Asking for your 2c for a career start in IT

Dear readers,

I have been lurking on these forums for a while now and I had always appreciated the community of techexams.net. With this thought in mind, I am here to ask your opinion, advice, suggestion without judgement (if possible).

Little bit about myself

I am 27 yo. I started a program of B.E.(Telecommunication) and around 75% through my degree I was hugely attracted towards network Security field. However, due to personal & financial problems I kept flunking and eventually got suspended from University. I tried going back before suspended but I kept doing the same thing <Insert definition of "Insanity">. After getting suspended in 2012, I didn't go back (once allowed to re-enrol). Needless, to say, this whole thing has 'destroyed' a lot of my confidence, self-esteem and personal relations with my family and friends. I worked to support myself during this period but it was hardly IT related.

What I want to do as a career

For years, I have been interested in pursuing a career in Network security. The courses at the uni hardly helped in gaining any qualification or knowledge (beyond elementary) which I could take anywhere to attain a job. I am planning on doing Network+, CCENT, Security+, CCNA:Security+ (in that order) to help myself score at least some kind of job in this field. I have heard that certifications don't guarantee a job but at the moment I don't know if there is anything better for me to do than fake a bunch of stuff on my CV. I do want to get a degree in IT from somewhere. Or, at least, a diploma. Maybe an online degree which is accredited and would be worthwhile in putting it down on the Resume.

So, my dear techexam forum reader(s), what would you advise to someone in my position

?

Sometimes, I feel like I should just throw the towel.

Thanks for reading the somewhat dejected post.

TL;DR-At 27, unfinished degree, short on money, no "real" experience in the field(network security) I wish to work. Looking for any advice, recommendation, suggestion, a career tip, education tip or anything positive that you can offer

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Comments

TomkoTech

Well you need "something" to get your foot in the door with anywhere. Education, experience, or personal reference are really your only way in somewhere.

As for advice. Why were you flunking school? No need to actually answer this on the forums. But you need to sit down and figure that out. Training for your certifications are going to be a lot like school work but without the motivation of deadlines.

Certifications can most certainly get your foot in the door somewhere. However you will have to align your expectations with your skills and education. It will be extremely difficult to land a high paying security gig with a handful of entry level certs, no degree, and no experience.

In today's market Degree+Certs+Experience is going to win out every time.

So we go back to "why" you flunked out of school. If your issue is you don't have the time to go to class because you had to get a job to pay your bills then consider an online school. There are plenty. WGU offers certs and a degree paced at whatever your aptitude allows.

Was your issue you just didn't focus/study because you wanted to party? If so nothing is going to change that but you. No one here knows your ability to learn. But if you aren't focused on your education of course it's going to be rough.

If you are looking for an easy method to "fake" your way into a good security job, you aren't going to find that here. And if by some off the wall chance you did manage to lie your way into an entry level position it would become glaringly evident to your co-workers in little time.

My best advice to you is figure out WHY you want Network Security. And whether or not you can commit yourself to the training necessary. After that it's all on you on how far and fast you can go.

networker050184

Getting straight into network security with no real qualifications or experience is a pretty tough order. I'd suggest you start looking for an entry level IT job of whatever you can get. Helpdesk, NOC tech etc. Something to start building your resume. Working on your certifications and formal education would certainly help as well.

okragn

You should be able to transfer a good number of your credits to go towards a Network Security program somewhere. I would spend some time with Google to that end.

Also, you really shouldn't be so hard on yourself. Engineering courses are insane. You have to do so much nuts math, and the amount of time you have to put into the courses is next to impossible for adults who are working to support themselves. You should take pride in the fact that you got through 75% of it.

meltdown

Thanks for your input so far. I have often thought about why exactly "network security".

I flunked uni when I lost motivation to do the meaningless courses which didn't really align with networking. As far as "why?" goes, I feel there were a number of things at the same time(being a foreign student at uni, financial hardship, stress, depression, family troubles) but I suppose it's hard to distinguish from the 'symptoms' and 'causes'. The worst I did was escaping in gaming.

I am thinking of starting as a network administrator or helpdesk sorta thing and move on to a bigger goal of Network Engineer and eventually specialize in Network security. I guess, that'd be more realistic at this point.

I don't live in USA and I am not sure if the WGU program would be good for an overseas individual. I would definitely look it up though. Thanks.

TomkoTech

Pretty sure WGU isn't available overseas.

Germany just launched free tuition. If that is an option for you.

This Country Just Abolished College Tuition Fees | ThinkProgress

meltdown

okragn wrote: »

You should be able to transfer a good number of your credits to go towards a Network Security program somewhere. I would spend some time with Google to that end.

Thanks for the support. Yes, I should be eligible for some credit transfers.
About them engineering courses, I don't know, I just don't see a 'Network Engineer' major and having to sit through utterly painful classes like Statistic really pushed me over the edge. I think I wasted a lot of time learning things which I wouldn't need in the line of work I want to pursue. And that was the closest major in the Engineering school.

markulous

networker050184 wrote: »

Getting straight into network security with no real qualifications or experience is a pretty tough order. I'd suggest you start looking for an entry level IT job of whatever you can get. Helpdesk, NOC tech etc. Something to start building your resume. Working on your certifications and formal education would certainly help as well.

This.

Maybe work towards a cert right now while you're job hunting but just try to get your foot in the door, even if it's a $12 an hour entry-level help desk job.

Jon_Cisco

meltdown wrote: »

I think I wasted a lot of time learning things which I wouldn't need in the line of work I want to pursue.

Reading this I wonder if you are really ready for the next step. Everyone has to find their own motivation but when you do that you have to accept that sometimes you need to go through the motions to accomplish a goal.

School is not going to teach you how to do a job. It teaches you how to approach learning. It builds a skill set that can be utilized in any profession.

I don't have any opinions about your life or situation. You are here asking for advice so you must be moving in a positive direction. Lots of people don't know what they want to do when they are young and nobody makes prefect choices. If you want to do network security then go for it but you need to make the choice come up with a plan and work towards it. Remember the plan may change, they always do but keep making progress.

Good Luck!

Cyberscum

Maybe go to local churches, rec centers or other small organizations that may need your help with IT related things. I know that churches usually need alot of IT help (volunteering) to facilitate thier operations. This could be your start, which can mold into a job. Usually it just takes on break to get into the field. Keep your head up and continue to learn.