Many debates exist arguing the necessity of a degree for careers in information technology. I personally scoured many blogs, forums, and websites trying to find an answer before making the decision to go back and earn my own bachelor’s degree. Both sides have valid arguments, and the decision needs to align with each individual’s situation and goals.
First, please realize a degree will (almost) never guarantee you a job. Despite what your high school teachers tell you, life does not work that way. The primary advantages of going to a school for an IT degree include a structured way to learn material, a lab environment with hardware or software you couldn’t otherwise obtain on your own, and the chance to network with peers entering into your field. A degree will not teach you everything you need to successfully handle a job, which is why that degree won’t “guarantee” you a job. However, the degree in conjunction with hands on experience and peer recommendations can give you your best shot at acquiring a new job.
Anyone who has been in the working world for any amount of time will attest to how important networking can be in finding a job. Not only can peers vouch for technical ability, but more importantly, they can vouch for your character. Entry level jobs are usually capable of being learned by most people interested in the field. What employers and coworkers seek in new hires is not just the ability to get the job done, but to function well as part of a team. Think about this…if you are stuck in an office for 40 hours a week, wouldn’t you prefer to have someone next to you who you can interact well with? I would venture to say sometimes that is just as important as the quality of the job being done…
IT is a a career which is very experience oriented, leading to the viewpoint by some that a degree isn’t needed. This is why getting experience while earning your degree is so critical! Put yourself into a hiring manager’s shoes. If you need a new hire to handle routing at your company, would you prefer an interviewee with a degree and no experience doing it, or someone with four years doing exactly what you are needing in a prior job? Honestly, it’s a no brainer. However, what about the next candidate who has done the work before, and has a degree? The degree signifies that the candidate has dedicated their own time to learning and bettering themselves. IT is an extremely fluid field where we must learn new technologies on a frequent basis. In general, hiring managers put enormous effort into trying to find candidates who put their own time and dedication to learning the field and preparing themselves. Those labs, projects, and internships offered by schools give you the opportunity to be that third candidate.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my personal motivation for going back to earn my degree. I already had a job that paid decently with a fantastic company. In the end, it came down to three factors. One, I wanted a better job with more opportunity in the somewhat near future. Two, online schools have evolved to the point where they are affordable and fully accredited. Three, I have come to the realization that most companies reviewing large numbers of applications quickly filter for degrees to help narrow choices down. A degree is simply a checkbox which offers HR departments a simple way to accomplish that task. I decided that hitting that degree checkbox on my end offered the best chance of getting interviews, where I would be able to sell myself based on my actual aptitude and experiences.
A degree will never hurt an applicant. The benefits range from being negligible to being the main reason of you getting hired. Each person needs to assess their own situation to find what is best for them. However, in today’s competitive job market we need to do absolutely everything in our power to progress with our careers. A degree can only strengthen your future opportunities