Expert: Leigh Ishikawa - 7/25/2007

Question
I have found a college that due to prior course work certifications is willing to credit me with my concentration in network design for a BS degree. all I would need is six months of school to accomplish the general studies requirments. I am considering finishing up the BS begree and going for a masters in Computer Engineering. Could you provide some examples as to the type of labour I would be expected to do as a MS in computer engineering.
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I need tgo know how well regarded a cisco certified internetwork expert is. I failed the lab once , should I go back?.

Answer
There are various types of job you can take with that degree.  Some go into a focus on science/business utilizing computers (which are most in today's case), while others go onto a field of software or hardware development.

It really depends on what you want to do from two angles.  What field are you intereted, and what do you want to do within that field.  For example, those who really love money try to get into the financial sector.  (Investments).  And within that specific field, there are many jobs.  The most prestigious parts of these groups are R&D departments where one can work on new cutting edge technology to give them a leap over others.  While the simplest jobs go far down as IT support desk where an individual will strip pc's and repair/image laptops all day.  What you will end up often depends on market demand of your area, recognition of your school (well known established schools will make it easier for you to apply and get into better jobs), higher GPA, and your experience (how well you answer questions and how many things you have on resume to demonstrate your presonal interest related to your job).  As you know, CS can be applied in so many ways, there are many types of opportunities out there.

Masters:
If you have a chance, I do believe it is best if you work in the field for few years before starting on your masters.  There are certain circumstances which may make sense to take it immediately (financial, timing, and combined program that means spending just another year or 18 months to get it), and if so do it.  But given choices, you should see which degree will help you move further in your career.  What you think you want is often not what you want because the job you think you are getting into is often much different then what people think it it.  (I hope that is not confusing.)  Only until you sit in the job for a while and look from the inside of few companies, you will realize whether it is something you want to do.  Also, even within tech firms, you may want to further your career by going into management.  If so, MBA may be of a further assistance then MS.

CCIE:
First of all, I am not a fan of tech certifications.  So given things are neutral, I will take a negative view of it.  Given that, I have seen in IT sectors that people do value CCIE.  Whether it will yield to higher salary is not something I can answer with confidence as I am in the software development side.  But I do know many people in the field who say it helps to land a job and there are jobs where they will look for people with CCIE.   And as Cisco is still very strong, it probably won't hurt.  If you have spent the effort to learn, and you are almost finished with it, and there is no major finanical burden to push it along, I would finish it.  But part of that is because I believe strongly in finishing what I started.  

Having certain skillsets (certification, language, or programming languge) can be hurtful.  But I have had few jobs where people get so caught up with one of them that even though I clearly stated that it's not my interest and I will only assist or wok as a side project involved in these skillsets, they try to move me into that role full time.  Almost a decade ago, I left a company after having numerous conversations and made it clear that I was not interested yet one person kept insisting that I work on one project because of my bilingual skillset.  Then there was one interview where the person insisted that I take on a completely different role and change the position I was interviewing for in the middle because apparently I knew how to program installshield scripts (installer) really well and they desparately need someone in that role.  So depending on circumstances (which is rare, but it does happen), it may make sense to remove it from your resume.  There was a time when I used to remove certain skillsets from my resume.  It doesn't happen now as my other skillsets are considered far more valuable.

So do think about what you want to do.  If you can finish what you started because it's a good way to build your character, and I hope you do choose to go into a field of something that's in your interest.  Because only next to your bed, you will spend the most time at your desk during your life.  You mind as well do something you enjoy and feel like you are contributing positively to this wonderful world.

Good Luck,

L