What Is Better? - Experience With An Online Degree Or No Experience With A Conventional Degree?

[Westun]

I am just curious about which path I should pursue - should it be online degree with experience and certifications for IT jobs or a conventional degree? I am looking right now at the online degree with an internship. Thanks in advance.

[alleyne]

It depends on who you ask and who is hiring you.  I honestly believe getting a formal education is important, as long as that is coupled with experience, ie: internships, practicums, working in the field while in school/breaks, etc.. But it sounds like you found a good on-line program that offers an internship. Thats a plus!  Plus with experience and certifications - it shows that you have the motivation to continue to push and better yourself.  Many factors go into hiring a person and anyone who says that they would only hire someone with a 4 year degree, or only someone who has experience and no education is doing a dis-service to their organization. Keep forging ahead - it sounds like you've found a good path!

[Mathias]

Experience is the toughest part of getting your foot into the IT profession...most companies don't want you to just come in and destroy their code.   In the interview, you'll be able to relate specific examples of how you have done something similar in the past.  Fresh out of school, you can talk theory, but getting your hands dirty will help you to really nail the interview.   Internships are another great way to get that experience. Again, it's being able to relate those specific examples in the interview that will make yours memorable.   One more way would be to start with a company in a general field...data entry, for example, while you're getting your degree.  If you already work for them, it will be a lot easier to get started in their IT department with a transfer.  You'll have recommendations from people they know(your department's manager), and so on.

[Ruaidhri]

Personally, I vote for conventional degree - I haven't been in the position of hiring for some years, but I'd much prefer an applicant with a conventional degree to one who has an online degree.  A conventional degree with certifications would make for a very interesting candidate, but in both cases the interview, personal references and skills assessments would rate more than the online/traditional degree question. falon 80 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[arrigo]

I haven't been in the position of hiring for some years, but I'd much prefer an applicant with a conventional degree to one who has an online degree.  A conventional degree with certifications would make for a very interesting candidate, but in both cases the interview, personal references and skills assessments would rate more than the online/traditional degree question.

[Larnell]

Depends on who's hiring you. It depends on who you ask and who is hiring you.  I honestly believe getting a formal education is important, as long as that is coupled with experience, ie: internships, practicums, working in the field while in school/breaks, etc.. But it sounds like you found a good on-line program that offers an internship. Thats a plus!  Plus with experience and certifications - it shows that you have the motivation to continue to push and better yourself.  Many factors go into hiring a person and anyone who says that they would only hire someone with a 4 year degree, or only someone who has experience and no education is doing a dis-service to their organization. Keep forging ahead - it sounds like you've found a good path! put.rider 80 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[Chappy]

Both will work This is only a problem for your first entry level type job.  And, either path can work.  I personally went straight into the IT field without a degree(although I obtained it later). I think the most important factor for an entry level career is: Social Networking IT jobs are notorious for being about who you know and not what you know, for 2 reasons: 1. The HR person is usually terrified of IT so the person in charge of the IT dept. has major sway in who gets hired. 2.  That person needs someone he can trust more than anything else.  If he is even moderately competent, he is confident he can train you.  So his primary concerns are you not making his dept. look bad and you not hurting his career path. So, entry level jobs in the IT industry are generally given to people who have pre-existing relationships.  You can get into the social networking scene through internships, computer clubs, or anywhere else where IT professionals congregate.  After your first job, the key factors will change.  Your primary goal should be to gain both a degree and experience as quickly as possible so that you can move up into jobs that are more interesting or at least higher paying(entry level IT jobs tend to really suck).  For that, you will want the best degree you can achieve.  A CS degree from MIT is going to take you a lot further than one from Phoenix U. online. chupa 79 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[Mikael]

depends on the fiels If you're in IT, definetely experience.   I've interviewed a lot people before, and we generally look for someone that will be able to join us and help us right away.   Going to a good school helps a lot, but if you're comparing an online degree with lots of experience vs a conventional degree in a conventional college, then I would chose the guy with experience first. Most likely he'll be able to help us right away RioGangsta 80 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[Montagu]

This is only a problem for your first entry level type job.  And, either path can work.  I personally went straight into the IT field without a degree(although I obtained it later). I think the most important factor for an entry level career is: Social Networking IT jobs are notorious for being about who you know and not what you know, for 2 reasons: 1. The HR person is usually terrified of IT so the person in charge of the IT dept. has major sway in who gets hired. 2.  That person needs someone he can trust more than anything else.  If he is even moderately competent, he is confident he can train you.  So his primary concerns are you not making his dept. look bad and you not hurting his career path. So, entry level jobs in the IT industry are generally given to people who have pre-existing relationships.  You can get into the social networking scene through internships, computer clubs, or anywhere else where IT professionals congregate.  After your first job, the key factors will change.  Your primary goal should be to gain both a degree and experience as quickly as possible so that you can move up into jobs that are more interesting or at least higher paying(entry level IT jobs tend to really suck).  For that, you will want the best degree you can achieve.  A CS degree from MIT is going to take you a lot further than one from Phoenix U. online.

[Curtiss]

If you're in IT, definetely experience.   I've interviewed a lot people before, and we generally look for someone that will be able to join us and help us right away.   Going to a good school helps a lot, but if you're comparing an online degree with lots of experience vs a conventional degree in a conventional college, then I would chose the guy with experience first. Most likely he'll be able to help us right away