Entry level certifications for first tech support job

p-coder

I have taken two semesters of Cisco networking in a three semester CCNA preparation course sequence at a local community college, and I would like to study for an entry level networking certification. Some of the exams I am considering preparing for is Cisco CCT, CCNA, or CompTIA Network+. Which of these would be the most useful for getting my first job in IT support?

Besides networking, I have studied subjects like MS Server 2016, Linux, Bash scripting, IT support, Python, JavaScript, SQL, etc. Would it be a good idea to get the A+ for my first job or would it be enough to just know the exam content? And, are there any other certifications I should be aiming at? I am interested in studying for the RHCSA exam, but I am not sure how relevant it is at entry level.

JDMurray

Have you looked at some job postings that fit your needs and noticed what the employers are asking for in terms of education, certification, and experience?

p-coder

There are not a ton of jobs in the area where I live, so I am looking for remote work. 

JDMurray

What qualification do the job postings you consider interesting ask for?

p-coder

I have taken look at a lot of job postings, but it can get confusing to know where to start. I have a BA in Linguistics and two years of full-time study in IT/software development, but I have some significant gaps in my work history.

I think that a lot of the interesting job postings are for more senior positions, but I have to get started somewhere. Some of the job postings I am interested in are: Senior Localization Engineer, AI Solutions Engineer, and Localization Test Technician.

Skills for related positions include: 

• Familiar with Linux/Unix environments
• Experience with industry standard development and automation tools (Stash, JIRA, Jenkins, Git, etc.)
• Knowledge of Machine Translation systems
• Advanced coding proficiency in Python/Java and Bash; Java, C#, or C++ or other OOP Development experience would also be an added value
• Knowledge of project management and reporting tools
• Write scripts and/or macros in various programming languages to automate repetitive tasks performed by project managers
• Deep understanding of Unicode and character encoding, experience with fonts/IME
• An understanding of the DevOps ecosystem concerning tooling, Continuous Delivery, Continuous Integration, Infrastructure as Code
• Foreign language knowledge is a plus

Do you have any ideas where to get started?

JDMurray

What does a "Localization Engineer" and "Localization Test Technician" do? They sound like software engineering specializations. Do you want to work primarily in software development?

p-coder

I am primarily interested in working in software development and DevOps, but I would be willing to do general technical support or help desk to get started in the industry.

"Localization Engineer" can mean many different things. It might be a software developer who can implement internationalization libraries, or it could be a specialist in translation technology who has some familiarity in software development that can communicate between the software development team and the language service provider (LSP) to localize digital texts and rebuild the software or web apps in various languages. Depending on the company, it could also be a tech savvy project manager or include things like software QA testing and implementing continuous localization solutions in the cloud.

JDMurray

Do you have a portfolio of your coding projects publicly shared on github? That's pretty much a necessity when interviewing for better-paying programming jobs these days.

DatabaseHead

Does your program offer an internship?

p-coder

@JDMurray
I am comfortable working with GitHub from the command line, but I have erased a lot of my practice projects from GitHub because they would not be presentable to an employer. Right now, I am going through various tutorials on Packt (which by the way is an awesome deal for a $5 per month subscription), so I could post my progress from those tutorials onto GitHub or wait until I am finished to make some original projects.

@DatabaseHead
I spent 2 years of full-time study at a community college, but I did not take most of the second year classes for my software developer associate degree because of scheduling conflicts with Covid-19. That is why I would need to take a couple more classes to be eligible for an internship. To remain a full-time student last year, I took extra classes in web design (HTML, CSS, WordPress) and IT networking, but I would prefer to start working now to help support my family.

DatabaseHead

@p-coder - Then start to apply for positions then.  You would want to start looking for entry-level positions.  Start searching for skills you know you have and see what comes up, apply.