Education Is Crucial In A Rapidly Changing Field For Philadelphia IT Tech
Jesus Perez is a fiber network technician for Verizon. Perez lives in Philadelphia and works out of Verizon's network hub in Freehold, NJ. He has been with Verizon for nine years and started as a credit specialist. Perez took a number of classes to obtain his CCNA certification, the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Routing and Switching program for entry-level network engineers.
What sort of education is needed to successfully do your job?
"I believe that a college education alongside of field related certifications are key in this field. In high school, I enrolled in the Cisco Network Academy which was my first exposure to computer networking. This prepared me for the Certified Cisco Network Associate certification. I then went to the Community College of Philadelphia for computer information systems. This gave me a firm foundation for a career in the IT field. I used my education daily in helping Verizon's technicians and our customers who call in for additional support and guidance."
Do you believe education plays a vital role in landing a great job in the technology field?
"Absolutely! The technology field is highly specialized and is constantly changing. As new technology is deployed you have to constantly learn something new to keep up with the latest solutions. New technology is always being innovated so the need to stay abreast of the evolution is very near and tangible."
What would you tell aspiring IT students is the most relevant aspect of your education that applies to your day-to-day job?
"My college experience and education really helped to set me up to be well-rounded in terms of understanding the technology and how it works. Additionally, I learned how to simplify technical jargon. I speak to people every day, and being able to articulate during troubleshooting becomes essential in getting folks to follow my instructions to resolve their inquiries. The technical knowledge is invaluable to the job."
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
"Definitely helping people, both my colleagues and Verizon's customers. Hearing the relief in their voice once the trouble is resolved, brings much satisfaction to my day."
Christina Thompson is a freelance writer living in Philadelphia. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.