i need some advice

[Imre Kertesz]

Raymond -

I reside in the dark corner of information security and this is my perspective of the degree/certificate issue. Matt made a good point
earlier about degrees - they will make you look better on paper and allow to bill yourself at a higher rate  -- but -- unless your
school is REALLY on the cutting edge, IT education is frightfully behind the times, particularly in the security field.  I'm not
knocking formal education - it will definitely provide you with a solid foundation but it is ULTIMATELY up to you and your desire to be
effective (intellectually competitive in current/modern IT issues) as to whether or not a degree will help you. In other words: know
what's going on in your field!

Certificates are great to have and like degrees, look good on paper. However, If someone has a pretty good memory and can scan Krause &
Tipton's Information Security Management tome or a CCNA primer, the certification tests are a breeze. I know plenty of folks in my
industry, with chains of certifications attached to their names, who are complete nuggets when it comes to the simplest problems. IF you
want or have a certification and actually want to be credible in that topic, you need to make a personal journey out of knowing that
topic to the point that you can teach it. Why? You will open far more doors with the correct answers and solutions to difficult problems
if you make an effort to master the material. Here is an example: I've interviewed too many people with CCIE certifications on their
resume who could NOT describe to me how to segment a subnet or make a crossover cable.

So in response to your question: Yes - do both: degree and certificates - but do it smart and do it for the right reasons. Additionally,
surround yourself with smart people with whom you can trade ideas and ask questions.  But - youre already a member of this list so that
does not seem to be an issue.

Good luck on your journey.


Raymond Cantwell wrote:

> Hey all,
> Now i wanna start this with a disclaimer. I am not asking anyone to take
> me under thier wing or gimme a chance with them at thier job or even
> find me a job. With that said i just need a little guidance as to which
> route to take in my career. Right now i know that any chance in IT is a
> ways off, maybe two or three years. I just dont know if i should try
> going for a degree or if i should go for certs or both. Sorry for the
> rambling message just feeling alittle confused. Any advice will be welcomed.
> Thank you all,
> Ray
>
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--

-· · ···- · ·-· ·--· · - ·- -··· ··- ·-· -· ·· -· --· -·· --- --·
"If you sit quietly at the edge of a river, eventually
you will see the bodies of your enemies float by"
-A maxim of patience, author unknown

Imre Kertesz
480.363.1492
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