ITT Tech...??

[lendaddy]

Not for me but someone asked if it's a legit place to get trained for a career. Many online reviewers claim it's kind of a scam.

Thanks,

[dhoward]

Years ago, (30 or so) it seemed to serve it's purpose at a reasonable price. I had a few friends go through for Diesel, and Electronics, they graduated and got jobs in the field. Now there are so many "schools" advertising career training that the diplomas or 'degrees' aren't worth the paper they're printed on.

[widebody911]

I was watching a commercial for one of these diploma mills, and in the at the bottom of the screen it said credits unlikely to transfer

[VincentVega]

I dont think credits are important, assuming you learn a skill and they help you with job placement.

[NICKG]

Originally Posted by Chris Martin

I dont think credits are important, assuming you learn a skill and they help you with job placement.

I will disagree...I went to Lincoln Technical Institute. I was an automotive technolgy student, I spent near 20k on an education that sounded great, opened many doors...but in the end, it is worthless as most REAL employers want a bachelors degree...I went bacjk to school and assumed i was close (the credit hours were eqivilant to an associates)...boy i was wrong. I had to start from scratch. I am still pissed about that. Even though I have DONE 99% of the jobs i apply for, I get the interviews and always go to the final cut only to lose to some young kid with a fresh mint BA...I have suspected that I always get the interview to satisfy EOE requirements of "equivilant experience". So I basically get used throughout the interview with the employer knowing i am wasting my time and vacation pay(or worse taking unpaid time for the interview)
I am getting old (i will be 38 in a month) and have lately been questioning my commitments to getting the BA...since i will be nearly 45 befiore i get it(i go only at night and pay for each class now instead of taking student loans, so i am limited to budget my classes). Realistically I feel like my window of oppurtunity is closing on me. I always wanted to work for a OEM

[HardDrive]

What kind of training are you looking for?

[HardDrive]

Any training that does not lead to a certification that will get you a job is worthless. Any claims of 'getting you the skills you need to get a job' need to be check out with employers. Call the HR folks, ask them what they think.

Some technical certifications like Cisco CCNP, or some of the Microsoft certification can assist you in getting entry level technical jobs.

Think it though. Few fields just let folks waltz in and take high end jobs with out some kind of apprenticeship. So basically any training, be it college or an alternative, is just a way of getting your foot in the door.

[David McLaughlin]

I did the ITT thing in '99-'01. You graduate with an Associates Degree in Applied Science (CAD in my case) which may or may not be transferable from what I've heard if you are looking to go beyond a 2 year degree. The facility I went to had an adequate placement department but it was networking that got me a job. I'm still paying off my loans but am not in the field anymore. Maybe I'll go back in when or if the job market turns around. I will say that the placement people they have working there are good salespeople.

[vmisquez]

NICKG,

I feel your pain. In 79 I Enlisted for 6 years for the Navy's Advanced Eletronic program only to find out in the end I could not use this triainig towards under grad credits. So I reenlisted for another 3.5 years to get a real BSCS degree from Chapman College.


I can still use the Navy training for my EFI conversion.

[rattlsnak]

Originally Posted by NICKG

I will disagree...I went to Lincoln Technical Institute. I was an automotive technolgy student, I spent near 20k on an education that sounded great, opened many doors...but in the end, it is worthless as most REAL employers want a bachelors degree...I went bacjk to school and assumed i was close (the credit hours were eqivilant to an associates)...boy i was wrong. I had to start from scratch. I am still pissed about that. Even though I have DONE 99% of the jobs i apply for, I get the interviews and always go to the final cut only to lose to some young kid with a fresh mint BA...I have suspected that I always get the interview to satisfy EOE requirements of "equivilant experience". So I basically get used throughout the interview with the employer knowing i am wasting my time and vacation pay(or worse taking unpaid time for the interview)
I am getting old (i will be 38 in a month) and have lately been questioning my commitments to getting the BA...since i will be nearly 45 befiore i get it(i go only at night and pay for each class now instead of taking student loans, so i am limited to budget my classes). Realistically I feel like my window of oppurtunity is closing on me. I always wanted to work for a OEM

What do you want to do at an OEM? I worked at three of them without a degree.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

What do you want to do at an OEM? I worked at three of them without a degree.

Yeah, i don't think any of the new car mechanics i know have a degree. I went to lincoln tech when i got out of the military too, got the "2 year degree" program. It was a waste of money, really. I learned more in the first week at my first job than i did in the whole time in school.

Plus i hated the field.

As for ITT i'm sure it will get you in the door, entry level, but then again, so will printing out a degree on a nice color printer(yes, i know many people who have done this. It actually works apparently.)

[NICKG]

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

What do you want to do at an OEM? I worked at three of them without a degree.

well i always wanted to work in the parts specifiers or in some area rep capacity. Up to say 10 years ago, most of the guys did not have degreees, but now the companies are only hiring people with degrees. I will keep trying, but I am resigned to the fact that I need to get that degree. It was a tough pill to swallow when i realized that since i was 15 years old, all my jobs centered around experience building towards that goal...and then 23 years later to have failed to reach that goal. I think what really hurts is knowing that some 23 year old who knows absolutely NOTHING will ALWAYS beat me out because of the degree.
I am VERY fortuneate to have worked for some realy great people, I know AlOT of people at the companies, but the degree is what holds me back now. (I actually had an interview with MBNA with a good friend of mine. He wanted to hire me and they called me...i did not apply. HR made him hire a young kid with a degree whio lasted like 3 weeks...then another...then another(they went thru like 5 kids to get one who would stay) rather than hire someone without a degree.

Luckily I know that eventually i will get in, it is a matter of time, I always get interviewed and sooner or later I will get in. I live in the perfect area to get this job.MB, BMW, VW/audi, LR, Volvo, toyota...all of the companies really, have either district, regional or corp hq's within 40 minutes from me. I know I would do great in any of these companies, but I always wanted VW or BMW or MB....

rattlsnak, did you work at Porsche? any tips?

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by David McLaughlin

I did the ITT thing in '99-'01. You graduate with an Associates Degree in Applied Science (CAD in my case) which may or may not be transferable from what I've heard if you are looking to go beyond a 2 year degree. The facility I went to had an adequate placement department but it was networking that got me a job. snip I will say that the placement people they have working there are good salespeople.

Same here, like most school you get out what you put into it... community college is cheaper but I was 30 and wanted a fast turn around.

I got the electronic degree, that was about ten years ago so can't comment on the current school.

I got a job before I graduated but I had other skills to offer.

It was good for a quick edumacation but if you want to transfer to a university furgetaboutit.

[VincentVega]

I will disagree...I went to Lincoln Technical Institute

Interesting. A friend went to Lincoln Tech then got a job a local dealership, no degree required. I guess it depends on the employer.

Best bet is to call a few potential employers and find what they are looking for.

[kach22i]

I've had a few ITT and other alternate type trained people call the office looking for work, they sounded terrible over the phone, like talking to lost children.

One poor lady (divorced housewife) called and asked if we would consider ITT (or similar school) graduates. We told her there are lots of good schools, why go that way? They were telling her that not all the classes at LTU (a real University) were offered at night. That is different than saying you cannot graduate by doing the night program only, using fear and ignorance is shameful on their part.

[NICKG]

Originally Posted by Chris Martin

Interesting. A friend went to Lincoln Tech then got a job a local dealership, no degree required. I guess it depends on the employer.

Best bet is to call a few potential employers and find what they are looking for.

getting a dealer job is no problem...it is going to the Manufacturere(oem) is what i mean. I can roll my toolbox back in and be as good as any guy they have..I know it. The technical side is easy for me, I was always really good at fixing stuff that others could not even begin to comprehend. Where I fell down was in wanting and taking the experience route over school (college) . The manufacturers are looking at hiring only degrees at this point, rather than experience as they used to( honestly I can see both arguements, the naked moldability of a raw degree holder and The seasoned experience of someone who has real experience)
I have a great job now, a company that is REALLY hard to get in and they treat their employees well, I would never consider leaving for less than an oem or a GUBMINT job.

[VincentVega]

What's the difference between working for a dealer, say BMW, and going to the Manufacturer like you mention? Just curious.

[NICKG]

Originally Posted by kach22i

I've had a few ITT and other alternate type trained people call the office looking for work, they sounded terrible over the phone, like talking to lost children.

One poor lady (divorced housewife) called and asked if we would consider ITT (or similar school) graduates. We told her there are lots of good schools, why go that way? They were telling her that not all the classes at LTU (a real University) were offered at night. That is different than saying you cannot graduate by doing the night program only, using fear and ignorance is shameful on their part.

I can tell you that going back to college at night does come with a certain shame from certain professers I had...they REALLY dislike non traditional students and really go hard on them...while others are totally understanding and helpful. The thing that is amzing toi me is how simple things are SO hard for younger people to understand...things that I as an old man of 37, don't even think about for 2 secoonds before moving on.

[rattlsnak]

Originally Posted by Chris Martin

What's the difference between working for a dealer, say BMW, and going to the Manufacturer like you mention? Just curious.

'Most' dealers are independantly owned, like Howell Ford, Potamkin Dodge etc, and 'buy' their cars and parts from the OEM. They are where you buy the cars, get service and parts, etc.. The manufacturer, or OEM, is the company that builds cars, like GM, Ford, etc.. As said earlier, anybody can get a job at the dealer level, but the OEM level is much harder. I worked for Chrysler, GM, and Kia as a techincal training instructor all without having a degree. What got me in was a 20 year Master Tech status with dealership/mechanical technician background. If you are wanting to get in as a parts specifier or such without a degree, then you would need 15+ years as parts counterman or parts manager at a dealership,not an indepandant like Napa, etc. Of course, most of the positions have laid off people, but you best shot at finding those jobes is by looking at the trade magazine called Automotive News, or online at autonews.com