects of psychology that a higher form of education would benefit.. When I first moved up to VP, I went back to school to take certain classes (MIS concentration) and they have definitely helped me in my experience.. I think certain things are easy to learn on your own, but others definitely warrant someone w/ more experience teaching you..
I think this convo kinda went out of context... My goal when I commented was NOT to say that higher education isn't valued or a benefit.. BUT was to say that I didn't think that having a bachelors degree in the IT field would directly affect his income level immediately.. He was saying he could come out of the military making 65k and figured w/ a bachelors he could make substantially more immediately after getting a degree (or at least that's how I understood it when I read it).. Sure, I'm not dense enough to think that having/not having a degree would/wouldn't hinder him from getting future promotions.. You also have intangibles like how well you network w/ higher ups, and importance and visibility of projects and the role you participated in those projects to also add to your credibility (that's what helped me.. Had very high visibility and played large roles in each one of those projects)..
At the end of the day, I'd say get the degree (in whatever major you choose) but don't necessarily believe that it will help you IMMEDIATELY increase your salary in the IT field.. A job pays what a job pays.. If a degree is a requirement to get in the door, or for that specific role, then you'll have it, and that's great..
I wouldn't necessarily think a comparison of IT and Finance is exactly a fair comparison for this convo.. That's like saying it's not necessary to go to med-school to become a doctor.. I doubt very seriously there are as many people in the Finance/Accounting sector w/out degrees as there are in the IT industry w/out degrees.. Honestly, I can't think of another sector that this is true (white collar work) other than say Sales..
Management of any kind I think would definitely warrant a degree. There are so many aspects of psychology that a higher form of education would benefit.. When I first moved up to VP, I went back to school to take certain classes (MIS concentration) and they have definitely helped me in my experience.. I think certain things are easy to learn on your own, but others definitely warrant someone w/ more experience teaching you..
I agree that finance and IT probably don't have much in common in the context of our conversation. I was just speaking more generally about degrees and how they can unlock doors depending on the field. It surprises me somewhat, however, that IT doesn't require a degree as much. I know that the IT field is broad, but a lot of the work is highly technical and requires significant knowledge (more on the coding and admin side). I guess that's why certs are so common, but I would think that the whole specific knowledge set (and how quickly it can evolve) would warrant significant amounts of studying. Then again, I guess that most everyone is self-taught these days since all of the info is pretty much free on the interwebs.
And just to get us back off topic where we should be...
haha
