# Getting Into the IT industry, Reccomendations?

**URL:** <https://forums.speedlife.net/t/getting-into-the-it-industry-reccomendations/189899>\
**Category:** PittSpeed Off Topic\
**Created:** [May 13, 2007, 10:08am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/getting-into-the-it-industry-reccomendations/189899 "2007-05-13T10:08:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
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**Author:** ![fshowcars](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fshowcars/32/5937_2.png) [@fshowcars](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/fshowcars)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 10:38am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/getting-into-the-it-industry-reccomendations/189899/39 "2007-09-24T10:38:01Z")

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> [@FS: 92 Integra parts car](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/fs-92-integra-parts-car/27223/27):
>
> 4 yr degree = a must if you want to get paid decently, certs are important for some employers. most employers will say that certs are a plus but not necessarily needed. after starting the job they may require you to gain them so right now you’re in good shape. it’s deff good that you have them. it shows that you’re committed to learning and that will be important down the road. like someone else said…get an internship. i had one that started for just the summer…it ended up being 1.5yrs up to my college graduation. then i was a shoe in for my current position. consulting is \> internal IT. i consult for penndot and i started out at 7K more than a new hire penndot IT person and after 1yr i now make 13k more than them. but that jump was because i put in my 2 wks and they didn’t want me to leave so they counter offered…worked in my advantage.

again, specific instances of peoples jobs are not a reflection of the industry in a holistic view… getting paid 13k more than an FTE is a very small amount… my first consulting job added to my income over 200% a year… the typical breakout for consultant vs. full-time is well over 20k a year… easy.

networking is even larger of a gap.

all of this boils down to the underlying skills of a consultant, the multiple environments worked and the multiple employers worked for. no one is going to hire you if you did something in school, or tested something in a lab, or did it once… they want to hear that you did something 10 times for 10 companies and got 10 outcomes… with that history of work and on-site skillset, you’re a shoe in.

don’t put the saddle before the horse… the best advice is to find a job you want, get it, then make a difference… do it two or three more times, then sit back and wait for the phone to start ringing… once you have the work experience backing, you dont’ look for jobs you just chose the ones you want. period. don’t pay too much attention to one-off advice and just make it happen. if you have the ambition, it will all fall into place.

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