IT Certifications and Careers (Official Discussion Thread)

[Billy Ray Valentine]

I have an interview for a Jr Network specialist role, It pays the same as my current desktop support role (both are contracts) but im considering it to add to my resume… does the title make a difference?

Probably not since job titles in tech are not standardized across the industry. And that sucks because hr/recruiters/hiring managers fail to look at candidates as anything beyond stupid titles, or at least the lame ones do.

I think your responsibilities in the role matter more. Having roles that show knowledge and skill progression is or should be a bigger deal I think.

 

[Buddy]

Started my training in Identity and Access Management training this week really looking into the odds of parlaying this into a full fledged cybersecurity career.

 

[Rhyme n Tekniq]

Just accepted an offer for a Tier 2 NOC position, It's a step backwards pay wise , But I'll get exposure to Linux on AWS environment and patching vulnerabilities. Getting up at 5AM is going to suck initially.

The RHCSA I have finally proved useful,

Figured I'll grind it out til May and leverage that experience to get a higher paying position


My current 2 year contract fukkin sucks. I'm suppose to be a VMware Admin but I literally do nothing but monitor the environment and keep track of the documentation. They've denied me access to do the job my namesake implies so I cant do any impactful technical work .../

Yet, they've been constantly questioning what "value" me and the US based team provides. I havent learned shyt since being on this contract for the past 1.5 years and now they want to start looking for any reason to get rid of us.

After having 2 similarly underwhelming roles in vmware administration, I'm done with this shyt, Money's been great but there's no future in this shyt from my perspective. I never wanted to do this shyt anyway, I always wanted to do Linux Administration or network /cloud security ,so I guess this new role will be my chance.

Being paid to be nothing more than a warm body to pass off the shyt work to is not the wave , how common this is in the finance industry is a shame.
collecting a freecheck is a trap, home labs and monthly subscription IT courses can only get you so far without actual on the job experience. If you gettin paid to do absolutely nothing dont get comfortable because you're just short changing your future.

I cant stress this ennough...fukk VMware, I'll never support that shyt again, both of these VCPs about to be collecting dust from here on out. I've worked with actual consultants from them that cant figure out why shyt keeps breaking and leading us to multiple meetings and changes needing to be made.. fukk VMware,

 

[HoldThisL]

Just accepted an offer for a Tier 2 NOC position, It's a step backwards pay wise , But I'll get exposure to Linux on AWS environment and patching vulnerabilities. Getting up at 5AM is going to suck initially.

The RHCSA I have finally proved useful,

Figured I'll grind it out til May and leverage that experience to get a higher paying position


My current 2 year contract fukkin sucks. I'm suppose to be a VMware Admin but I literally do nothing but monitor the environment and keep track of the documentation. They've denied me access to do the job my namesake implies so I cant do any impactful technical work .../

Yet, they've been constantly questioning what "value" me and the US based team provides. I havent learned shyt since being on this contract for the past 1.5 years and now they want to start looking for any reason to get rid of us.

After having 2 similarly underwhelming roles in vmware administration, I'm done with this shyt, Money's been great but there's no future in this shyt from my perspective. I never wanted to do this shyt anyway, I always wanted to do Linux Administration or network /cloud security ,so I guess this new role will be my chance.

Being paid to be nothing more than a warm body to pass off the shyt work to is not the wave , how common this is in the finance industry is a shame.
collecting a freecheck is a trap, home labs and monthly subscription IT courses can only get you so far without actual on the job experience. If you gettin paid to do absolutely nothing dont get comfortable because you're just short changing your future.

I cant stress this ennough...fukk VMware, I'll never support that shyt again, both of these VCPs about to be collecting dust from here on out. I've worked with actual consultants from them that cant figure out why shyt keeps breaking and leading us to multiple meetings and changes needing to be made.. fukk VMware,

This is currently the position I am in right now and I work in the finance industry as well. 2nd month in and I know that I'm not gonna be learning that much on this contract. I already started looking for another gig, and will take a lower pay if I have too.

 

[At30wecashout]

Just accepted an offer for a Tier 2 NOC position, It's a step backwards pay wise , But I'll get exposure to Linux on AWS environment and patching vulnerabilities. Getting up at 5AM is going to suck initially.

The RHCSA I have finally proved useful,

Figured I'll grind it out til May and leverage that experience to get a higher paying position


My current 2 year contract fukkin sucks. I'm suppose to be a VMware Admin but I literally do nothing but monitor the environment and keep track of the documentation. They've denied me access to do the job my namesake implies so I cant do any impactful technical work .../

Yet, they've been constantly questioning what "value" me and the US based team provides. I havent learned shyt since being on this contract for the past 1.5 years and now they want to start looking for any reason to get rid of us.

