Possible to get a job based on solely certifications?

How influential are certifications without hands on experience?

I am currently not working in I.T, however I've always had a keen interest in it and am working towards another few certs such as S+ and L+.

My worry is I am turning 30 soon and with no hands on experience am I going to be able to get a job, or am I just wasting my time?

The reason I ask is because I've heard it's very hard to break into, an advantage I do have is that 2 friends of mine currently work in I.T, both high up and recruiting managers. Although I've yet to ask them about a job as I'm working towards more certs. Am I going to find it difficult changing careers with my age and lack of real world experience?

Find more posts tagged with

SAVE $250 on Your Boot Camp — Use Code "EXAM26"

Exclusively for TechExams members for Infosec Boot Camps starting before April 30, 2026

View Boot Camps

Comments

dave330i

That's how most of us break into IT. Education/Certs & no experience.

DoubleNNs

You can get hands-on experience prior to your first job. You could volunteer, freelance, and/or lab at home.

I see you have your Linux Essentials exam; create a few Virtual Machines w/ Virtualbox (free application) and spin up a few Linux VMs. Try to set up your Virtual Environment w/ Vagrant, and version control your Vagrantfiles w/ git. Play around w/ networking between multiple Linux VMs so they can communicate between each other and set up server-client relationships. Those are all things you could talk about in future interviews and would also help you should you go for higher level Server exams, regardless of whether Windows or Linux.

NetworkNewb

I would tell your friends right now you are looking for a entry level job. As long as you got a good understanding of how computer works as well, you should have no problem getting a help desk position. Once you get a little experience and keep increasing your knowledge, skys the limit in IT.

tmcg

I've used VMs for labing etc. I currently have N+, Linux essentials I'm due to sit 98-365 in 2 weeks and am going to sit S+ in a couple on months and then start Linux+. I also have a diploma in software development from my younger days.

eansdad

I guess it all depends on what it is you want to get into. If you are looking to get into Linux support then contributing to the Linux projects would help. If just getting into IT in general and A+ would get you past the HR checkers for help desk/desktop support positions. Check your local school district for substitute positions and their are a few websites that you can subscribe to for local IT support.

I know the A+ is a little beneath you at this point but it is necessary to get past the HR trolls.

tmcg

I've heard it's needed to get past HR just can't bare the thought of sitting it, I guess that's why I went straight into N+ and skipped A+.

tmcg

eansdad wrote: »

I guess it all depends on what it is you want to get into. If you are looking to get into Linux support then contributing to the Linux projects would help. If just getting into IT in general and A+ would get you past the HR checkers for help desk/desktop support positions. Check your local school district for substitute positions and their are a few websites that you can subscribe to for local IT support.

I know the A+ is a little beneath you at this point but it is necessary to get past the HR trolls.

I'm not sure where I want to land yet. I enjoy networking but I also love Linux and the freedom of the OS. I'm hoping doing S+ and L+ maybe C|EH and landing a security job or even a government job as they require S+ and L+.

slee335

of course you can but you need a lot of luck to find the right company to take a chance on you. base on my experience its more who you know in the field than what you know. if you know the right people your golden.