I am going back to college and I am thinking about going back for Computer IT (Hardware end) . I am wondering if this is a good choice and what certifications I should make sure and get .
Thanks,
Raz

When you say hardware end, what exactly do you mean by that?

What interests you the most in the IT field?

Hardware is getting to be too cheap to repair. I used to work in a TV repair shop years ago and now you cannot find one.

I suggest studying computer networking and security but it will be a constant learning process though out your career, otherwise your skills will be obsolete.

Are you wanting to work on developing hardware, which would require a Computer Science degree and above to get a job in this field....

Or are you wanting to work for a company in the IT Department as a Technician that builds/repairs their PC's? The problem with this job is that it's very low paying.

You can get into Help Desk type work as an entry level position or your best bet is to get your BA in Network Admin/Database Admin/Network Engineer

If you get into Network Admin or Engineer you'll want to get your Cisco certifications (CCNA & CCNP). You'll also want to get the new Microsoft Certificates (they changed their program this past year or so) MCITP

http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/l ... _home.html

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us ... rview.aspx

I went thru that back in 99~03 graduated with BSEE and BSCE, started out programming PLC's for a small Home Automation company. Job was alot of fun and got to be around all the latest and greatest in Home theatre and using PLC's to control it, AMX actually was the equipment we used. But it was very low paying, only good side was seeing and playing with the newest plasma's or projectors or touch screen remotes and programming them.
I have since been with the nations largest electric provider as an electrical engineer and I love it.

I would look good and hard at where the job industr is headed and where it will be in the time frame you plan to graduate whether it be 2 years or 4 years from now. Research is your best friend, and dont let advisors BS you into a degree, YOU make the choice with what you have learned!!

I am meaning the computer networking and security hardware end of it . Not programming .
Cisco,
CCNA
CCIA

Etc. ?

I don't know much about the field but I know my Brother is in the tech stuff and he was making almost 200K a year and now he had to take a job making about 100K. It hurts when you drop your income that hard. I do know the industry changes very fast and you need to stay on point at all times but even that won't save your job if the company takes a hit.

Yes

Yes if you are willing to stay on top of things, its constant change

Hardware is not being repaired on site..hot swap out the problem drive/component and send it back to be repaired somewhere else (like china).

SECURITY - will continue to be an issue forever, so anything on that side of computers, cisco security, AD security, CISSP, Govt clearance etc will keep you employed for a long time.

Certifications in these area like being a "car mechanic" vs being a mercedes mechanic, both are mechanics one makes a lot more then the other.

No

Be prepared to work for many different companies...right now i am 4 years at this company which is the 2nd longest stint, shortest was 3 months.

I have been the 2nd employee at a startup company, saw it go to 40 people and 6 months later it was completely disolved in a very very ugly implosion.

Like someone else posted 200k 1 year 100k the next or even 25k.

I understand that, my point was just to show that they all can interlace depending on how deeply you get involved, security involves programming as does anything else in the IT world. The more you know , the more you can do, the more money you make. I have done all of the above mentioned as well as C++ or any other programming software out there. It all comes to knowledge of system you are working on.

DO NOT go for one of those certification schools. They'll take your money and leave you with no job to get. DO get a Bachelor's Degree minimum. Learn programming, web design, network administration and Cisco. Cisco is a great career track in the long term, but it takes years to get to a CCIE level and no school will prepare you for it. Look in your local papers and see what employers are looking for. IT is a difficult industry to get your foot in and advance.

Like others said, you will never stop learning if you want to keep working. I left that field because the requirements got so outrageous in my area. PC repair doesn't pay squat. Certifications are useless without a degree. And then some guy from India on an H1-B visa will do the job cheaper and ends up with it half the time. Think long and hard about your level of determination and commitment before embarking on that career path is my advice.