Career changer needing advise

Good day everyone,
I am an English teacher switching over to cyber security and I am truly in need of advise. I just obtained a masters in cyber security but have absolutely no hands on IT experience. I am very nervous and not sure whats a good place to start. Should I look into certs before starting? Any advise would be so much appreciated.
I am an English teacher switching over to cyber security and I am truly in need of advise. I just obtained a masters in cyber security but have absolutely no hands on IT experience. I am very nervous and not sure whats a good place to start. Should I look into certs before starting? Any advise would be so much appreciated.
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Welcome to the club. Logistics specialist here, who wants to switch to Networking...
Never give up.
What do role you want to end up doing? You will have a good education base to start just about anywhere. Are you in a metropolitan area with a lot of opportunity or in a rural area where you will need to either commute or telecommute?
Govt contracting is a good start. All you need for that is a Sec+ and you are in. If you want to go that route check out BAI, or look up jobs on dice, monster, or craigslist.
With Govt contracting once you get a clearance you are good to go. You will most likely have to work at a company for at least a year but after that you can get a better job with more pay.
Try to get with a company that will sponsor you to get a clearance. there are plenty out there since you are in the DC area, you should have no problems getting a govt contracting job.... Look in alexandria, reston, vienna, fairfax, Ft Belvoir, and maybe Quantico if Quantico is not that far.
Look into jobs with Prizm, Kforce, BAI, Booze Allen, and Northdrop Grumman. All of those have contract jobs at either Quantico, or Ft Belvoir. and maybe the Pentagon if you want to get into govt work being a contractor is often the first step... unless you can get into a govt civillian job which does take time to get.
Since you mentioned Govt work... according to the DoD you need at least Sec+ and a MTA to get a help desk job with a govt contractor. Or you can start with your A+ which is fine.
It depends on the job. since you are in the DC area (same area as me) It will most likely be between 14-16 an hr. Or possibly 25-30k a year starting out... but that depends on the company. some pay more others don't but I would at least apply to jobs now... some require a cert others require you to get the cert within 3 months of hire. How I got in was I got a job then got a cert... but you also have schooling which you can use to get your foot in the door then get your certs... it depends.
Also read the job desriptions. I have seen a lot of job postings for the DC, northern VA area that will substitute a degree for work experience...
What's your background? You say you don't have professional experience, but have you built/fixed your own computers, fixed family/friend's computers, setup your home network, etc?
I think with prior professional experience in teaching you'd be a shoe-in to do something with technical education for an organization. Especially if you cert'd up. I think your starting pay would also be higher because of your advanced degree.
CISSP = policy maker
CEH/OSCP = pen tester
CHFI = forensic
Built my own PC, tinkered around the house. No full time, IT experience tho. TS clearance and positive attitude, and at least Sec+ in hand when I retire tho
ethelrose SANS and associate of ISC^2 would probably do it.
@Everyone don't forget to NETWORK! Got to; Bsides in your area, hackers conferences, etc
http://www.meetup.com/topics/hacking/ (good place to learn information security concepts, and meet new people in the field)