I am 27 and have a degree in economics from a state university. I work as a
customer-support rep for an automotive software company. I am very interested in starting a
career in the IT industry. How should I go about this? Would an information systems graduate
degree be a good option, or is Windows NT certification a better route? I am looking to get
started as soon as possible. What do you think IT employers are looking for? Education or
certification?
I recommend the certification route, whether it be NT or Novell or Microsoft. The
certification will give you the quick entry into the IT industry and an opportunity to evaluate
whether this is what you want to do. If your enthusiasm is as high in two years from now as it is
today, the ideal track would be to do your master's degree in Information Systems or
complement your economics degree with a B.S. in IT. This way, you'll have some technology
foundation, and the educational progression will be a perfect complement.