The plight of the self educated.

[wasted_druid]

*sigh* This stinks. I spend years learning and teaching myself about computer hardware, software, programming, troubleshooting and just plain become a wiz (while avoiding the tooting of my own horn) but no place out there will give me a job because I don't have a bloody piece of paper from a school saying that I know all that I know. I've seen how some of these people right out of college program, and it's pathetic. I see a man who graduated from college with a degree in computer engineering not even be able to get his wireless network working. Yet these are the people who get the jobs??? I'd even settle for a job as a computer salesman, as long as it was at a decent place, but nobody will hire me. GRARGHH!!! I can't work at OfficeMax anymore. I can't say the phrase "Would you like our extended warantee on that?" even one more time.

*wasted grumbles and starts heading down the road towards a nervous breakdown*

[gannon]

yeah, that's bad.
It reminds me of trying to ask somebody a question at a store and have them have no idea what you're asking or anything about it.

[cennar]

yeah it reminds me of me.. Im going to do it.. I'm going to get the paper
I dont care how much student loans are.. I will sell drugs to pay them off.

[omegabullit]

I'm curious, and I mean this in a serious manner druid. Did you goto a finishing school or college at all?

[wasted_druid]

Couple years of college. Soooo boring. Oooh oooh let's go to a second year computer course only to learn about how a linked list works. Yay!!! Grrrr.... so frustrating.

[Guest]

Its simple most people who are self taught actually do things thr wrong way depending on certain situations.

The whole reason to have the degree or "piece of paper" is to at least have the studied knowledge of how its being taught by the text books.

Cause you taught yourself you can't blame it on the "piece of paper"

There is a guy who did the course and taught himself like u Should he get it over u? Yes he should why? Cause he has the proper theory behind the practice.

Its like saying hmm lets get someone out here to install a new light. Hmm should we get someone with the degree or self taught? well u know the answer.

Most self taught people either dont understand the theory or they do it there own way which can cause a lot of problems.

Don't take this as a beating or anything just saying most self taught people just dont have the theory and the best thing u can do is get a degree or "the piece of paper" to get a job.

Its simple no professional training no job.

[wasted_druid]

Number one, when it comes to computers, self-taught is almost always preferable. These are the people who have worked this system from bottom to top, know it's quirks and nuances. Many times people who just have the degree only know the bare minimum to get the degree, and having worked towards a degree, I know the bare minimum is not much. I've gone through and debugged code from graduate students because they just couldn't figure out why their program wouldn't work. I looked at my classmates when I was a computer engineering major, and most of them didn't konw a mouse from the giant lump growing out of their heads. I'm bitter because despite all the work I did learning these things, I get no credit for it. I have to deal with professors who will not let me just turn in the completed projects, but give me a failing grade if I do no attend all the lectures. I've been programming computers from the days of the apple ][ when I was 8 years old. I've been building my own PC's since I was 11. I've got years of experience and some fop who's only been at it for a couple years in college and has almost no practical skills gets the job instead of me. As for proper theory: I know too much theory. Theory is the easy part my friend. It's getting it to work in a practical manner that means the most. It's not the people who copy code out of textbooks that get ahead... it's the ones with innovative algorithms and real talent at squeezing that system for all it's worth that get ahead. In computers you can't just stick with defined stuff. It's all changing too fast. Do you really think that someone who got their computer degree five years ago, then just leaves the subject alone is better than the one who learns all the new technologies and keeps up on things?

Oh well. I'll get a job sooner or later. Until then: Less worry, More videogames.

Ahhh... that's a code we should all live by.

And my apologies to anyone who has a degree. I fully admit that my previous statements were sweeping generalities, and their are plenty of competent people out there with college degrees. I mostly say these things because I'm a bit frustrated with things this week, and it helps to vent on people. Thanks for your time, and patience.

[SpongeBuell]

Ever thought about getting A+ certified? It's kinda expensive, but it's cheaper than school, and it seems to help.

http://comptia.org

[wasted_druid]

Yeah actually. I was a Barnes and Noble the other day, just about picked up one of those A+ certification books, so I could know what to study.

[SpongeBuell]

Yeah, you could probably get a job at the Geek Squad (no offense ) or Micro Center (if there's one in your area)

[NiN^_^NiN]

Sorry that was me as guest i didnt sign in

I taught myself all i know i did the degree's which didnt teach me anything but game me the theory behind it.

If you actually see a proper interview Degree isnt all they need.

They are smart enough to know anyone can get a degree without knowing how to do it (example MSCS or whatever it is)

I'v been to a lot of interviews they like the degree and they that professional training has been done.

But they do question u a lot to actually see if u know how to put it into practice.

I dont wanna sound like im tooting my own horn but I got my first degree in 6 months in a 2 year course so i actually got to get another degree cause i was so fast.

Why tho? cause i taught myself and im not afraid to try something out even if i blow it up

But if you get interviewed u get asked specific questions about the job to see what you would do in that situation.

People who are dumb and got the degree have a hard time getting in the door.

Some employees will train them as they have the theory in their head but its harder to teach theory than to teach that 1 job u get employed for.

If you wanna get a job in the IT industry u need the degrees

[Sparkfist]

Well just a question ont he fields you took. What were they specificly? I'd like to know as I'm signing up to Baker College in my area to take Linux/Unix System Technology, and thats something I dont think would be easily self taught (especally Linux or Unix OS).

[···Agent EQzE···]

Isn't that a coincidence... in a completely unrelated forum I visit, another person was asking about A+ certificatioh, heh...

I think if it's possible, you should try going for the degree. Even if you know more than every person in your class, having the degree will simply prove it, and you'll probably be thankful you got it later in life where the degree is actually applied. I'm sure A+ certification will get you where you need to go too, though...

Either that, or just make some really awesome software, sell it, and get rich off it that way.

[stereth]

I see a man who graduated from college with a degree in computer engineering not even be able to get his wireless network working.

Computer engineering is not about computer networking. Last year I helped someone set up an Airport. It took a while. That was my sophomore year of CE.

What do you want to do? Build computers? Build networks? Program for Windows? Program microprocessors?

[wasted_druid]

What do I want to do? There's the problem. I love it all. I try my damndest to learn it all. I'd love to get a job that I'm interested in then spend my life learning everything there is to learn. That's my dream. So much fun.