Top fields to get into and how to do it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does someone get into IT cybersecurity without a prior background in it? I have an international relations BA and have been doing admin work since I graduated in 2010 since (all of the international relations jobs I considered wanted at least a master's degree).

Find an admin job in an IT company or a defense contractor. I knew several admins who transitioned into IT project management or information assurance without going to school. If you work for a VP you have the best opportunity to build a network, and you may get stretch assignments if you ask.

[Anonymous]

I'm skeptical of OP's premise that an online degree in any field is going to be worth more than a humanities masters, assuming the masters is from a well-respected real university.

[Anonymous]

(Particularly if OP is thinking about an MBA or some other degree where the primary purpose of attending school is to network)

[Anonymous]

Isn't it more respectable to continue learning new things while looking for work? I don't see why it wouldn't be a good idea for OP to go back to school if she needs to change fields. A lot of traditional schools have online programs identical to on campus. An online degree from Penn State or George Mason is 100% different than an overpriced diploma mill ( U of Phoenix, Walden, Capella).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure how all these postings about big 4 consulting are going to be to the OP. Unfortunately, those firms almost exclusively recruit grads straight out of the same 4-5 schools. Not saying that OP wouldn't be great at the gig, just that the recruiting process is not really designed for someone in her situation.

Which schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't it more respectable to continue learning new things while looking for work? I don't see why it wouldn't be a good idea for OP to go back to school if she needs to change fields. A lot of traditional schools have online programs identical to on campus. An online degree from Penn State or George Mason is 100% different than an overpriced diploma mill ( U of Phoenix, Walden, Capella).

Respectable - maybe. Effective - no.

[Anonymous]

NP here. I got my advanced degree online through a traditional university and it has not come up once in my career. I work in international affairs. Unless you volunteer the information, nobody knows. It is pretty common these days for people to acquire advanced skills/education online. Unless you'd like to go into a more technical field like medical or psychology... Then'd you should probably be in class in an accredited program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure how all these postings about big 4 consulting are going to be to the OP. Unfortunately, those firms almost exclusively recruit grads straight out of the same 4-5 schools.

More than 4-5 schools, but I don't think they hire anyone with a degree received online. When I was in the OP's situation, at the age of 29, I enrolled into the GWU's Master of Accountancy program and studied full time. I had 4-5 classes a week, and at least half of them started in the evenings when my husband was already home from work and could watch the kids. It took me 15 months to graduate, including my summer internship with a Big4 firm, and I started working full time for that firm immediately after the graduation.

[Anonymous]

OP here. My husband is deployed so i don't have the luxury of full time or evening classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My husband is deployed so i don't have the luxury of full time or evening classes.

We understand why you're not considering full time. I just think that if its online classes or nothing, nothing might be a better investment in your case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My husband is deployed so i don't have the luxury of full time or evening classes.

It takes just about 12 hours a week to attend classes full time (including reasonable commute). My degree helped me to get a good job and set me up for the higher salaries. Without a degree, I'm sure I'd be making 3 times less than what I make now. My point is that hiring a nanny for 12 hours a week in order to get a valuable degree is a good investment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure how all these postings about big 4 consulting are going to be to the OP. Unfortunately, those firms almost exclusively recruit grads straight out of the same 4-5 schools.

More than 4-5 schools, but I don't think they hire anyone with a degree received online. When I was in the OP's situation, at the age of 29, I enrolled into the GWU's Master of Accountancy program and studied full time. I had 4-5 classes a week, and at least half of them started in the evenings when my husband was already home from work and could watch the kids. It took me 15 months to graduate, including my summer internship with a Big4 firm, and I started working full time for that firm immediately after the graduation.

Thanks for posting! I'm looking into this program right now (I'm not the OP). Am I too old at 35? Was it a good investment for you considering the cost at $50K? Once you found your job, did you find the hours to be family friendly? People seem to caution against the hours when starting in the accounting field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Thanks for posting! I'm looking into this program right now (I'm not the OP). Am I too old at 35? Was it a good investment for you considering the cost at $50K? Once you found your job, did you find the hours to be family friendly? People seem to caution against the hours when starting in the accounting field.

It was certainly a great investment: I wouldn't be able to get into a Big4 or any other major CPA firm without that degree. There is nothing much family friendly at the Big4, I worked about 6.5 days (60-70 hours) a week during the busy season. At 35, you are by no means old for the degree. You could join a smaller/medium size CPA firm which has more flexibility in terms of hours. I was very prepared to work hard after the graduation to gain experience and establish myself in the field. There are many options to choose from: you can either work longer hours looking forward to frequent promotions and raises - or you can be happy having a stable job with normal hours. I love accounting because those skills are in big demand, and the employers line up in order to get us on board.