“Hey everyone! I’m about to complete my associate degree in IT with a focus on data analysts and database base management. I’m a bit unsure about where to start and which resources would be best for further learning. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!”

I have recently cleared Mathco company interview looking forward for the hr discussion. Can anyone tell me what would be the pay scale for Engineering manager at Mathco ? And how is the culture, perks and work life balance ?

I am delving more into IT Risk and Compliance as a self-taught journey. Can you recommend which part should I get started first? I am now on course for the usual frameworks but only on the surface (ISO, CIS, NIST, HIPAA) and have not dive in deeper.

Can you recommend other courses to take which would be easy for a beginner?

I recently graduated college, but I realized that I don’t really enjoy coding all that much and I’m not that great of a programmer. However, I have the most experience with programming because of my tough coding classes. I was thinking of trying to go into a junior software developer role and then from there, maybe transitioning into a role that’s not as heavy coding focused. Does anyone have any paths that they would recommend me?

Currently have 1.5 years of experience in Helpdesk. I keep seeing jobs pop up that need clearance paying way more. Just wondering if you’re already in the field and have a job if it’s worth joining the military for that clearance.

I am 100% convinced that all people in HR departments have just checked out and have been phoning it in for the last few weeks and it will continue until it is resolved. Very likely this has been affecting company hiring since early summer, nothing going on just postings that never come to anything.

I am junior pursuing my bachelors in computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity. I would like to be an Air Force cyber officer, but that’s very competitive. Or I would like to break into network engineering.

I already enrolled in an ITF+ and A+ course at my local CC (starts feb 2025), where they cover the exam costs as part of the curriculum. Now I’m wondering what can I do now to get going. I won’t be starting my concentration until next year so I’m not really learning other than programming concepts.

I tried to study for CCNA but it felt very difficult coming from only a programming background so decided to put pause on that.

I’m taking an intro course for cybersecurity which will supposedly (according to my professor) prepare me for security+ with a little more self studying.

Should try to self study network+ or security+ between now and then? Are there any other certs I should be looking at? Maybe the google cybersecurity one? Maybe just study something without working towards a cert? Or should I just wait?

I was recently hired into a company I have been contracting for several years. I want to get my resume updated but I am wondering about the best way to go about it. My responsibilities arent really changing much so it would just look like 2 of the same section but I was technically working for another company. Just a little confused as I feel like the info will look redundant.

Hi everyone!

I’m looking to start a career in Networking and would love some guidance on how to approach learning, practicing, and getting certified. I’m also interested in understanding what types of entry-level jobs I should aim for once I have some experience and certifications. I’ve read about certifications like CCNA and Network+ and want to know the best path to achieve them and use them to get my first job in the field.

Here’s what I’m hoping to learn:

1. Getting Started with Networking Basics: As a beginner, what resources (courses, books, or tutorials) would you recommend for learning networking fundamentals? Any specific online platforms or YouTube channels?

2. Practice and Hands-On Learning: How can I practice networking skills?

3. Certifications (CCNA, Network+): Between CCNA and Network+, which one would be best to start with? Are there any other valuable certifications I should consider? Also, any advice on preparing for these exams?

4. Entry-Level Job Opportunities: Once I’m certified, what entry-level job titles should I be looking for? I’m hoping to find roles where I can apply my skills and continue learning on the job.

Any advice or personal experiences would be super helpful! Thanks in advance for any recommendations on how to get started, build skills, and find a job in the networking field.

I know the tech market is rough right now, but I definitely see a future for the industry and myself being in tech.

My goal is to get an IT Help Desk job and then go from there. Eventually get Security+ and Network+ or CCNA. I have an associates degree in liberal arts and no formal IT experience (apart from being the resident Gen Z at my last job and being the one to fix all of our email and printer problems lol). I have like 10 years of customer service experience and I’m currently working as an account manager at an executive search firm.

The reason I’m considering switching careers is simply due to burn out. My current job is very sales heavy and I guess I’m looking for something more backend and less client/customer facing.

I tried studying for A+ but I was having some trouble memorizing the material. Would it be beneficial to get ITF+ certified first?

I am a second year compurer science student. I am worried about future job prospects and wondering which specialization should I choose. Any valuable input would be appreciated, thanks.

Hello, everyone!

I’m reaching out for some advice on career growth and breaking through compensation caps. Here’s a bit about my journey:I moved to the US 3.5 years ago, with 5 yoe in IT and networks . I joined my current company three years ago, and each year I’ve been fortunate to receive a raise, as well as a recent promotion to Senior IT Support Specialist. I also hold a Master’s degree in a related engineering field, which has equipped me with a strong foundation for my role. From what I understand, my current compensation aligns well with the market rate, and typically, moving up further would require at least two years in this role.

Since I’m nearing the upper limit of compensation for my current position, I’m eager to hear any insights from managers, leaders, and other seasoned professionals on ways to navigate this stage. How did you break through compensation barriers or position yourself for higher pay?

Any advice on skill-building, strategic networking, or other approaches that helped you take that next big step would be incredibly valuable. Thank you in advance for any guidance you can share!