After having 2 similarly underwhelming roles in vmware administration, I'm done with this shyt, Money's been great but there's no future in this shyt from my perspective. I never wanted to do this shyt anyway, I always wanted to do Linux Administration or network /cloud security ,so I guess this new role will be my chance.

Being paid to be nothing more than a warm body to pass off the shyt work to is not the wave , how common this is in the finance industry is a shame.
collecting a freecheck is a trap, home labs and monthly subscription IT courses can only get you so far without actual on the job experience. If you gettin paid to do absolutely nothing dont get comfortable because you're just short changing your future.

I cant stress this ennough...fukk VMware, I'll never support that shyt again, both of these VCPs about to be collecting dust from here on out. I've worked with actual consultants from them that cant figure out why shyt keeps breaking and leading us to multiple meetings and changes needing to be made.. fukk VMware,

This is exactly how I am living right now. The initial job description for me had me thinking I was gonna be a mover and shaker. Instead I am overpaid to sit in a position doing the same shyt I've done for years with less access than in positions past. I love what I do in spirit but my resume has nothing added to it in over a year of work. Thankfully a giant leap is on the horizon cause a brotha was tired...I readily admit I was getting too vocal about my displeasure with the same-old. Feels like I lost a ton of skills I once had due to not using any of it.

 

[Rhyme n Tekniq]

This is exactly how I am living right now. The initial job description for me had me thinking I was gonna be a mover and shaker. Instead I am overpaid to sit in a position doing the same shyt I've done for years with less access than in positions past. I love what I do in spirit but my resume has nothing added to it in over a year of work. Thankfully a giant leap is on the horizon cause a brotha was tired...I readily admit I was getting too vocal about my displeasure with the same-old. Feels like I lost a ton of skills I once had due to not using any of it.

THIS!!

Lucky for me, the past couple roles I got were through softball, conversational interviews instead of being technically grilled by 4 other people

The most current for the role I just accepted only wanted to know if I wanted to learn, that was the main focus of the interview.

I'm conciouslyy deciding to reroute my career and focus on the shyt I was doing before I fell into Virtual Desktop Infrastructure administration;

Linux, CCNA, cloud fundementals, getting my Sec+, My career took off so fast finanically that I just stopped focusing on that shyt to improve my VMware skills that was netting me 85k+ 16 months into my IT career. so yeah I didnt wnat to just let that go right away lol

But personally, Three similar roles later and I see it as a career dead-end

Quick backgraound, I couldnt get a helpdesk job to save my life when beginning my attempts to get into IT,
1st job was asset management --> all VDI Administator

because I never worked in a NOC, SOC or helpdesk, naturally I'm missed a few lessons that I now need to step back and get.

If I had the choice my 1st job would have been grinding it out at a MSSP for a year before moving into a specialized discipline, I got luck and basically failed upwards 3 times consecutively, a bit harsh on myself but that's the only way i cn describe it ATM. Cant complain, too much because the money changed my life.. just gotta readjust to climb higher, like clipping split ends

but yeah I feel like i spent the past 14 months in career limbo just spinning my wheel on what to learn and not growing with these roles im taking

 

[HoldThisL]

THIS!!

Lucky for me, the past couple roles I got were through softball, conversational interviews instead of being technically grilled by 4 other people

The most current for the role I just accepted only wanted to know if I wanted to learn, that was the main focus of the interview.

I'm conciouslyy deciding to reroute my career and focus on the shyt I was doing before I fell into Virtual Desktop Infrastructure administration;

Linux, CCNA, cloud fundementals, getting my Sec+, My career took off so fast finanically that I just stopped focusing on that shyt to improve my VMware skills that was netting me 85k+ 16 months into my IT career. so yeah I didnt wnat to just let that go right away lol

But personally, Three similar roles later and I see it as a career dead-end

Quick backgraound, I couldnt get a helpdesk job to save my life when beginning my attempts to get into IT,
1st job was asset management --> all VDI Administator

because I never worked in a NOC, SOC or helpdesk, naturally I'm missed a few lessons that I now need to step back and get.

If I had the choice my 1st job would have been grinding it out at a MSSP for a year before moving into a specialized discipline, I got luck and basically failed upwards 3 times consecutively, a bit harsh on myself but that's the only way i cn describe it ATM. Cant complain, too much because the money changed my life.. just gotta readjust to climb higher, like clipping split ends

but yeah I feel like i spent the past 14 months in career limbo just spinning my wheel on what to learn and not growing with these roles im taking

This is what I am currently doing rn too and I'm getting sick of it. Idk how you lasted that long. Feels soul crushing after a while.

