October 18, 2007 at 8:56 pm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item A Matter of Degree
October 18, 2007 at 9:40 pm
I left school at 16, got a job in HR, then at 24 started a Bachelor of Business degree part time whilst still working in HR, graduated at 29 with a major in Information Systems and Human Resource Management, then was employed as a graduate in IT with another company...(I won't say how many years I have been working)....
I think completing a degree shows that you have a number of qualities, eg, ability to learn (or rather, have a good memory), commitment (if you actually completed your degree), but it also doesn't mean you are smart....I know a lot of smart people without degrees, as well as a lot of dumb people with degrees....
Also, smart<> common sense....
:hehe:
October 19, 2007 at 1:31 am
After leaving high school I studied Chemistry at first and got a diploma in Applied Science Chemistry but soon I was using the lab's computers!
This year I finished 6 years of study for a Bachelor of Applied Science (Internet and Web Design).
If you put the effort in studying gives you lots of skills and at least some indication what areas you are better at.
Even though I have 20 years experience in IT I have found working at the degree helped gain interviews.
Graham
October 19, 2007 at 1:42 am
I did a BA (Accounting) followed by my CPA. Management accounting saw me taste the wonders of programing using Lotus 123 as the design environment. This spurred me on to do a Graduate Diploma in IT with a programming focus. Traversed the fine line between business and IT working as a consultant DBA, DB programmer and reporting specialist. Now I have transistioned back into the finance aspect as Financial Controller, but placing a lot more demands on our IT team 'cause I have a much better idea of what I reckon can be done, but just as often I do it myself. š
October 19, 2007 at 1:49 am
Did a diploma in electronics (communication) when I left school. Started my BSC Computer Science in 1982. Had to fill in punch cards and learn about computer technology that were more than 10 years old. Gave up after two years. I was so disappointed in what they were trying to teach me. Done about 25 courses in all aspects of IT. I rely heavily on my experience and common sense.
5ilverFox
Consulting DBA / Developer
South Africa
October 19, 2007 at 2:20 am
Japie Botma (10/19/2007)
Did a diploma in electronics (communication) when I left school. Started my BSC Computer Science in 1982. Had to fill in punch cards and learn about computer technology that were more than 10 years old. Gave up after two years. I was so disappointed in what they were trying to teach me. Done about 25 courses in all aspects of IT. I rely heavily on my experience and common sense.
Same here, I did a Computer Science degree in 1995-98. Intensely theoretical and any applied work was with little used older technologies eg, ADA, Ingres, PASCAL. I ended up hating anything to do with databases, mainly due to some very poor book recommendations from my tutor. What am i doing now.......well my presence here kind of points to something š
However I am told now that a lot of universities in the UK now have multiple Computing degrees ranging from the theoretical Computer Science to more vocational varities that I would probably have preferred.
Chris
October 19, 2007 at 2:43 am
Thirty years ago I was in the final year of my Computer Science degree. It had to be "with "something (maths in my case) as there weren't enough computing units to make a degree. It was the theory that's given me the foundations for the rest of my career and I can still see a difference in scope and understanding between those who have computing degrees and those who haven't.
Punch cards were normal - you spent hours preparing them then if it was near the end of a shift the operators would drop the pack so they didn't have to run it, and you got them back to re-sort š
Terminals connected to an ICL machine somewhere the other side of London and a bulldozer severing the landline was an occasional cause for time off.
It was good fun and even now with thirty years of experience it still gets me past the first job seeking hurdle - have a degree or get binned!
October 19, 2007 at 4:10 am
It was the theory that's given me the foundations for the rest of my career and I can still see a difference in scope and understanding between those who have computing degrees and those who haven't.
Had my first taste of a computer as a senior in high school (1981-82) and loved it! Graduated from university with a BS in Computer Science with a Math minor in 1986. Have worked as a programmer and analyst ever since. Today Iām a mix of programmer/analyst/DBA and manager.
I have to agree in general with the above statement. But I can also see where knowledge of business processes and dealing with other people (employees, customers, upper management, etc.) also play a significant part in being effective / productive. In my case, that knowledge came from life, not from college.
October 19, 2007 at 4:57 am
What is this "degree" think of which you speak?
Never had a day of college, kinda sucks, I think the drinking would have been good for me.
October 19, 2007 at 5:54 am
I earned a BA in physics and math over 30 years ago. Couldn't find a job in physics, but had to learn a bunch about computers to do the labs and assignments ... and I've been in IT ever since.
October 19, 2007 at 5:56 am
BSEE (Electrical Engineering) in 1986.. In all that time I have not designed a single circuit board. I did program a robot while I was at Westinghouse. I ran some wire š on occasion. In 20 years, I can't think of anything I have done that wasn't software or PC repair related. That's a waste of a degree.
As for what would I want? Actually ignore the fact that I work for an investment firm, but understanding economics is something I think everyone should understand better, so if I might go do something like that at some point (yes I am running out of time).
However, the way I usually answer this question is: I like the way my life has turned out. I am fairly well off. I have a terrific wife and two great kids. If I changed anything, I wouldn't have what I do now. So I have no regrets about any of the decisions I made.
October 19, 2007 at 6:19 am
I guess you could say I am one of the "stree-wise" guys. I don't even have a formal Associates Degree. I got caught up in a full-time job pretty much right out of high school and most of my computer skills are self-taught. I have had many formal college classes and I do have numerous college credits under my belt, but mostly for business administration. And today, I have a fairly good paying job that I am happy with. My job title is not "DBA", but Programmer II, however I do a lot of SQL database work along with the programming.
October 19, 2007 at 6:30 am
My undergrad is in International Economics and Business, and I somehow ended up in IT. I just finished a MS in May (Innovation Management) and I am currently working on an MBA in Finance. My company pays 100% of tuition, books, fees, etc. so I kind of feel I have no choice - I have to go to school while I am working here.
I also finished a bunch of certs (MCSE, MCDBA, MCITP, etc.). I guess I just see the value in having some formal documentation to backup my practical knowledge (what little I have :D).
October 19, 2007 at 6:31 am
I'm one of those flaky individuals who kind of backed into this gig. I did four years in the Navy. I was effectively an inheritor of Robert Fulton, working on a steam power plant as a Machinist Mate. We just had this really funky way of boiling the water. The method was called nuclear power. After bumming around for a year or so after the Navy I went to the School of Visual Arts in NYC to study film. I dropped out of that after realizing that getting a degree in film didn't guarantee you five minutes on the job. Instead I went to work doing comercials, low budget features (two soft core porn movies and a Troma movie), shorts and rock videos. I worked in any role that paid including grip, gaffer, production assistant (aka: gopher), and assistant director (not even remotely as glamorous as it sounds). Unfortunately, none of that paid the bills very well. I had always been a computer nerd and my time working as an assistant director, setting up the schedules, maintaining driving instructions, etc., on the computer set me up to start doing temp work. One day, while typing up a letter, the guy I was working for said, "Hey, we've got this database thingy, can you do that too." It was Paradox. I said yes, bought a book on the way home and have managed to stay about a day ahead of my boss ever since.
No degree. Probably won't get one at this point in life, but I wouldn't mind having one in history.
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore Roosevelt
Author of:
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October 19, 2007 at 6:31 am
While paving parking lots with asphalt for my college tuition, I received a BS in Art. Then, 6 years later I went back and received and Associates in CIS.
It is amazing how easy college can be when you actually go to all the classes and pay attention to the instructors.
I wouldn't change a thing though and I believe that in some cases, the Art degree helps more than the CIS degree.
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