Do IT pros need master's degrees?

You see this sort of thing for positions that require trade school qualifications, which are usually technician jobs. Copier technicians, cable TV installers, Security Systems Installers, Telecom technicians, etc. I think companies that hire electrical circuit design engineers with BS in Electrical/Electronics Engineering; for example, would value higher education in the form of MS or PhD in Engineering but careless if technicians who service those systems have no degrees other than their job entry qualification.

 

The above mentioned guys make well above 6 figures.

 

Which ones? Engineers or technicians? I have been in companies where technicians made more than 100K as they were required to travel, do a lot of over time, etc.

Engineers used to make very good money before all this outsourcing business. I have VLSI background and worked a bit in this but jobs became almost non existing in this area as everything is going to India or China now.

Most Engineers I know work now in IT due to lack of jobs in Engineering. Many are engineers in non IT related fields as mechanical and civil but still make it because IT does not require formal qualifications to get in.

A degree in IT can help but it is not required in my opinion to get into the industry. There are so many people that are really good at IT and have no formal qualification. It is a bit like journalism or arts, either you have or you don't.

 

I have learned to take any opinions stated on this forum with a 40 lb bag of water softener salt.
If you want a masters degree go get it.

 

As I have learned that if I answer all possible angles to the question succinctly in the first response post, the topic will still be discussed by other posters with no material gain over my first post.

 

I agree with most posters here. A master's degree is not needed to work in the IT field. I know many IT folks without a 4-year degree who make over 100k/year. If your company helps pay for it, whether a bachelor's or Master's, I think it's a no brainer to spend company dollars.

 

I'm finding it very frustrating as I have a BS in MIS yet no one is hiring me. I have the experience of a UNIX programmer and can prove I can do the work and I am being ignored. If the United States companies are so desperate for employees, why is it that they are not hiring? I just do not understand this philosophy. When I went back for my MBA I actually got my finance degree instead. I'm glad I did as I saw the computer field was flooded with graduates. It still does not explain why I am being ignored for my education from employers who are seeking graduates.

 

Let me offer a different perspective that might help (it certainly helped me when I started thinking this way). Ask yourself this question "What skills do I have that will benefit an employer, AND are they actively looking for them?" You say that you are a Unix Programmer. I am assuming you are talking about C programming. From what I have seen in the market, there is not a huge market for non-Senior C/Unix Programmers. Perhaps switching to PHP or Python would be a better choice.

I went through this almost 10 years ago when I was a newly certified Java programmer. At the time, folks were not hiring Java Programmers unless they had a CS degree and/or a ton of Java Experience. No matter how much Java I learned, it was almost impossible to find a Job using the language. I remember being in a bookstore looking for yet another Java book, when I met a guy who was a web designer that was transitioning to web programming using PHP. I personally snickered because I felt that PHP was "beneath me". I was a Sun Certified (yet unemployed) Java Programmer.

In the end, I left Java Programming for Database development because that is where the entry level jobs were. It turned out to be a good decision that made me a nice amount of money. Ironically enough, right now my big focus is on PHP. Had I started with PHP shortly after my encounter with the web designer in the bookstore, I would probably be one of those rockstar web programmers we (or at least I) hear about.

My point is this. The market is telling you something. If you have these degrees, along with this experience, and still can't get the jobs you are applying for, that is the markets way of telling you that you need to make an adjustment. Figure out what skills are in demand and acquire those. LISTEN to the market. It doesn't care about you, what kind of job you really want, or even whether you can feed your family. The market wants what the market wants. It is like a spoiled child. You can tell the child how good Broccoli are for him, but he doesn't care. He wants Ice cream. Nothing you tell him is going to convince him that he wants Broccoli.

Give the kid what he wants, get him a bowl of ice cream. You'll both be happier for it.

 

Nail + Head = hit it. You couldn't be more right...in IT (or most business sectors) it's about what skills you bring to the table that they need filled NOW.

 

Okay now let me ask you this. In your opinion, would it be more reasonable to enter into the area of IS product management using my skills rather than staying involved with programming?

I am still seeking a job but trying to figure out the best road to take and I think that this is going to be the way to do it. Thoughts?

By the way, I do have leadership and management skills for this type of position what I am lacking is one area of MS Project - how would you learn it? Is there a less expensive way to pick up that program and learn it myself or is it one of those things I'm going to need to pay for certification? Isn't there a way I can get it through my university? Thanks for your input.

 

I'm not 100% sure I understand your question so let me paraphrase, should you give up programming to enter into information systems (project instead of product) management? Well assuming I understand you correctly there are a few things you need to know about project management in IT. First, there is a substantial difference in the infrastructure and network project manager role and that of software development and COTS customization project management.

Software development and customization project management is leaning towards agile development practices (iterative development) and moving away from waterfall or highly refined up front requirements. That said a PMP certified project manager would be preferred either instance but for software development you may also want to consider SCRUM Master, RUP Solutions Certified, etc.

General technology IT project management may be entirely different, using a variety of subcontractors, high fidelity requirements, etc. These two different types of project work are just different frames of mind so be aware of them.

Sometimes an organization simply uses a PMO or Project Management Office, where PMs are assigned to projects as needed without a lot of regard as to whether the project is software development or putting up racks in a server space. This is not the best way of doing things but it is becoming increasingly popular as PM work is regarded as more or less a discipline (skill set) in of itself and that PMs should be able to adjust according to the needs of the project.

That said I wouldn’t waste a lot of time learning the ins and outs of Microsoft Project. You’ll find that some teams cannot operate without it but many teams, especially cross functional teams, simply do not use it. PMOs are more leaning towards enterprise program and project management tools like Clarity but you will likely pick up the skills needed to run these on the job. MS Project is fairly straight forward anyway, you can learn the fundamentals within a week just by sitting down with the software (even a student version) and a Dummies book.

If you do decide to get into project management the potential employer will more likely want to see that you are PMP certified, especially if they deal with government contracts.

As for learning to be a programmer, I always encourage diversification of skill sets. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. In this economy it’s better to be a jack of many trades master of none than it is to be the world’s best in any given technology (especially since technology changes).

 

You can write the exam for the PMP, you can prepare for this on your own. The PMP won't guarantee a project management position but would make it competitive enough for entry level positions in PM.

 

Where I work, we get product managers from the help desk. Some companies may be different.

 

From my foxhole, I would say you need a master's degree for management positions. I am in the IT field for the Army and I have several contractors and managers working for me. Experience does trump all, but from the hiring decisions I have seen, if experience is the same, the deciding factor is education and certs. Also, know your choice of school. The ITT and Devry's of the world may be good for being helpdesk and running cable. But if you get serious, I would suggest a Brick and Mortar computer science degree. Regardless of what anyone tells you, to get into management, you need a master's. Period.

And make sure your schools are regionally accredited..there is a difference.

 

IT people are the professionals that are in great demand. They do not need to have masters program in order to be a programmer nor a web developer. If they want to be in the academe, they should pursue a masters degree program