I have found that traditional (read clueless) HR departments will look over a person with 2 or 3 years experience and no degree and hire a college grad with no experience. I don't know why this happens other than it could be that most upper level, non-technical, HR & management types are looking for some validation that they can relate to their own experiences. Now we all know the reality: Take two people, equally intelligent, but with no real work experience. Who would be better qualified to work a shift at a computer lab or perform tasks in a live network environment -- A person who has taken and passed their RHCE exam, or a person who just graduated from college? We know the answer, but I'll bet you that 90% of HR departments in the US would hire the recent college grad.
One of the saddest things I have ever witnessed was a couple of years ago when I was running a company in Alabama. We had a temporary receptionist and I had to show her how to start and use Excel. All she really needed to to was data entry several sheets and then total a couple of columns, but, she had no clue how to get started. The sad part is that she was working at the temporary service because she had just graduated from Auburn with a 4-year degree in MIS and was looking for what she called 'a computer job.' If anyone is looking for a job in a traditional environment, the best thing to have, IMHO, is a 4 year degree from an accredited institution that everyone recognizes. Many HR departments look down their pencil-pushing noses at technical certifications and online degrees. If you don't have your 4-year degree, a couple of the best programs (to me at least) are the ones at East Carolina and Florida State. Both of these universities will allow you to complete your undergrad in computer science online. All you need is a 2-year AA or AS in general studies from your local college and you can do the other two years at home while you watch reruns of Friends. Plus, when you get your degree, its the same degree as someone who had been at the college campus for 4 years. Your degree doesn't say 'Florida State Online Campus.' Also, I know Auburn University used to have a Technical and Engineering MBA program (TEMBA) that they offer online. There may be other online undergrad programs at conventional universities, but these are the only two that I am familiar with. http://options.ecu.edu http://online.fsu.edu (Even with an AA or AS make sure you meet the foreign language requirement on the admission forms.) "Boy, you need to get a good edumacation. Just like your dad." --Homer Simpson Best of luck, Mark. -- TriLUG mailing list : http://www.trilug.org/mailman/listinfo/trilug TriLUG Organizational FAQ : http://trilug.org/faq/ TriLUG Member Services FAQ : http://members.trilug.org/services_faq/ TriLUG PGP Keyring : http://trilug.org/~chrish/trilug.asc
