Not putting your degrees on a résumé? -- IT Field

So I haven't been having the best luck with my job search lately. Essentially my focus up to this point has been academics, without much worry for work. I got my B.S. in Information Systems last June, and will graduate with my M.B.A. in Information Assurance and Security Mgmt. this June. For most of my undergrad I was working as a part-time paid intern at the Data Center on campus. It was easy work, and paid pretty well, considering.

I was there for about 3 years, and after the second year I was promised that I would be taken on board through a full-time staff position. Later on they claimed some budget problems and told me to stick it out a bit more. Summer came, and they said they had some extra money and that if I wanted, I could work full-time during the summer at my intern rate, and by the time the next academic year rolled around, they would see what they could get together for me as far as a staff position. School started, and nothing..so i asked them about it and they said they'd get back to me -- a month later they got back to me and said they'd just hire 2 more interns instead to help out with the increased work load. At the end of that day, I bull****ted them and told them I really needed to focus on school, and that I would finish the week and the following week. I was sick of them jerking me around.

Since then, I've been looking around for some other entry-level tech jobs and haven't gotten anything yet; been at it since December. My interview skills aren't the greatest -- i like to think that i'm too modest because I have the mindset that there's always so much more to learn and that there's always someone better . I may be selling myself short in interviews, but I don't see that as being the main problem. (though, it IS a problem)

I had talked to some friends in the field, and they advised me to NOT put my degrees on any resumes for entry level tech positions, as a lot of times that may be intimidating to the interviewers/people I may be working with, given that often times, because of the hands-on nature of the industry, they have little to no college education, and have mostly just worked their way up, or went to trade school. They might feel threatened that I might move up more quickly than they because of my degrees, when in reality, they likely know more than I do [as far as the tech stuff]. I'm eager to learn what they know, so that I can progress in my career.

...does this sound like a good idea (taking my degrees off my résumé for these entry level positions)? I know that I want to be in the field, and ultimately do consulting (on my own, or for someone like deloitte, boozallen, or the consulting branch of any other large corporation) -- I need the work experience so I can start working on the certs that require X amount of years (i.e. CISSP) I have self-taught experience in a lot of the hands on stuff (i had to, as most of the college stuff was theory and business) -- but I cant expect to launch myself right into management without learning how things work.

 

That's what I've found -- a lot of the jobs i'm seeing REQUIRE 3-5 or 5-8 years of experience, and only PREFER degrees. I'm now seeing that my lack of experience is what's probably hurting me the most. Everything else [i.e. academics, and my experience with a wide variety of software/OSes] looks pretty strong.

Ideally, I'd like to stay here [i.e. CA, NV, AZ], but would likely move, or travel if the job required. I'd like to stay on the security side, but I know that means learning my way around networks and systems as a whole first, so I'm really just looking at some more sys admin work for now, to get the experience I need to not only understand and apply the higher-level security concepts, but understand exactly how and why they work -- I've had experience with it before, but definitely not enough to be completely comfortable, as I was not exposed to it every day. Most of my work at the data center was backups, report generation, and technical support [computer repair and campus-licensed software support].

 

yes, I have. I am actually already in the process for FBI Special Agent. I took Phase I back in December, and now am in the Applicant Pool for LA. I guess whenever they need someone they'll just pick from the pool, depending on the specialty they need. then it's the physical test and phase II interview/Polygraph. if I pass that, academy!

I have not yet looked into the CIA, IRS, or NSA -- but from what i've seen they are more support positions and thus, require the technical experience, but i'll check them out further. thanks!

 

no certs yet, but I have some in mind that i want ot take the tests of as soon as I complete my MBA. I have enough background that I believe a review for the certs that I want will prepare me enough for the test.

I'm thinking about taking, come june/july:
MCP, 70-290 (Win 2k3 Server)
CEH (Cert. Ethical Hacker)
Net+
Sec+
A+

after I get enough work experience in the field under my belt, as required by some certs, I definitely want to get my CISSP and CISA, as those will definitely strengthen my candidacy for IT/IS Security Management positions.

 

Congrats!

And that's the ultimate plan -- however, I'd like to be an employee at the moment for two reasons

1) build up work experience -- learn how to handle projects, deadlines, clients, find out which area I _really_ want to consult in, etc..
2) save money so that I can start my own business...and buy a house.

#2 is the big one -- I'm not a huge risk taker, so I don't want to take out a big loan to start my business. I'd like to get a 'day job', and at least be able to fund the business in its infancy, and take out the loans later if need be. Then when the business demands more of my time/outgrows my day job, switch to doing that full-time.

without any of my own starting capital, I can't do what I really want to do (comfortably, for the reasons i mentioned) -- and as i've been told, consulting is a lot of on the job learning, and mostly figuring it out as you go.

Now, if i WERE to go that route -- have you got any tips for me?

 

I have not looked into any temp agencies yet, but my friends have had some success with them. Maybe I'll look at some if things continue the way they've been going.

anyone working, or who hires in the industry care to check out my resume and tell me what i'm doing wrong?