[NTLUG:Discuss] re: degree required - the "Rat Race"

[Bryan J. Smith]

al wrote:  
> You seem to have alot of degrees/certs to be intimating they aren't 
> needed. ;')

They aren't.  They don't mean squat.

But when you are unemployed and they say "we can only hire someone
with a Linux cert," it doesn't matter if you were previously a
_paid_ employee on a major Linux GPL project (Linux-WLAN), they
don't listen.

In a nutshell, you get the credentials that get you a job.  I just
went a little overboard I guess.  ;-ppp

I stopped when Cisco and Prometric screwed me over on a test, and
that cost me my CCDP/CCNP until I can take the newer versions.  Long
story short, they took $600 in exam fees on me too because they can't
transfer registrations across state lines (I moved 1,100 miles).

It's a load of money making BS.

About the only ones I can stand are LPI (non-profit, so they aren't
about pushing product) and Red Hat (because they use a _real_hands-
on_test_ with a _real_certified_proctor_ -- not a computer BS test
with a $8/hour clerk).

> Would you have the same opinion if you had None?

I used to argue heavily _against_ IT certs.  But even I gave in.  Why?
Because people were hung up on them.

> Or, would you be putting in over-qualified apps at Burger King like me?

That's why I'm getting out of IT.  I've had it.
Engineering is all dried up here in Orlando, so that's why I went back to
IT.  Big mistake.

My quest is now to teach the future engineers of America.
Hopefully in a resurrection of our great nation in Gen Y+.

Right now, it's not looking good for us.  Not trying to offend everyone,
but I feel IT has basically gone "blue collar."

Even some construction workers need to know trigometry, read specs
and obey laws.  Is IT really that more "white collar" in some positions?

I'm not saying _all_ IT is "blue collar."  No sir.  On this list, I see
a _lot_ of exceptional talent (Linux is typically where you find them).
But there are far too many people who have little skill in the field.

I _hate_ MCSEs -- even though I'm one of them.  It's a joke, even on 2000.


-- 
Bryan J. Smith, E.I. -- Engineer, Technologist, School Teacher
b.j.smith at ieee.org