I'm going to gain a diploma in Computer Systems Technician (2 year) diploma in 3 months. I have a Azure AZ 104 and Citrix CCA-V certificate. I have a many homelabs in VMWARE Esxi 6.7- Present, Active Directory Windows 208R2-2022, Azure, Citrix Xenapp & Xendesktop and all its other later variations. However I have no real help desk experience. Can I work around in this market? Should I continue to pursue a degree?

Guys, I am 23 years old, and I currently work as a Mainframe Engineer and COBOL Developer at a large, century-old American company. I have 2.5 years of experience in this field, and it was my first job in the technology sector. However, I was thinking about learning a second career. Between these options, which one do you think has more employability?

1. Blockchain Developer
2. Prompt Engineer for AI (I’m already starting to see job postings for this).

Welcome to the weekend! What better way to spend a day off than sharpening your skills!

Let's hear those scenarios or configurations to try out in a lab? Maybe some soft skill work on wanting to know better ways to handle situations or conversations? Learning PowerShell and need some ideas!

MOD NOTE: This is a weekly post.

No impressive school, no relevant work experience, no impressive GPA, no clubs, no projects. All the classes that I'm taking that I could get projects from I'm just now taking. Considering this I'm debating if I should even apply for internships this summer and wait for next summer. Part of me is thinking that I miss every shot I don't take, do people in my boat even get internships?

My resume now is my in progress degree, 3 part time jobs across a couple years, Az-900 is my only cert, C#, SQL, python, Excel as skills. The format of my resume is good and it's written professionally. Spring 2025 is my first semester as a junior.

I’m at a crossroads in my IT career and need some advice. My path into IT wasn’t traditional—I didn’t get a four-year degree, but I completed a 24-week cybersecurity bootcamp and an IT training program where I earned my CCNA, CCST, ITIL, and MD-102.

Now, I have two opportunities in front of me: 1. A paid internship (16 weeks, $20/hr) at the state office of technology, focusing on IT help desk operations. This sounds like an amazing experience, and having “State Office of Technology” on my résumé could be valuable. I feel like it would expose me to a solid foundation in IT operations within a government setting, which could open doors later. 2. A full-time IT Project Administrator role ($25/hr + benefits) as my entry job. This would allow me to skip the traditional help desk route and step into a slightly higher-level role right away. It’s tempting because I’d be starting my career with better pay and stability instead of another temporary position.

I’m torn because the internship sounds rewarding, but turning down an actual IT job with good pay and benefits feels risky. Do I take the structured learning experience of the internship or go straight into a solid IT role? Any insights would be appreciated!

Hello guys, I’m looking at jr system engineer jobs I’ve been in the Dc infrastructure for almost 5x years, seeking advice if applying for SE would be moving backward or forward for my career ? I want to move to as SE for more exposure and experience, as dc tech I feel limited with mostly hardware fixes and more hardware

Hi everyone,

I’m currently a student who just finished my diploma and is now pursuing a degree in Cybersecurity. I’ve been thinking a lot about entry-level jobs, and when I search for roles like SOC Analyst, Cybersecurity Analyst, or Junior Pentester, I notice that many of them require a lot of certifications and skills.

To prepare myself, I’ve made a list of certifications I’m considering:

• CompTIA Security+
• CompTIA Network+
• CompTIA Linux+
• CompTIA CySA+
• CompTIA Pentest+
• eJPT (Junior Penetration Tester)

This is just my list, and I realize I probably don’t have time to take them all.If there are any certifications you’d like to suggest adding to (or removing from) my list, I’m completely open to it!. I want to filter them down to the must-need certifications that will give me the best shot at landing an entry-level job.

Right now, I’m focusing on studying for the CompTIA Security+ because I’m sure it’s a critically important certification for beginners. I believe it’s necessary and will serve as a solid foundation, so I’m determined to secure this one first.

My main goal is to become a pentester, but I know even for Junior Pentester roles, a lot of knowledge and skills are required. I’m willing to put in the work, but I need help prioritizing the right certifications and skills to get started.