I graduated with a bachelors degree in information technology a couple months ago. I was wondering if there were any recruitment agencies you would recommend because I’ve been struggling for months trying to find a job

Hi everyone,

Years ago, I freelanced in web development, but I’ve since shifted to a different field. I’m looking to return to web development within the next year, though I know my skills are likely outdated. My goal is to build a solid portfolio on GitHub while studying and applying.

I thrive with self-paced courses, but I struggle to consistently find the time to dedicate to them. Because of this, I'm considering an affordable remote bootcamp to help keep me accountable.

If you have any recommendations for bootcamps that fit this description, I’d love to hear them! Also, feel free to share your experiences—what helped you stay motivated, and if you've landed any jobs after taking courses.

Thanks!

I was a skilled woodworker for 13 years before I moved over into IT.

My first foray into IT was when I set up a Windows NT network in the large wood shop where I was a cabinet maker looking to change my path. I set up the network by the seat of my pants from cables to keyboards.

From there, I set up the offices with new financial software, cad software and I implemented cnc machinery that I learned how to program. I moved onto another manufacturing company to implement CNC and processes for them.

After the CNC implementation was complete, I moved on to be an applications engineer for a consulting company that sold CAD/CAM software for woodworking companies. There, I would travel around the country to set up new implementations of CNC with CAD/CAM by writing post processors in Java and train end users.

My next job was at a company that did manufacturing, retail sales, commercial sales, and supplied construction companies. They have just over 100 employees, about 65 of those on computers.

I was hired to help implement new ERP software but my job responsibilites grew as employees moved in and out of the company. Early on with this company, I did a lot of help desk, took care of the servers and the network, worked on a lot of projects geared towards company workflows, manufacturing processes, and data flow and software implementation. About 10% of my work involved some sort of programming. Back then it was VB6, VBA and SQL.

I'm still at the same company today. I have been there over 20 years now. There is another IT person now. This other IT person takes care of most of the network and helpdesk stuff while I back him up on it once in awhile. Today, I mostly work on projects, integrations and implementions, and programming.

I'm not in charge of anyone and I don't want to be, even if it pays more. These days, I write a lot of C# desktop and console apps and integrate with quite a few API's. I'm proficient in SQL server databases and SQL programming. My Forte is integrating disparate applications seamlessly when no integration path was available.

I'm a senior SA in one of the FAANGs, I've been promoted to senior about a couple years ago and since then I've been struggling to decide on what to do next, being a senior SA has been my goal for years and now that I got it I have that feeling of "now what?". Another promotion is close to impossible and the pay increase doesn't justify the work to get there, but I do have that thought of wanting to keep growing.

To the fellow senior people in this sub, what are your thoughts on next steps to keep growing your career?

Hey everyone!

I’m currently working on my master’s thesis, and I need your help ( I would need approx 100+ serious  survey responses) ! My research explores how organizational culture impacts project success, focusing on factors like communication, collaboration, and leadership support.

https://escplondon.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_50dJ4jmZ1H8Ch6e

If you’ve been part of a project team and have a few minutes to spare, please consider taking my survey! It will take you MAX 5 MINUTES.

100% anonymous

Thank you so much for any help you can provide! 

Hi everyone,

I recently graduated in Visual Effects (BA) however, with the state of the industry I can't see myself in that career anymore. It's been a huge gut punch and I'm now having to accept that I will need to find something else. I've been thinking about trying to get an entry-level IT job in London but with the current market, I know this will be difficult too.

This is a big switch for me and I'm not really sure what kind of career I could have in IT from someone who has always been on the creative side. I do have an interest in computers and the hardware etc and I do some 3D modelling on the side because I am interested in that but what kind of job can I get with that? I just feel quite lost at the moment and need some help. Here are some of my questions:

Would I be able to transition to IT even though I don't have a degree in the right field?
What careers are out there in IT that are both technical and creative?
How stable is the IT industry in London as I have heard about layoffs?

Any guidance or advice would be appreciated.

Thank you!

heres my resume/CV https://imgur.com/a/0SiqAiCwould you employ based on my experience?

So they called me for a new job based on networking, where they offer me training from scratch and will probably pay me even a little more than now, but it's further away from home and I'm afraid that I can't have any more time for myself, I don't know what to do, please don't insult me ​​I'm just looking for opinions, thanks in advance.

I graduated with my bachelors degree in IT with no certifications or internships. I’ve always been more of a blue collar/hands on type of worker that’s just what I enjoy. Anyways I just landed a job at a private data center as a jr facilities engineer. I’ll be working nights so my base pay is $21 with a 15% night bump, plus a $100 phone stipend. While I will be learning/working a lot with the infrastructure I’ll also be learning about various software/hardware configurations. I’m excited but I would love to know what else I can do to learn more and be better prepared. Is this a career path that you can make good money at or at the very least give me a solid foundation?

I currently just got my CCNA. I also earned my Network+ and Security+ at the beginning of the year. I am currently a Network Admin for a company that uses only cisco devices and applications. I plan on leaving soon because it's terrible her but the experience is great. I'm trying to figure what cert should I go after next. My ultimate goal is to be a network security engineer. I was studying for my CCNP security but I feel its a big leap. I'm just looking for some guidance at this point. I appreciate all the recommendations in advance. Thank you.

