Hello,
I just recently joined LOPSA and have contacted the LOPSA Mentor
Program about becoming a LOPSA Protege. I'd like to request some advice
from professional Sysadmins regarding my education and career path as I'm
working on transitioning into a career as a Sysadmin.
*Background*
I'm currently working as a Quality Assurance Analyst for a software
company and my responsibilities include initial project analysis and
documentation, functional software testing and producing project
specifications . I want to change careers and work as a Sysadmin. I'm
going back to school part time at my local community college
<http://www.dvc.edu/org/departments/computer-science/degrees-and-certificates/program-information-computer-network-tech.htm>and
working towards an AS in Windows Systems
Administration<http://www.dvc.edu/org/departments/computer-science/degrees-and-certificates/program-requirements-computer-network-tech.htm>
(
http://www.dvc.edu/org/departments/computer-science/degrees-and-certificates/program-requirements-computer-network-tech.htm).
My past experience in IT is basically CompTIA A+ type tech
support/building computers/troubleshooting for a local computer store/ISP in
the mid to late 1990's when I was a teenager and being the "Computer Guy"
for family and friends. I've also dabbled in Linux since the mid 1990's
(Slackware 3.0 FTW) and currently have a Ubuntu box running as a firewall
and router for my home network which includes FreeBSD, OpenBSD and Windows
boxes. Basically I want to transition from power user to the world of
professional computing.
*Questions*
1. Regarding education I'm seriously considering transferring to Western
Governors University after I finish my AS and completing a Bachelors degree
in IT with a focus on Network Administration. WGU <http://www.wgu.edu/> is
a national *and* locally accredited non-profit college which is endorsed by
companies such as AT&T and Microsoft. The program seems pretty awesome
because the cost isn't too much, it's a competency based program and you'll
earn popular professional IT Certifications(which I was planning on getting
anyway) in addition to the degree (CompTIA, Microsoft Certs & more). More
info:
http://www.wgu.edu/online_it_degrees/information_technology_degree_networks_admin
So my question is what do you all think about this? I can't take
student loans so going to a traditional four year would be hard because of
the expensive tuition. I'm also working full time and have to support my
family so going to an online school is an attractive option. I know to stay
away from University of Phoenix and similar for-profit schools but this
college doesn't seem to be like those shady schools at all. Does where you
get your bachelors from matter as much or is a bachelors a bachelors?
2. Regarding career paths is it better to focus on one operating system,
such as Microsoft Windows, or be more of a jack of all trades and have some
level of proficiency in multiple OS's. I like Linux and BSD better than
Windows but I have a more access to education learning Windows
Administration than Linux. Right now I was planning on completing my degree
in Windows Administration and getting some professional certifications in
Linux and BSD (Linux Professional Institute Certified (LPIC-1 & 2) FreeBSD
and OpenBSD System Administration (BSDA) on the side. Is this a good idea?
I think it might be easier to get a job as a Windows Sysadmin rather than a
Linux Sysadmin - is this the case? I was kind of hoping on learning both so
that if there's a job opening for a Jr. Linux Sysadmin or a Jr. Windows
Sysadmin I could apply and be qualified for either position.
Thanks for any advice you all can offer!
-Shane Yoder
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