However, my main question is: What should I take next? My primary goal is to crack entry-level jobs. I just want to grab something first to get my foot in the door, and after that, I’ll focus on climbing to higher levels. So, which certifications are must-haves or highly recommended for landing these roles?

On the other hand, I’m also planning to:

• Gain hands-on experience through labs and projects.
• Improve my coding skills (Python, Bash, etc.).
• Build a strong understanding of networking, Linux, and tools used in the industry.

But I’d really appreciate your advice on which certifications to prioritize after Security+ to maximize my chances of landing an entry-level job. Should I go for Network+ next? Or should I focus on something more specialized like CySA+ or Pentest+? Or maybe even eJPT for pentesting roles?

Let’s say I have a degree, Security+, Google Certified Cybersecurity Professional, and hands-on skills—do you think that’s enough to get hired? Or would I still need additional certifications or experience to stand out in the competitive job market?

Thank you so much in advance for your guidance! I’m eager to learn and ready to put in the work, but I just need a little direction to make sure I’m on the right path.

As said in title, I just finished my trifecta and I already have a couple years in IT. I’m starting to get my feet wet with TryHackMe and it’s SOC 1 path. Curious from those in the industry, should I go for the cysa+ as well? Read a lot of Reddit posts saying that cysa+ isn’t as recognized, so I’m curious if I should get it now or get it after I land a SOC role.

My current plan is to do TryHackMe paths (SOC 1&2), Blue Team Level 1 cert, and HackTheBox modules. My original plan was to focus on blue team level 1 before cysa+ so that I could get hands on experience. But if cysa+ can better help me land a role, I’d rather do that.

Any advice helps!!

I’m in my 20s and I’m taking the Google IT support course now, and I will likely start learning web development after this course. Is it still possible to get into the industry without a degree? I’m open to getting certifications if necessary, but a degree would be financially difficult for me right now. I see people post on social media daily about how impossible it is to find work in tech right now. Is it really that bad, or is social media just negative? When I read the job growth projections it still shows massive growth in the tech sector, so it’s confusing reading all of this conflicting information. I could use some encouragement from people who have successfully worked in tech without having a degree.

Hi, I am currently pursuing Master's in Electrical Engineering at a USA institution. I am working as a Graduate Research Assistant. My project involves sending and receiving encrypted data of smart meter using LoRaWAN network. My question is after my graduation which role should 1 look for to apply? I am interested to work in industry. But I am not sure which roles and skillsets I should work on to secure a job? Seeking advice from engineering who are working in related fields. TIA

Have the opportunity to do an internship in the Bay Area vs NY/LA and really want to make a wise decision.

Been trying to find a job for the longest but I don’t see many set ups from help desk in the city I live in. Just curious when you guys are looking for jobs what do you search. I’ve been doing “junior system administrator” and “network technician” but then I’ll find like 1-2 jobs

So, hear me out. I worked Geek Squad for almost 4 years. I moved up quickly. I was a counter agent, then a repair agent, then a senior agent. I then moved to corporate and was a covert agent. I’m sure you IT guys know what geek squad does or well, did. This was 10 years ago. When I moved to corporate, I did what I would call help desk…or is it? I would remote into clients computers and do a wide range of things. From software and antivirus installs, to printer installs, to malware removal and system repair; such as file corruption and other system problems. It’s not something that geek squad is known for, but they did it. Can that be considered as help desk? It sure sounds like it to me. I think I should definitely be able to use it to get a help desk job, but that’s not what I want. I need something a bit more challenging. I am graduating from college with my BBA in cybersecurity and would like to know what else I should try to apply for in IT before I try to get a SOC analyst or Security analyst position. I do CTFs and I have the trifecta of CompTIA certs: A+, Network and Sec+. What do the wise people of Reddit suggest that I do next? Realistically, I need $60k a year and help desk in Texas isn’t really paying that.

Most organizations I’ve worked in would present me with a screened group of candidates to choose to interview. My current company decided to have me pick interview candidates.

This being uncharted territory for me, I laughed when I got home today after posting a help desk job. I checked my email to find 57 applicants in an hour. Of those 57 applicants, 41 were located outside of the United States… applying for an on premise position.