 

[HoldThisL]

Damn CompTia don't have any Black Friday deals

 

[Mirin4rmfar]

Got my CAP-M for Project Management and couldn't find a job for shyt. Began studying for A+ with the hopes of eventually doing the other certifications and working my way to a cybersecurity job. Got a non-technical job offer at a reputable university soon after and they offer free schooling so I'll be going for a Masters in Cybersecurity beginning in January. Did I make the right decision or should I continue to self learn and pursue certifications?

FYI: I have ZERO tech background/experience

I don't think that's a bad move. You honestly have to keep trying which way you feel best. The Path to Cyber Security is not clear cut. My Manager has an I.T Security Manager title has no cyber sec degree, zero certs lol. Came from project management. I can run circles around him technically.

I did it through certs but it took me close two years. If you look at youtube, many people will have different opinions. A lot of their reasoning is base on their experience. I can say certs is the best way because that's how I go it but there are people with certs struggling to get in. Some got in knowing people. One guy I came in with had zero experience/zero certs, he got fired but now has a sec analyst position at a major company with just two years working where I am at.

Like there is really no recipe. If I can get into GA Tech, I will be going for My Masters in Cyber Security too. Just continue learning and see where it takes you. While pursuing your masters see if you can do internship at at a soc.

 

[GollyImGully]

I have an interview for a Jr Network specialist role, It pays the same as my current desktop support role (both are contracts) but im considering it to add to my resume… does the title make a difference?

Absolutely you can finesee that as jr network eng role

 

[Tr0yTV]

THIS!!

Lucky for me, the past couple roles I got were through softball, conversational interviews instead of being technically grilled by 4 other people

The most current for the role I just accepted only wanted to know if I wanted to learn, that was the main focus of the interview.

I'm conciouslyy deciding to reroute my career and focus on the shyt I was doing before I fell into Virtual Desktop Infrastructure administration;

Linux, CCNA, cloud fundementals, getting my Sec+, My career took off so fast finanically that I just stopped focusing on that shyt to improve my VMware skills that was netting me 85k+ 16 months into my IT career. so yeah I didnt wnat to just let that go right away lol

But personally, Three similar roles later and I see it as a career dead-end

Quick backgraound, I couldnt get a helpdesk job to save my life when beginning my attempts to get into IT,
1st job was asset management --> all VDI Administator

because I never worked in a NOC, SOC or helpdesk, naturally I'm missed a few lessons that I now need to step back and get.

If I had the choice my 1st job would have been grinding it out at a MSSP for a year before moving into a specialized discipline, I got luck and basically failed upwards 3 times consecutively, a bit harsh on myself but that's the only way i cn describe it ATM. Cant complain, too much because the money changed my life.. just gotta readjust to climb higher, like clipping split ends

but yeah I feel like i spent the past 14 months in career limbo just spinning my wheel on what to learn and not growing with these roles im taking

Get the Certified Kubernetes Administrator cert instead of another red hat cert. Then get the Terraform associate after that.

 

[Rhyme n Tekniq]

Get the Certified Kubernetes Administrator cert instead of another red hat cert. Then get the Terraform associate after that.

crazy I was about to start studying for the CKA almost two years ago because my intuition was firing on all cylinders but I just stopped.

My RHCSA is about to expire next september, I was thinking about just recertifying just to help the crediility along, but forgoing the RHCE--> RHCA in favor of something else

Glad you reminded me, because I knew there was another cert I left out of my plan; CKA + Terraform, but never bothered to remember since it was irrelevant to me back then. I got it, I'ma see what's to it and see where it takes me. Appreciate it breh.

 

[HoldThisL]

Been gifted a Security+ Voucher

Bout to go study for this for about 1-2 months. A old head at my job just hmu tryna get me on one of the cloud teams too. I have the AWS SAA already but he wants me to study for Azure too since they are multi-cloud based.

 

[LiquidMasterSwords]

Been gifted a Security+ Voucher

Bout to go study for this for about 1-2 months. A old head at my job just hmu tryna get me on one of the cloud teams too. I have the AWS SAA already but he wants me to study for Azure too since they are multi-cloud based.

I started studying for the Security+ in mid-late November of last year and had it by January 2022. You go this!

 

[he_is_I]

Just got my Bachelors in IT and I just feel hopeless trying to find a job.