IT Certifications and Careers (Official Discussion Thread)

[ChiefKenji]

how long does it usually take to obtain an analyst role?

Depends on the way you carry yourself @ interviews and life in general.

I worked 1 year and 10 months in a desktop support role with no active prior cyber security work done. I just convinced the company that I was fit for the role by expressing my ambition in the field.

 

[Carlton Banks]

So last year I was studying web development and stopped for whatever reason. I think all the math in JavaScript was intimidating to me or just turned me off... Then I started looking into cybersecurity. I realized that I would need my CompTIA A+ to start off my journey... After 2 months of studying and researching I realized I'm not sure if I wanna continue and might go back to developing/programming. From what I've read it's much easier to get jobs, the pay is great, get to work remotely, and the job is more rewarding. Idk, what y'all think?

 

[Obreh Winfrey]

So last year I was studying web development and stopped for whatever reason. I think all the math in JavaScript was intimidating to me or just turned me off... Then I started looking into cybersecurity. I realized that I would need my CompTIA A+ to start off my journey... After 2 months of studying and researching I realized I'm not sure if I wanna continue and might go back to developing/programming. From what I've read it's much easier to get jobs, the pay is great, get to work remotely, and the job is more rewarding. Idk, what y'all think?

Coming into programming with no degree means you'll need a very good portfolio to get your foot in the door. You're going to have to put good effort in, and competition is high. If you don't like programming, don't waste your time. When it sucks, it sucks.

 

[Carlton Banks]

Coming into programming with no degree means you'll need a very good portfolio to get your foot in the door. You're going to have to put good effort in, and competition is high. If you don't like programming, don't waste your time. When it sucks, it sucks.

And what about IT/Cybersecurity?

 

[Obreh Winfrey]

And what about IT/Cybersecurity?

I'm not in that world, can't speak to it with any authority. Probably an easier barrier of entry but given how much everyone else in this thread puts into studying for mid and advanced level certs, getting into the roles you want is going to take hard work in your spare time.

 

[Carlton Banks]

I'm not in that world, can't speak to it with any authority. Probably an easier barrier of entry but given how much everyone else in this thread puts into studying for mid and advanced level certs, getting into the roles you want is going to take hard work in your spare time.

I would think it's the opposite as far as entry. If you got a decent portfolio/GitHub you could land a programming job...

IT/Cybersecurity, having a bunch of certs are good but you'll still be up against a lot of competition and need a lot of experience

 

[Obreh Winfrey]

I would think it's the opposite as far as entry. If you got a decent portfolio/GitHub you could land a programming job...

IT/Cybersecurity, having a bunch of certs are good but you'll still be up against a lot of competition and need a lot of experience

That's pretty much what I'm getting at.

On the software side you're probably competing with recent grads with 2 or 3 years of academic projects (normally shyt, but its something) and possibly internship experience. So coming from nothing, that portfolio is everything. Companies will be screening on education so that will knock you out of the running for a lot. When you do get through, now your body of work has to shine enough to get you some play - that's the hard part. So if you wanted to go this route, just know it's rough getting your foot in the door. Dude I know that graduated had to go work for Target because he couldn't find anything. He also bombed the interview I set him up with but that's neither here nor there.

IT (read as positions looking for certs) should be comparatively easier to get into at the entry level. Once you start talking the higher levels though, just having the cert isn't enough. Hands on experience is needed.

 

[Carlton Banks]

That's pretty much what I'm getting at.

On the software side you're probably competing with recent grads with 2 or 3 years of academic projects (normally shyt, but its something) and possibly internship experience. So coming from nothing, that portfolio is everything. Companies will be screening on education so that will knock you out of the running for a lot. When you do get through, now your body of work has to shine enough to get you some play - that's the hard part. So if you wanted to go this route, just know it's rough getting your foot in the door. Dude I know that graduated had to go work for Target because he couldn't find anything. He also bombed the interview I set him up with but that's neither here nor there.

IT (read as positions looking for certs) should be comparatively easier to get into at the entry level. Once you start talking the higher levels though, just having the cert isn't enough. Hands on experience is needed.

Realistically I plan on continuing to learn both since I'm already knee deep in both of them. I'm just trying to figure out which one to focus on and prioritize at the moment. Like I'm sure once I'm done with my comptia stuff I'd qualify for IT support/help desk jobs... But also if I finish my JavaScript and PHP courses I'd be eligible for web development jobs. Guess I'm just trying to see where's the best place to start

 

[RealCrownHeights]

Just had my first ComTIA A+ and N+ Certification class and not gonna lie, it was pretty boring. Tomorrow I'm going to have a coffee with class. How often is Hexidecimal's used? that's the first thing the Professor went over and i'm terrible at math so that just left me dazed but once he got into IT terminology I felt a little more comfortable because it's just literally reading terms and understanding

 

[ryda518]

Just had my first ComTIA A+ and N+ Certification class and not gonna lie, it was pretty boring. Tomorrow I'm going to have a coffee with class. How often is Hexidecimal's used? that's the first thing the Professor went over and i'm terrible at math so that just left me dazed but once he got into IT terminology I felt a little more comfortable because it's just literally reading terms and understanding

It’s better to get the boring things like that out of the way to build a foundation. Mac addresses use hexadecimal but the main thing you’ll need to master is subnetting. If you can subnet in your head then everything is easier.

 

[RealCrownHeights]

It’s better to get the boring things like that out of the way to build a foundation. Mac addresses use hexadecimal but the main thing you’ll need to master is subnetting. If you can subnet in your head then everything is easier.

Thanks, Yea subnet seems to be a little easier

 

[slikkp]

It’s better to get the boring things like that out of the way to build a foundation. Mac addresses use hexadecimal but the main thing you’ll need to master is subnetting. If you can subnet in your head then everything is easier.

IPv6 uses hex too. Subnetting is a lot easier in IPv6 due to the amount of available addresses and the IPv6 neighbor discovery tools like router advertisements/solicitations.

 

[RealCrownHeights]

Is the CompTIA exam hard? this class ends in November and it's 6-9 Monday -Thursday, I feel like that's a long ass time for something that is supposed to be the entrance exam into the field and after I get Comp and N+ what should be by next cert for Cyber Security?

 

[RealCrownHeights]

Someone in my class mentioned Mint is good to practice Comp Tia on a Mac, is that the preferred app?

 

[Marc Spector]

2 for 2 with Comptia


Sec+

Now Linux+ certified