Changes the dynamic to think you’re likely only competing against a 10th of what LinkedIn is showing.

I’m always marginalized because of my non-traditional life. On my own since I was 18, was on survival mode and had to work any jobs to make do. Mainly was working in warehouses. I felt like I’ve had enough by the time I was 27 and decided I need to get my degree. So I was initially going for IT but Cybersecurity was being pushed heavy by advisors now. I figured let me be ahead of the curve and head that direction. While in school, I was unable to get an internship, even though I applied to hundreds of them. Now as graduate with 2 certs, net + and security +, and a home lab, I can’t seem to get anything past tech support. I’ve had interviews it if I feel as if they look down on me. I always get the feeling like I’m not welcome in this tech club because of my past. I’m sure that’s not the case but it feels like some sort of big conspiracy to just keep me at these entry level positions. At the tech company I’m working for, I tried to reach out to IT and introduce myself, I could almost feel the laughter they are holding back. I don’t understand how everyone I know graduates college and get jobs like full stack developer at capital one and what not. What am I doing wrong other than growing up poor?

Hello all,

I’d like to keep it short. Im currently 22 and spent the last 4 years as a Firefighter EMT. Im studying for my Security + and anticipate to have it in a month or so. The jobs in my area are all very much not entry level. What cert would you recommend I chase next to help develop a resume?

Edit: I’d like to add I have no formal IT experience but have grown up with computers, so I’m not totally clueless. I also am leaning towards the security side of things down the road.

Hey Everyone,

Going into my 2nd year of my cybersecurity bachelor in Australia. I want to land myself a help desk role this year. What can i do to increase my chances as right now i’m just a uni student with no experience.

Have been looking into getting Comptia A+ cert. What other certs are there that could help bolster my skills as a beginner with not too much knowledge.

All Help is appreciated:)

Hey Everyone, I am struggling to find a position in the Seattle area. I would love some feedback on my resume! I have been applying to both IT Manager positions as well as helpdesk all the way to entry level without getting callbacks.

https://imgur.com/a/5qprKwk

I was recently hired for a cloud support role with Amazon and told that I need to relocate to be within 50 miles of the office (even though I won’t get to go into the office to work, will still be remote). Would relocate if there is no other option of course, but would love to stay where I currently live 😅. What are my options besides the obvious one of quitting. Has anyone done differently, I’m just weighing my options.

I need to learn, not expert level, enough about ITIL and particularly ITSM for an interview next week. I can find some long videos on YouTube, but they're all by guys with THICK Indian accents, reading extremely fast verbatim off of slides. I can't learn from that content.

Does anyone have any good, free, training videos for those topics that will help prep me for the interview? The position is titled "network performance analyst".

Hi all,

Looking for insight to help a dear friend leave a very toxic workplace (unpaid wages/OT, harassment, added tasks/expectations with no compensation, toxic CEO). He has an IT bachelor's degree (2023 grad) and is currently a sustaining engineer at a laser manufacturing company.

He's been applying for various jobs with no luck. Gets the typical automated rejection letter. He wants to relocate and is interested to relocate to the west coast (Washington/Cali/Oregon). Willing to go anywhere tho or work remote.

He wants to get into IT solutions/failure analysis. He is also very advanced in his hardware assembly skills (as an intern he assemebled robotic arms and lasers. He rebuilds/modifies car engines in his spare time). He is young and wants to grow with a company and be given the opportunity to thrive. He's not just looking for a salary.

He is starting to get physically ill going into this job but feels stuck due to no luck finding something else. He is currently in FL.

Any advice? Suggestions for different approaches?

(I can relay any questions and provide answers!)

Thanks in advance!

The pay is 19/hr plus commission. The worst part is that I talked to someone else who was also there for an interview. I asked him what’s his background and he is like 10 years in IT. I was like what the actual fuck, that’s who we are competing with for entry level jobs?

I recently got a chance to peak at some pay ranges in three different cities. Surprisingly in all three cities, college educated workers in the Recreation departments had a higher average pay and max compared to the IT guys. Recreation maxed out about $5 an hour more than IT.

All the managers made a boat load, around a $20-$30/hr pay increase over the highest non-manager positions.

No college positions between the departments were pretty similar going from minimum wage to $25 an hour for long time employees. College was a $5-$10/hr boost in earnings. (This isn't good if you live in a high minimum wage state like California, which would get you started at around $22/hr)

Based on what I saw (At least in those three cities), I wouldn't recommend going to college but getting a cert or two and working your way up in seniority until you need the degree to get into management.

Hi,

I’m currently an international student and have an opportunity to work in the IT department of a laundry company that has 2-3 branches. The company isn't small, as they have contracts with hotels and hospitals.

I'm wondering if this experience will be valuable and help me get a job in the IT field after I graduate. Has anyone had a similar experience, or can anyone share insights on whether this type of role is beneficial for gaining relevant IT experience?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Hey everyone!

What is it like working for AWS as a sec consultant? There isn't much info on this. Kinda wanna get people's experiences in general. Is travel tough?

I have an upcoming Super Day with Goldman Sachs for an SDE role. I would really appreciate any suggestions on preparation and insights into what to expect in each round. Do I need to prepare for Low-Level Design as well, or will it be focused only on System Design? Also, what is the difficulty level of LeetCode questions typically asked?

Thanks in advance!

or how long did it take you to get a job?

also what region are you from? country and if USA, then what state?

Just asking as I'm trying to get an understanding of how tough the job market is/is not.

Hey Guys,

I've been working on an IT ticketing system as a side project for the past few months, and I've reached a solid point in its development. I have some questions about the best approach for monetization and business strategy.

A little about me—I’m a full-stack developer with 4-5 years of experience, highly proficient in Next.js, React, and modern web development. I currently work as both an IT manager and software developer for multiple sister companies, where I’ve built complex internal software solutions. One of my major projects is a Construction Management System that plays a critical role in day-to-day business operations.

Because of my background and strong relationship with my company, they’ve expressed interest in some of my personal projects, including this IT ticketing system and an HR platform I’ve developed. While I’ve been considering moving into the SaaS space, I also see potential for internal deployment within my company.

About the Ticketing System:

• Full RBAC (Role-Based Access Control)
• Comprehensive CRUD functionalities (for tickets, users, roles, etc.)
• Detailed history logging for all ticket, user, and role changes
• Automated ticket assignment based on category and issue type to streamline workflows
• Scalable and production-ready for company-wide use or as a SaaS product

I’ve done some research (including consulting GPT) and found that selling the software outright could potentially bring in $25,000 - $35,000. For those of you who have sold software or transitioned into the business side of development, what would be the best approach? Would you recommend:

1. Selling the software outright to a company?
2. Licensing it as a SaaS product for recurring revenue?
3. Exploring another business model that might be more lucrative in the long run?

Would love to hear your thoughts and experiences!

I am applying to entry level networking positions, and if i find them entry level Sec analyst positions. I dont have much experience in this field and i am working on two certs currently. I need some feedback on my resume currently. I have gotten no responses and im finally taking a family friend up on an offer to help me find a job. hes pretty high level and i dont want to embarrass myself sending him a poorly made resume.

My biggest issue currently is that my experience other than help desk tasks all comes from my education. I listed skills that i have used and learned throughout my cousrework. should i keep this or use only skills im truly profficient at? im no programmer but i know my basic python, im no soc analyst but i can use wireshark to analyze packets, i learned how to use active directory to set access controls and groups and other basics.

https://imgur.com/a/entry-level-resume-YcLtaMp

Got hired for an entry-level IT Support Specialist position with no IT experience. I have two years of experience in property management and two in office administration.

It's been a year since I've been employed and just started applying to jobs last month before I got hired. I don't have an IT degree, but I was able to be interviewed for three different jobs.

At each interview, my CompTIA A+ cert was brought up with one hiring manager even mentioning that my resume stood out over others because of it.

I believe I was able to land a job due to my previous experience, certification, and ability to be versatile for jobs that wanted someone available at any time they were contacted.

I briefly wanted to share this since I've come across a few people mentioning that A+ isn't as useful or are wondering what certification can help with their first IT job.

I'm happy to answer questions or add details that I likely left out.