I'm working in an msp for about 6 months now, my official title is jr cloud Engineer but it's more of a fancy 1-2nd line service desk.

Now my company has the plan to combine all technical departments, including unified communications, Networking and IT to a central service desk.

Out of the blue I heard me and 3 other coworkers are planned to be placed in this new central service desk, instead of solving issues I will only be taking calls and then be registering tickets and at most do some mfa or password resets.

Should I accept this or go for another job? I've had some companies reach out to me for 2nd line service desk which I think is way better to develop my skillset .

I am trying to find an entry level IT job. I'm getting my Comptia Net+ soon. Very in need of a job right now.

Thanks in advance

I'm a 27-year-old Business Intelligence Analyst with 5 years of experience, mainly focused on automation, architecture, and AI. My title doesn’t really match what I do since I work in a digital transformation team but we come under business intelligence department. We get requests from various teams, mostly to cut costs. My job involves attending meetings, listening to pain points, and creating presentations that lay out solutions, architecture, and resource needs. The tech I use includes PowerPlatform, Python, Azure, UI Path, and AI services. I also handle things like RFPs and enterprise approvals.

When I started, I did a lot of coding and hands-on work, but now it's mostly code reviews and meetings. I enjoy what I do, but I feel like my technical skills are deteriorating. I don't feel ready for a technical interview especially since I lack foundational skills like Git, DSA, and development speed, which are expected at this level. I’ve gotten by on intuition, but it’s a struggle to clear interviews.

I’ve also tried management roles, and I hate them. It feels like it’s all about manipulation, sweet-talking, and overpromising. I'm not good at networking or pretending to understand areas I'm unfamiliar with. It’s frustrating because, in management, it's hard to get people to reveal processes or do things the right way unless you’re willing to fight for it. I got feedback from Amazon/PwC that while I'm technically solid, I struggle with presenting well to business teams.

I got 2nd round interview at a company where I’ll be helping customer solve problems related to their solar panels and managing a data base also will be using a ticketing system I’m asking if this is considered IT help desk because I won’t be resetting passwords or making account for people or troubleshooting all that much and could that affect me when trying to go for sys admin

Hello, I have the opportunity to interview for a position that expects a deep understanding of linux. However, my experience has been a help desk role followed by 3 tech internships in technical and network support along with some projects including Linux and my Bachelors Degree in IT coursework. I am by no means someone who currently has a deep understanding of linux as my use of it has been use as needed between projects and jobs. I am feeling a bit of imposter syndrome going into this interview. I am even considering rescheduling the interview a day just in case it is a technical interview so I can freshen up a few things in my brain. Am i vastly under-qualified for this role or would this just be dependent on what this company is looking for in a candidate? Its hard to get experience these days and specialize when you wanna stay open for many type of positions. Any advice especially from senior Linux people is welcome. Thank you.

Graduated with my bachelors in information technology, always wanted a software engineering job but it’s just not in the cards. Shifted my attention to information technology jobs holding it might be easier. it’s been a struggle to find anything as well as I’m aware the job industry is bad for all of tech.

Basically I live in the Midwest michigan region, all of my family and friends are here, I live with my parents. I recently interviewed for a position with Amazon to be a network deploy tech in Mississippi. The pay is $25 dollars an hour, prob maybe is close to comfortable living alone depending on if they give me relocation etc. but then I get to the portion of leaving home. Just not sure I want to go away from my family for what could be 1-2 years, the experience would be nice to have and I have a close friend that’s told me bouncing around Amazon is pretty do able.

I thought I did well in the interview we’ll see what happens. But I feel kind of stuck. Finding jobs in my region is a nightmare, there’s not really data centers by me, everything is help desk and even that’s competitive since there’s a ton of people wanting to get in the door like myself.

Just kind of feel stuck and hopeless. I’d be grateful to have a job but the circumstances around it are far from ideal for me.

What would be your advice, feel free to ask any questions. Thanks.

Currently working a union boilermaker trade job in the shipbuilding industry but I've been topped out on pay for about 3 years now at $34 an hour. I make about 1200-1300 a week after taxes but i do work 6 days a week. I'm growing tired of this low salary/being away from my family 6 day a week and on top of that I have no interest in what I do, it's strictly for the money. When I'm at work 50% of the time I'm thinking of what I wanna do in my home lab when i get off work. Then when I do get home I probably spend 3 or 4 hours a day tinkering around with different projects. I think it's time for me to get a job doing something I actually like for work VS spending all my free time at home messing around with my home lab!! I've seen my best friend go from help desk to IT management roles. I seen my first wife go from knowing much less than me to becoming a sys admin, as well as my current wife become a coding manager after only a year of schooling. I feel all these ppl in my life getting 6 figure careers and I'm just wasting my time!! I'm trying to get an idea of what to expect ad far as wages for entry level help desk.

I’ve a phone interview in a couple of days for a Data Technician at an AWS Datacentre, it’s also my first IT interview. The questions will be 80% technical and 20% functional. Anybody with experience in an Amazon interview got any tips of any idea of the questions I’ll be asked?