IT Career Advice: Where do I start?

Two years ago I was going to community college for an assoicate's degree in Computer Information Systems. I have decided to go back to school and change my career (currently I am a Mall Cop). I wanted to go to WGU, but I don't meet the admission requirements, I have no degree or any certifications. I also want to change my career in the next 6 months and find an entry level job in IT. Computer networking and network security are what I want to specialize in.

So which certifications should I go for?

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Comments

Essendon

Welcome to the site!

Focus on finding that first job as much as you would on getting a certification. If you have no background in computers, you should begin with the CompTIA A+/Network+ certifications, both entry-level and should get your resume looked at by HR. Spend some time on the resume too.

Another word of advice, IT can be quite difficult to break into. It might take you a month or could take you a year, cold and harsh reality. It took me 10 months to find my first IT gig in spite of having an MS under by belt. Do not get discouraged easily, keep firing out the resume and work away on those certs.

Good luck!

Daniel333

Hey buddy!

I need a little more information from you? Where have you been and where do you want to go? And what kind of learner are you?

Generally people are going to start with A+, Network+ and now days Apple Certified Support Professional. They are easy enough certs to earn and they will open your eyes to what is out there. And the material is plentiful.

Cubanicous

I have completed a year of community college taking basic classes like intro programming, network, html etc..... Right now I am re-reading a network+ textbook I took in college, and I have been teaching myself website design for my hobby. I can teach myself just about anything by self study.

Ultimately I want to specialize in Network security

NOC-Ninja

There are tons of information about network security here but to be able to jump into that, you need to learn the basic.

Network + > CCENT > CCNA > CCNA-Sec > CCNP-Sec > CISSP CEH > CISA > CISM > GIAC

Somewhat on that order.

There's so much to learn. Now start from Network +

SamLea27

Start with A+ and move up from there

smg1138

Don't get into IT! After 5 years in this industry, I've come to realize you're just everybody's *****. It doesn't matter how educated you are or how many certs you have, you'll just be looked at as a peon and be thrown under the bus at every opportunity by your co-workers. I wish I had gone into medicine or something with some meaning. Sorry to be so negative, but I'm extremely jaded and burnt out at this point.

Alif_Sadida_Ekin

smg1138 wrote: »

Don't get into IT! After 5 years in this industry, I've come to realize you're just everybody's *****. It doesn't matter how educated you are or how many certs you have, you'll just be looked at as a peon and be thrown under the bus at every opportunity by your co-workers. I wish I had gone into medicine or something with some meaning. Sorry to be so negative, but I'm extremely jaded and burnt out at this point.

You don't happen to post on the dice.com forums do you?

Essendon

smg1138 wrote: »

Don't get into IT! After 5 years in this industry, I've come to realize you're just everybody's *****. It doesn't matter how educated you are or how many certs you have, you'll just be looked at as a peon and be thrown under the bus at every opportunity by your co-workers. I wish I had gone into medicine or something with some meaning. Sorry to be so negative, but I'm extremely jaded and burnt out at this point.

Seems you work in a hellhole buddy. Just find another job, you have the experience and the certs.

Get out of there and thou shalt find happiness.

N2IT

Alif_Sadida_Ekin wrote: »

You don't happen to post on the dice.com forums do you?

I was thinking the same thing! LMAO

joneno

smg1138 wrote: »

Don't get into IT! After 5 years in this industry, I've come to realize you're just everybody's *****. It doesn't matter how educated you are or how many certs you have, you'll just be looked at as a peon and be thrown under the bus at every opportunity by your co-workers. I wish I had gone into medicine or something with some meaning. Sorry to be so negative, but I'm extremely jaded and burnt out at this point.

Dude
if your life is miserable, don't try to make other peoples life miserable too.
Change your job or do something..uuuggghhh!!!

veritas_libertas

Alif_Sadida_Ekin wrote: »

You don't happen to post on the dice.com forums do you?

Nicely played...

Forsaken_GA

smg1138 wrote: »

Don't get into IT! After 5 years in this industry, I've come to realize you're just everybody's *****. It doesn't matter how educated you are or how many certs you have, you'll just be looked at as a peon and be thrown under the bus at every opportunity by your co-workers. I wish I had gone into medicine or something with some meaning. Sorry to be so negative, but I'm extremely jaded and burnt out at this point.

Yeah, I'm not everybodys *****. I'm accountable to a few executives here and there, but for the most part, I function as a proxy for the wrath of god (aka, upper management) when it comes to keeping users in line. Go ahead, stream Netflix on company time. See what happens.

This is the first thing that someone sees as they approach my desk.

djfunz

Forsaken_GA wrote: »

Yeah, I'm not everybodys *****. I'm accountable to a few executives here and there, but for the most part, I function as a proxy for the wrath of god (aka, upper management) when it comes to keeping users in line. Go ahead, stream Netflix on company time. See what happens.

This is the first thing that someone sees as they approach my desk.

LOL, WOW much?

cbolton09

Rejection from one college does not mean you should entirely give up hope on a college education. In my opinion, you should try and pursue a Computer Science Degree with an Information System Security emphasis. See if you are eligible for admission to California College San Diego; they allow you to finish it in as little as 30 months even though the stipulated time is 36 months, and most importantly, as a college, they have a solid reputation and are accredited by the ACCSC (Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges).