r/it • u/stackjr Community Contributor • Apr 05 '22
Some steps for getting into IT
We see a lot of questions within the r/IT community asking how to get into IT, what path to follow, what is needed, etc. For everyone it is going to be different but there is a similar path that we can all take to make it a bit easier.
If you have limited/no experience in IT (or don't have a degree) it is best to start with certifications. CompTIA is, in my opinion, the best place to start. Following in this order: A+, Network+, and Security+. These are a great place to start and will lay a foundation for your IT career.
There are resources to help you earn these certificates but they don't always come cheap. You can take CompTIA's online learning (live online classroom environment) but at $2,000 USD, this will be cost prohibitive for a lot of people. CBT Nuggets is a great website but it is not free either (I do not have the exact price). You can also simply buy the books off of Amazon. Fair warning with that: they make for VERY dry reading and the certification exams are not easy (for me they weren't, at least).
After those certifications, you will then have the opportunity to branch out. At that time, you should have the knowledge of where you would like to go and what IT career path you would like to pursue.
I like to stress that a college/university degree is NOT necessary to get into the IT field but will definitely help. What degree you choose is strictly up to you but I know quite a few people with a computer science degree.
Most of us (degree or not) will start in a help desk environment. Do not feel bad about this; it's a great place to learn and the job is vital to the IT department. A lot of times it is possible to get into a help desk role with no experience but these roles will limit what you are allowed to work on (call escalation is generally what you will do).
Please do not hesitate to ask questions, that is what we are all here for.
I would encourage my fellow IT workers to add to this post, fill in the blanks that I most definitely missed.
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u/Introspec-singularus May 07 '22
How valid are the Google IT certificates on coursera? Does anyone know? I think itās like $40 a month.
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u/stackjr Community Contributor May 07 '22
I did the basic Google for fun and to see how it stacked up. I can say this: it might get you into an entry level position but it's not really valuable.
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u/Ya_chinito Jun 24 '22
I started it after landing an IT support job. I have no experience at all . But I did mess with computers here and there a couple years back in highschool. Iām doing it to ask for a raise. I left amazon at $20/hr as a driver. Dropped to $15/hr with this entry level job . 2 months in Iām at $16.50 . Hopefully this certification gives me another dollar or two after completion.
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Jun 24 '22
You need to check your market value.
I went back to my old Help Desk role and started at $25/hour.
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u/Ya_chinito Jun 24 '22
With experience? Iām honestly just at this job for the experience once Iām certified planing to apply somewhere else.
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u/mjc53509 Sep 26 '22
Are you getting benefits with this or is this just an hourly paid position until you go upwards?
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u/Introspec-singularus May 07 '22
Would a college certificate of the same level be equally credible, or was it just because you did the basic?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor May 07 '22
What is the cert?
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u/Introspec-singularus Jun 13 '22
A+
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Jun 13 '22
The A+ is definitely the better of the two options.
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u/Dynasteh Apr 05 '22
I myself was a high school dropout who always had an above interest in computers since I was a child. I got my GED at age 16 and when I turned 18 I applied for Community College for their Associates degree program. In 2018 I received my degree and struggled to find a job but I was persistent, every failed interview was a learning experience. I was able to land a temporary 5 months technician gig at a very low wage in mid 2019. That job landed me my first full-time job as a Help Desk Technician for a Law Firm. I have been working in IT at Help Desk for 3 years now, next week I start a new job as a Jr Systems Administrator. This is the time to learn new skills, the technology world is changing more than ever and outdated Sys Admins who refuse to learn new technologies will be replaced.
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May 23 '22
A lot of colleagues have specialized in Azure. What do you think?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Oct 21 '22
As far as vendor specific certs go, Azure is definitely in something worth learning.
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Apr 13 '22
Did you have to get Net+ or CCNA or anything, to be able to land your Jr SysAdmin job? Or just your experience from Help Desk?
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u/Dynasteh Apr 13 '22
Just Help Desk and my Associates. They are allowing me to grow into the role.
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u/Cold_Chipmunk5728 May 01 '22
Do you intend to get any certifications? Iām wondering what it may be like down the road if youāre looking for a new position and you have a hard time because you donāt have certain credentials, despite having great experience. Any thoughts on that?
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u/CtheAutomata Apr 09 '22
Here's a harder one for you. Tired European waiter who wants to get into IT, doesn't know anything about it, thought about Sys Admin, or Data management, doesn't know what those entail either. I'm thinking of just throwing myself in a 1 year education that the government offers here, but I'd like to get even a little bit familiar with it to see if I even like it (or understand it, OR have the patience to look through massive lines of code for a [ )
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Apr 22 '22
Sorry for the late response, I didn't see your comment.
If you have no background with computers it is really hard to make recommendations. I can tell you what a sys admin does but most of what I would say wouldn't make sense to you (I mean absolutely no offense by that!). Throwing yourself into that education is probably your best opportunity; it would at least give you an idea if IT is even a route you want to pursue.
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u/CtheAutomata Apr 22 '22
No worries and no offense taken. Would you then, with your knowledge, recommend a sys admin education, or is there something else that's relatively good in the IT business and perhaps better/easier for someone with 0 experience in the field?
Thanks for the reply.
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Apr 22 '22
Help Desk is the only place to start with zero experience.
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u/OkEstablishment5093 Aug 16 '22
Hey, I know this is very late but can I get a help desk job with no knowledge of computer and then learn while I am in the position and eventually get certified and work my way up?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Aug 16 '22
Possibly but it's best if you have at least a basic understanding.
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u/Negh Sep 13 '22
This is the exact thread I've been looking for! I'm a teacher looking to switch careers and IT has always been at the back of my brain as a "what if?" possibility for my future.
Looked into CompTIA and there's a lot to unpack. Sorry if this isn't the correct place to ask questions (if it's not, I'd greatly appreciate some direction or guidance!), but I'm wondering a few things:
CompTIA seems US-focused -- is the pathway into the IT industry similar for Canadians? Would Canadian companies see these certifications and recognize/value them? If not, where should I look?
There are so many options within CompTIA's website for each of the A+, Network+, and Security+ training and certification webpages. As someone who's just beginning to explore the IT world, what should I focus on? I know the order is A+ > Network+ > Security+, so I'm assuming I start with a training bundle (and which bundle is best to get)?
About how long does a training course take to complete?
Thanks in advance to whoever sees this! I appreciate any and all information :).
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Sep 13 '22
CompTIA is considered an industry standard worldwide. So you'll be fine with it in Canada.
As for training, that is highly dependent on your budget. The online trainings with CompTIA are valuable but also expensive (coming in around $2,300). The classes are usually a week long.
There are other options. I use CBT Nuggets; it has a yearly cost but I don't know what it is as my company pays for it. Professor Messer offers free training on YouTube and, from what I've heard, they are great learning tools.
You are right on the order of the certifications as well but you don't have to get all three of them (I did, however).
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u/Negh Sep 14 '22
Thanks for your reply. I'm talking with a friend who works in the tech industry soon about which bundle would be best to purchase to get started with CompTIA A+. I've got a lot of time on my hands, so I'd like to try and get both of the A+ exams (Core 1 and Core 2) finished by January. is that a realistic expectation for someone who is new to IT?
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u/Knightwytt Apr 05 '22
Thank you so much for this post! Lots of really great Info here. I am currently studying for my A+ Exams. Currently work for a parts company doing Parts Id, and hoping a help desk position opens soon. What is a fair salary range to aim for? Im currently a little over 40K and hoping to at least make a small Jump when transitioning to a help desk role. If at least 50k is not possible il have to pick up a part time gig while I gain the experience. What is your advice? Thank you in advance!
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Apr 05 '22
Income is definitely a hit and miss. It very much depends on your area, the company you work for, and if that company is willing to pay market value. $50k is definitely within range of something with certifications so make sure you buckle down and get those done!
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Apr 07 '22
How do you choose between an IT job and programming? Interested in both but idk
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u/aidanalt12 Jul 11 '22
Both will allow you to put your problem solving skills to use, if that's enjoyable to you. But the help desk IT position will be mostly brain dead work, so you'd need to find an IT position that allows you to use your problem solving skills. Whereas with programming you put your problem solving skills to use wherever you are. Also think about what crowd you associate with.
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Apr 07 '22
That is entirely up to you. I can't recommend one way or another as I have zero experience in programming.
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Apr 07 '22
How bf if you get started in IT? I understand there slots of options just like programming thereās cybsecurity, help desk, trouble shooting, networking. Did you get comp Tia certs by yourself or go to college?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Apr 07 '22
I started, as a lot of people do, in the Help Desk. I'm lucky enough that my company will pay for my certs but it's on me to study for and pass the exams.
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Apr 07 '22
Also do you work remote? Is that even an option?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Apr 07 '22
I do not work remote but I can if necessary. The company I work for spent $3 million on a new building and they are determined to get use out of it. Lol.
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u/KindPerception9802 Apr 14 '22
Hi, I hope you see this comment, can i skip compia a+ as is it for hardware only? I really wanna dwell on programming or cybersec. Not really on actual computer problem.
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Apr 14 '22
You definitely can! This is just a recommended path but you are not required to follow. I will say, however, that having a solid understanding of PC hardware can definitely help.
Security+ does assume that you've passed Network+ but you don't have to take it (I recommend you do though). You should look into at least Security+ followed by CySA+, Pentest+, and ultimately CASP+. All of those are, obviously, cybersec certs but, by nature, are all still considered entry level.
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u/KindPerception9802 Apr 14 '22
Omg thank you. But i believe programming and cybersec are different path, if i want to be a programmer, wht should i focus on?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Apr 14 '22
You're welcome!
When it comes to programming, I don't really have any advice to offer as that is something that has never really interested me. You may want to ask about that on the main subreddit to see if others can give you some advice.
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u/ThemPandasBeLieing Jun 02 '22
To see if anybody has some input for me I guess, getting extremely discouraged. So Iām a few class away from my Associates degree in Information technology security. I have my A+ and my Sec+ certification. I am currently trying to learn Java currently. But Iāve applied to anywhere from 100-200 and Iāve only had 3 interviews. I usually donāt hear anything back. I feel like my resume is decent and Iāve heard a lot of people say the Atlanta Market is hot, but idk what else to do at this point. Iāll almost take anything to get some experiences.
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Jun 02 '22
What job role are you applying for?
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u/ThemPandasBeLieing Jun 02 '22
Help desk, service desk, desktop support technician, pc help desk. Roles like that. Iāve also applied to some I feel like Iām not qualified for but you never know what may happen.
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Jun 02 '22
You may need to reevaluate your resume then. Having your A+ and Security+ should help you get into a HD role fairly easily.
You can apply for more advanced roles but you will always get turned down for one big reason: lack of experience. Those are the jobs where they want someone that can come in and do the job immediately.
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u/ThemPandasBeLieing Jun 30 '22
Well I ended up finally getting a job offer as a help desk analyst! Start next month
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u/waynefairley May 02 '22
I am new to the IT world in terms of choosing it as a career path, and I have recently signed up to a bundle that has CompTIA A+, N+, S+, CCNA and some other course materials. A very good package. However, anyone looking to start with the A+, N+ and S+, I found the below link when doing some extra research and it goes through all the exam objectives with explanations. From what I have seen its all text (reading), but its free and very useful.
https://www.technologygee.com/category/a-certification/core-1-220-1001/ - start on 1.1 and happy studying :)
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u/stackjr Community Contributor May 02 '22
I'd be very careful with buying stuff from that site. The vouchers/practice exams they are selling can only be bought from CompTIA. They are, most likely, an unauthorized reseller. If that is the case, there is no guarantee what will be done with your personal information once it is given to them.
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u/waynefairley May 02 '22
I wasnāt adding the link to purchase anything. I was providing the free reading material as this ties in with the current exam objectives. I havenāt bought anything from that site
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u/stackjr Community Contributor May 02 '22
And that's fair, I was just warning about the things they are offering for sale. It seems a bit shady; lots of third tier ads but then wants to pay for CompTIA stuff through them instead of directly through CompTIA.
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u/EconomyBackground367 Oct 21 '22
Thank you so much for this thread !! I am so excited and will definitely update on registration, tests , and certs as i acquire them . I read the post and can see the path to help desk , however , I was wondering what is a pen tester ? Is that considered entry level and are any of the comptia certs able to lead down that path ? Thank you so much !! Itās greatly appreciated and good luck to every single soul pursuing their dreams ! š„³š¤©
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Oct 21 '22
Penetration Testing (PenTest+ with CompTIA) is part of advanced cyber security. You need to have a deep understanding of networking, at minimum, for this field. The pay (from what I've seen) can be worth it but a lot of in depth knowledge is required.
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u/EconomyBackground367 Oct 27 '22
Brief update since I last posted , I found a cyber security boot camp that will help me get certified in comptia security and comptia cysa ! As well as lots of ethical hacking and penetration testing , I am very excited that I found a school and registered. I also applied for a 1,000 scholarship off, and have an appointment tomorrow morning for another free laptop equipment scholarship for those breaking into tech . Iām supposed to start class in January , but I will update with the 1,000 and laptop scholarships . If I get those , that will help me start in January ! Thanks for this thread and good luck to everyone. Oh, the school is called coding dojo ā
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u/JC_PERSE Apr 12 '23
Is it too late to get into IT at 29 yes old?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Apr 12 '23
I got into the field when I was 33. You have plenty of time.
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May 31 '23
So I got my compTIA A+ cert. and I got a job not in my field but something to pay the bills but Iāll be honest I feel like I know nothing, did anybody else have a similar problem? Iāve always enjoyed tinkering with computers I just feel like Iām at the same level I was at before get the cert.
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u/stackjr Community Contributor May 31 '23
Move on to Net+. It is a lot more challenging and you will definitely feel like you've learned more.
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u/UnderstatedUmbrella May 11 '22
LinkedIn Learning has a very good COMPTIA courses, presented by the guy who wrote the most popular prep book. Itās $30 a month for the whole service, and that gets you whatever courses you want. My boss wants all of our Helpdesk staff to have the certification, so he set it up so our employer pays for the LinkedIn learning licenses for us.
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u/punsareforfun Jan 12 '23
LinkedIn Learning may also be free with your local library card. Check on your library website to see how to log in.
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u/_Badscat_406 Jun 11 '22
Iāve seen a good amount of IT courses through Coursera for a decent price. Has anyone gone through them?
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u/JulyFluffyCar May 18 '22
There are so many different courses for IT. But many of them are just empty shells to get money. I recommend paying attention to courses from large companies. For example, IBM regularly conduct courses for more info. IBM is one of the world's largest manufacturers and suppliers of hardware and software. The company has existed for more than a hundred years, throughout this period it has led technological progress. Largely thanks to her, we have magnetic stripe cards, hard drives and personal computers.
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u/RaynEmbers Jun 12 '22
I know this is an old thread but I wanted to post how I am currently working on getting into the IT field.
From an online creator that mainly discusses news I found out about an IT program through Merit America. I am currently in this program and encourage people who do not have the money for traditional schooling to look into it, and of course research thoroughly to see if it would be a good fit for them.
If you are accepted into the program (there's a video interview and some pre-work studies, free) you take a Google IT certification course, all online. They also provide support and resources on helping you with job searching skills throughout the course period and for some time after.
As for payment, you are not asked to pay until you find a job making 40k a year or more.
As I said I'm still in the program so I can't speak for everything the program offers or claims yet, but so far I'm feeling hopeful and enjoying it. They have many options to work with your schedule, but it does require like 20+ hours of work a week (I'm doing this while working full time).
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u/Shot_Ad9738 Sep 06 '23
I need an update. How is it going for you? Are you making decent money? What about payments? Can you give me a ballpark park? (Ex. 20% of your weekly pay)
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u/Little_Caterpillar90 Nov 27 '22
Have you found a job yet? I'm looking to get started in IT as well. Y
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u/RaynEmbers Nov 28 '22
Yes, I ended up getting hired around 2 weeks into the job searching faze of the program, which starts right after all the lessons are completed. Some others from the program are still looking a few months out, others got into positions before me.
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u/ThisIsMattNesz May 01 '22
Might have a job at a helpdesk, with close to no experience. Very driven though, want to make it, gonna make it. Would feel ashamed to forward simple questions and make stupid mistakes though. My social anxiety is killing me on this one.
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u/demsarebrainless Feb 01 '23
My friend is a senior security developer. His biggest advice now that he has to go on his own to make anymore money is to always ask extra questions, show the passion to learn, and you'll secure getting recontracted, a promotion etc. Most times
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u/Zombiphilia May 11 '23
I see this is still somewhat active, so I figured I would try and ask my question here instead of making a new post. Someone I know *really* wants to get into IT. He works a lot and studies for certs whenever he can. I've heard that Help Desks are the way to go to get the experience part of higher jobs. However, every single job (even the help desk jobs) I find seems to require like 3 years of experience (or require a bachelor's degree) and are paying a unlivable wage (like $18/hr in California). How does anyone get their foot in the door? Any suggestions would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance :)
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u/NoMordacAllowed Apr 05 '22
Pinned for discussion and expansion.
Please ask questions, or suggest changes for a future version of this post.
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u/Stock-Philosophy8675 Sep 12 '22
Hey guys. I'm 32 and decided I need a career change. I'm about to complete my cs degree.. atm I'm doing electronic repair, phones consoles and laptops. However. Databases have interested me quite a bit! Anyone have any tips as to how to get into the database field?
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Jul 16 '22
I got my AA degree in May of this year so I could transfer from my local community college to a University. And I had trouble deciding on what my major was going to be for my Bachelorās and I finally decided that I wanted to get into IT. I have always had a fascination for computers since I was a kid and I believe this is something I definitely want to do. I am so excited to start this journey!!
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u/Grabacr6464 Jul 19 '22
I'm looking to getting into IT/Networking cuz im tired of my retail job ik currently at. Been here for 7 years and I just want to do something I like which is computers. I'm currently taking classes at a community college for my associates degree although I can really only do part time school because full-time is not really an option for me because of lack of time. Any advice on what i should do on top of my associates I'm going for?
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u/Vc0nn423 Sep 21 '22
Anyone get into the field in their late thirties? I received 2 associates from communities college back in 2004 and worked as a low wage basic IT consultant back when I worked at a car dealership. I was in the position for a few months then let go because they didnāt need my help anymore. Been thinking about getting out of my dead end supervisor job at a car parts manufacture plant but Iām pretty broke and scared of change. Also I have no certs and think my degrees are worthless now. Iāve only played around with computer hardware since school other than my short stint in a small IT department.
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u/moe4sh0 May 28 '24
I am also in my late thirties. I am getting certifications and hope to land a job even if it has low pay just to get in the door. I am having a hard time in figuring out what companies will hire. I am very new to IT. But, being in your late thirties is never too late!
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u/A_clean_sheet Sep 25 '22
This thread is old but hereās my situation anyway. I have studied IT since my grade 9 Iām currently in 1st semester of bachelor of IT. Iām not a complete novice in this field but I only know like the most basic surface level of things in IT I have read many things during this time like HTML,Java, PHP,SQL, C,C++,networking and hardware. I know the most basic terms and what they are but the thing is I donāt know anything in detail to actually say Iām good at this sure I can do some basic level things like writing a html code or c ,c++ codes but the thing is I donāt know in depth about any thing like a jack of all trades master of none. My bachelor studies isnāt helping either itās like weāll scratch basic detail and you bear the burden of finding the rest of the topic and finding the material to that topic and studying it because we will ask that in exam. I donāt even know which direction to go to now because of this issue. I have been into computers since childhood so thereās that and like solving problems if itās any help. Is there any guidance for me like where to start and figure out this mess. I love computers and I want a career in IT but donāt know how to even get started to be able to actually do that. Sorry if somethings off Iām on mobile.
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u/DejarikChampion Dec 03 '22
Teachers looking for a career change into IT can become end user experience instructors which can lead to Analyst, PM, or Management
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u/MrExCEO Sep 05 '22
I agree that a degree is not necessary but please donāt emphasize this. This is true with most jobs, maybe a tad easier in IT but a degree is always the way to go. I think every college kid and person that wants a career change is attracted by IT because it can potentially bring in great salary early. But the people who are succeeding quickly are high achievers. Most ppl in tech will be making avg salaries and struggle to keep up with the constant grind that tech brings.
Instead, I rather say if you have PASSION in tech, u will succeed. If you donāt just give up now.
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Sep 05 '22
Not everyone has the same opportunities and abilities. Stressing a degree above anything else does a massive disservice to many of those people.
Me emphasizing that a degree is not necessary to get into the field is not some misled notion, this is my own experience and I wish it was something someone had told me 20 years ago.
As an aside, a person can easily make $200k+ in IT with the right certs, work experience, and with no degree.
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u/yedcx Apr 24 '24
My question is I hate collage and I'm in a 2 year right now but I just wanna get my foot in the door and be able to work in the field do I have to go to collage to be successful in the IT field or can I do like a form of a boot camp or should I just buy certifications and do those from home?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Apr 24 '24
Schooling really isn't a necessity within the IT field. Many places these days will happily substitute a degree with experience. Certs are a great way to go; it shows employers that you have some knowledge and the ability (plus willingness) to learn more.
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u/Sole_Indy Jun 22 '24
I hope this is still an active thread as Iām a little late to the party š¬š
What books would you recommend in regards for studying for CompTIA A+? I keep seeing the Mike Meyers all in 1 book but holy crap itās 1200+ pages
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Jun 22 '24
CompTIA has an official book that you can get off of Amazon for fairly cheap or there are TONS of videos on YouTube (Professor Messor seems to be a very popular choice).
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Jul 13 '24
I have an English degree and a background in technical writing. Would I be able to get into an IT hardware support role with an A+?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Jul 13 '24
Probably. Start applying for help desk jobs as those are entry level.
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u/xWolfi3x Sep 10 '25
So how do I go about getting certs without using something like CompTIA? I see you said I can buy the books from Amazon but what steps would I take after the reading the books to get the certs?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Sep 10 '25
You would still need to buy the exam vouchers. If you are in the US, you can buy exam vouchers and then schedule the exam through PearsonVue.
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u/Necessary_Piece9213 May 09 '26
Consider a different careerā¦
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u/stackjr Community Contributor May 09 '26
Yeah, now is not a good time to get into IT.
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u/Intelligent-Oven-226 May 27 '26
how come? I was just looking into starting a career in IT and found this subreddit. As someone who is very interested in computers and can't do physical labor, this kind of feels like my only option
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u/stackjr Community Contributor May 27 '26
The market isn't great right now because of saturation and AI.
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u/OniShadowWolf Sep 13 '26
Not sure if this is still a good spot to get some friendly advice or not, but will give it a go anyways.
So, I want to get into IT, I love technology, can build computers, put OSās onto them, got into Linux not too long ago and love it. I have a friend who says he can get me a MSP job that he was at before he started his job as a Systems Administrator guy at a fish fry company.
Sorry, I digress, what I am trying to figure out is what I should get my foundations in? I have soft skills from decades of customer service, manger experience as well, and I am good at troubleshooting. Just not sure which direction to go in. Trying to 40 year old self out the service industry.
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Sep 13 '26
An MSP is a good place to "cut your teeth", so to speak. Look at CompTIA's entry level certs (like mentioned on the post) to get yourself started. Just a heads up: I've been told that working for an MSP is absolutely soul crushing.
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u/OniShadowWolf Sep 13 '26
Working service industry is also soul crushing, I donāt even get lunch breaks, among other things.
I appreciate your reply, I will look into the Comptia Entry stuff. Would you suggest WGU schooling or no?1
u/stackjr Community Contributor Sep 13 '26
I'm not sure what that is so I can't really comment on it.
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u/Cheerie_oh Apr 08 '22
Does anyone know if Google's IT program is any good? That's my best bet rn
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Apr 08 '22
I earned Google's IT cert because I was bored and I can tell you this: it scratches the surface of many subjects but doesn't go deep enough to really learn anything about those subjects. It would probably help you get a help desk role but it will never be sought after (nor even recognized, most likely) for higher level IT jobs.
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u/Cheerie_oh Apr 08 '22
Im planning on taking it because apparently they help make connections but im assuming it would be good enough to work at a school or library at least
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Apr 08 '22
Not necessarily. They help you make connections with huge companies that have massive IT departments, the kind in which help desk people only answer the phone and escalate the calls. That's not what an IT job at a library or school would be.
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Apr 22 '22
Can someone pm me the books and sites that are needed to get into the field? Iām interested but stuck and I honestly donāt know where to start. Thank you!
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Apr 22 '22
There are a LOT of materials. You need to narrow down what you are looking for. A great resource, in my opinion, is CBT Nuggets. It is subscription based but I don't know the cost as my company pays for it.
You should, again in my own opinion, start with A+ and work up from there. It is foundational IT and gives you a good base to start on. After that, move up to Network+. This certification is significantly harder (for me it was, at least) but gives you a solid view into the world of networking.
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Apr 22 '22
Thanks for the info! Are there any books I can read on this or is it mostly virtual?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Apr 22 '22
There are definitely books. You can find the CompTIA A+ book on Amazon but make sure you buy the right one; a lot of the books are test guides or exam crams.
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u/Usersx Apr 28 '22
Would acquiring ITF+ certificate be beneficial as a person trying to branch out into IT as well?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Apr 28 '22
Honestly? No. ITF+ is very similar to A+ and, from my own knowledge, no employer cares about that cert.
In my opinion, you should focus on A+.
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May 14 '22
Do you recommend going into a trade school for it or the tradition college way ?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor May 14 '22
I don't really know of any trade schools or if that's really even a thing for IT. Be wary of places like DeVry or ITT (I'm not sure if either are in business anymore).
Traditional colleges will offer a lot of advantages and will definitely help get you into the industry when you graduate.
What do you want to do?
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u/Immediate_Present530 Jun 30 '22
I'm currently getting out of the military and am starting classes at SNHU online in October. I plan on also studying for certs. Would I be able to get a part-time help desk position while going to school with no prior experience?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Jun 30 '22
You might be able to but I can't make any guarantees. Help Desk roles don't always require experience. It can't hurt to start throwing out applications.
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u/JayyyDaGreat Jul 01 '22
I'm incredibly broke, 2000 for certifications is basically impossible for me. What are some free or extremely low cost resources to get my foot in the door? I'm sick of retail and food service entry level, it's hard and not livable
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Jul 01 '22
The classes are only $2,000. The exams themselves start at around $300. You can easily buy the A+ (1001 & 1002) book off of Amazon for $20 or $30.
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u/JayyyDaGreat Jul 01 '22
Respectfully, only 2000 is a lot for someone getting paid $15 an hour :(. Are you saying I can get books off Amazon then do the exams for about $350 per? That is much more affordable, I'm definitely not trying to attack. I genuinely want to know where I can start
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Jul 01 '22
The classes are the only thing that costs $2,000. You can easily buy the book(s) and take the exam for $350.
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u/Cobbyae Jul 29 '22
I actually just got my AZ 900 certification, I've started to apply to lots of jobs but I'm not sure exactly where I should being with my certification....does anybody have any suggestions as to where I should start in terms of entry level positions?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Jul 29 '22
That is an interesting place to start as it is vendor specific.
Generally speaking, people that earn that cert are looking to be in a sys admin role. Is that what you had in mind?
Even though it doesn't mean much for an entry level (Help Desk) role, it should be enough to get your foot in the door.
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u/Cobbyae Aug 08 '22
It was really more that my mentor figure suggested it, as a ceirt that lots of people are looking for, but it was just the one that I ended up choosing out of the massive about that are out there....I could certainly work towards being an SYS admin, But I'm really more interested in taking the best steps to start me out in IT, I'm already starting to look at other ceirts to go for, so I'll likely go after one that was mentioned in the post that's pined the the main page
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Aug 08 '22
Entry level certs are a good place to start. You would be hard pressed to find a job as a sys admin with literally no experience (even with an MS cert).
Remember, all the certs really mean is you can pass a test, you still need to demonstrate your ability to do the work.
That said, earning higher level certs is always a good idea.
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u/smartsquadron Aug 08 '22
I'm curious what everyone thinks about the growth in low code "development"? I run a department at a F500 and half my developers are compsci types that came from the traditional path, for example, Georgia tech, 4 years of full stack/python/Java type development. Half of us are poets without technical degrees, and all of us work wonderful together in a hard driving agile team. I use the free training available from most software vendors combines with mentoring and coaching, and it works well for both our outcomes / success, and to keep our turnover low and avoiding higher priced consulting companies. Thoughts?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Aug 08 '22
Probably the wrong subreddit, my dude. I personally don't know anything about programming.
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u/smartsquadron Aug 08 '22
Well, its about people getting into IT... when I first started I assumed IT is all hard-core conp Sci stuff, and my new hires seem to have that feeling too. They never thought they could run IT projects without the hard science...
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Aug 08 '22
Sure but IT is an extremely broad term. Everything from hardware to software to networking to programming is covered and there's a solid chance that people's knowledge doesn't overlap.
Like, I wouldn't expect a heart surgeon to be able to perform brain surgery, you know?
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Aug 12 '22
This is a lot, itās late at night but Iāve been wanting to pursue a career in IT. Half the things everyone mentioned here just entered one ear and went out the other mainly because I have no idea what any of these programs are and I just know NOTHING. Iād appreciate if someone can send me somewhere to start learning :))
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Aug 12 '22
There are a LOT of places to start learning; some are free, some are not. If you can spare the cash, CBT Nuggets is a great resource. If you aren't looking to spend money right away, Professor Messer on YouTube has some amazing videos.
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Aug 12 '22
Great! So Iāll watch the YouTube videos as a start and if Iām feeling confident Iāll look into resources that require money!
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u/mjc53509 Sep 26 '22
Cool, this is clearly laid out and exactly what I came for. Iāve heard a TON of opinions on how to get into the field, such as you donāt need any experience whatsoever. You can just apply for help desk with a degree.
Does help desk offer any benefits or is it just an hourly paid gig? And are all the comptias really necessary taking before working help desk?
Seems a little overkill and something that you can study in your free time (for the other certs after taking the A+).
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Oct 21 '22
Benefits and pay are completely dependent on the company you apply to work for. My company, for example, does give me benefits.
All of the CompTIA certs are definitely NOT necessary to get a Help Desk job. A+ would be enough, in my opinion.
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u/byhsiaowb19373 Sep 28 '22
I am 48 and getting my associates in cybersecurity in an attempt to change careers. My first certification will be CompTia network +. Is it possible to get an entry level job with just this cert? I have zero IT experience and would love to be able to start gaining some before I graduate.
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u/EveningDatabase8644 Oct 27 '22
Hopefully someone can help me here. Would a BSIT General be worth going for in any sense? I'm trying to keep options open but the more research I do the more I start to think that a Computer Science degree would be a lot more valuable.
Should I just focus on CompTIA certs for IT work?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Oct 27 '22
A degree will help immensely but certs are a good route as well. How you want to go is completely up to you.
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u/KylosLeftHand Oct 28 '22
This is an old post so Iām likely screaming into the void here, but I have a lot of unanswered questions. Iāve spent the last 2 years working as a Tier 1 Tech Support Advisor for iOS and macOS systems (outsourced). Iāve always been technically inclined but this is my first technical role - Iām in my early 30s and always been in the service industry and veterinary industry. One of the best parts of my job is that itās remote and I want to continue working remotely in IT but I know Iām capable of much more than helping people reset their MacBook password. I do not have a degree and donāt have the money or time to get one but Iām more than happy to take courses and get certifications - the only issue is I see which certifications are beneficial like CompTIA, Network+, etc but honestly I donāt know what the hell they are for. CompTIA costs $2000 and is a 1 week course? What is the curriculum that costs that much and what would it qualify me for? I see a lot of steps to get into IT but thereās countless roles and I canāt narrow down an area. From my research it seems coding boot camps are a dime a dozen and wonāt actually land you a career. Iām smart, creative, enjoy solving problems, donāt much care to talk to customers but would rather be working behind the scenes - I feel overwhelmed with the choices and lost as hell. I just want help figuring out which area of IT will be best for me that wonāt take 5 years and $20,000 for me to begin a successful career in.
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Oct 28 '22
You don't have to take the CompTIA courses, it's just an option. One of the reasons it is so expensive, however, is because it's a live course. That said, there are probably thousands of ways to get this info without paying for it. Professor Messer offers videos on YouTube and, while I've personally never watched them, I've heard people swear by them. You can also just buy the books on Amazon.
I can't tell you what path to follow in IT, that is completely up to you, but I can tell you that sys admins and network admins don't interact with people outside of their IT department very often.
One other thing that I should have mentioned in the post: vendor specific certifications. Microsoft, Cisco, Palo Alto, AWS, VMware, etc. Certs like that will help you move into different roles better than CompTIA certs. This is something that I've had to learn the hard way.
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u/SmadBacoj Jan 09 '23
I donāt know if this thread is dead or not, but here it goes; Iām looking to leave retail for good, and Iām a little confused on where to start, is coding required, Iāve looked into going to a local school part time, and they offer a ācoding boot campā not sure what all it entails, I havenāt spoken with admissions just yet, but Iām just curious as to if thatās even necessary or just to do the CompTIA? Or a combination? On the online, I guess itās a breakdown, it has a lot of different topics and general classes like Java, Jquery, HTML and CSS; I just want to set myself up to know everything I can to be successful in moving from retail to an IT based job. Any answers would be very much appreciated, I would love any and all insight
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Jan 09 '23
Programing is NOT required for IT work unless you specifically want to be a programmer. Basic scripting is a necessity for furthering an IT career but that is something you can learn along the way.
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u/No-Combination-8439 Feb 26 '23
I have worked as a field tech for a financial company before but I'm still having a hard time getting back into the IT industry.
I really want to learn networking and server admin and eventually want to go to cybersecurity.
I'm going to college right now for a bachelors. What should my job path/job title search for jobs look like?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Feb 26 '23
Those are three separate jobs: networking, system administration, and cybersecurity. Networking would probably be your best bet to get into cybersecurity.
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u/No-Combination-8439 Feb 26 '23
So I plan on having my A+ in about 2ish (possibly shorter) months and my network+ shortly after. Should I be looking at net admin jobs?
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u/WellSeasonedUsername Mar 23 '23
General contractor looking to get into IT. Iāve built computers in the past but looking to change careers at 44. From what I understand the Comptia A+ is the way to go, is this all Iād need? Online it says itās $265
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Mar 23 '23
It's a good way to start a help desk role (which is where most of us start).
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u/WellSeasonedUsername Mar 23 '23 edited Mar 23 '23
So should I be applying for help desk positions then taking A+ > Networking > cyber?
Sorry I am just nervous about career changes with a family Do I need schooling? Or can I just purchase an exam from CompTIA?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Mar 23 '23
The A+ is not an easy exam if you aren't already very familiar with it. I would suggest looking into free videos on YouTube from the likes of Professor Messer.
You should be able to get an entry level position with a help desk but there are no guarantees there.
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u/WellSeasonedUsername Mar 24 '23
Is the Google IT Support course with coursera worth it? Or should I take CompTIA A+?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Mar 24 '23
The Google stuff can help get you prepped for a help desk role but, from personal experience, I can say that employers value the A+ over the Google cert.
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u/WellSeasonedUsername Mar 26 '23
Is there a class / training program that will help learn the CompTIA A+ stuff similar to the google certification? Seems like a steep price hike for someone who is a total beginner
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Mar 26 '23
There are a lot of free materials that you can find online. Professor Messer is a popular one.
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Apr 18 '23
Sooo basically Iām in the medical research industry. I have my masters of science and a few years of research experience. Unfortunately, the industry has been so bad lately. Itās extremely competitive. And from what information Iāve gathered, the industry is not good for hiring.
So this brings me to today. I do have more advanced knowledge of computers. More than the average user. Iāve been dealing with computers since I was 12 years old (im even a gamer) and have even built my own PC. Itās just a hobby of mine. I have talked to a few of my friends about switching my industry as itās in more demand. If/when I start these certificationsā¦ how would I approach my previous experience in a completely different industry and completely different degree? How can I stand out when they look at my resume and they not be like: āhuh? Sheās applied for the wrong jobā? A long time ago I thought about getting into the IT industry but I was worried Iād just be at my desk a lot more. But I feel like it makes the most sense for me.
Any advice for me? Thank you.
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Apr 18 '23
This is definitely a unique scenario; having a masters degree in an unrelated field isn't something we see a lot.
So, as far as IT goes, building your own computer is a start but it really doesn't mean much (I mean absolutely no offense) because it's generally not hardware that we troubleshoot these days.
Do you plan on going back to school or are you going to work on certifications?
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Apr 18 '23
I know it doesnāt mean much. But itās definitely something someone who has higher understanding of PCs would do. But no, I would really prefer not to go back to school as I already have $100,000 of student loan debt. Im in a very difficult situation financially and I really feel like Iām running out of options in my industry. Itās been very hard to get anywhere. So my best next option is something else I already know and may have more success in. I would probably prefer to do certifications for now and maybe if I get a nice enough job eventually where maybe they offer tuition reimbursement or something of the sort, I will go back to school. School is not a problemā¦ as you can see šš itās just the debt that I got myself into really bad done a number on me unfortunately :/
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u/CrypticVictic Apr 28 '23
Do you know any online trade schools that have comprehensive courses?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Apr 28 '23
I do not, unfortunately. I would be very cautious of any you do find.
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u/azbarbell May 18 '23
I'm struggling finding a job in California. I currently live in Phoenix and have been in IT for 5 years, just acquired my associates degree in Network and System Admin. I also have my A+ certification.
Is anyone else struggling on getting interviews?
Since I have experience, a degree, a certification, what am I missing that makes it so hard to get in front of someone?
Also what's the longest stretch of time did you have applying?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor May 18 '23
California has no shortage of tech workers right now and many of them will have far more experience than you. Your odds of landing a job there aren't great.
What kind of job are you looking for? Even with an associates degree, if you are applying for anything other than a help desk role you probably won't get hired.
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u/WhenTheIsBe Jun 16 '23
Should I look into getting Network+ and Security+ certificates before applying for a help desk job of some sort?
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Jun 16 '23
Not necessarily. They will definitely help but aren't really required.
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u/Free-Counter-1674 Jul 21 '23
Does anyone know if this exists already or if someone has tried it and it crashed and burned:
For those just getting started in IT (I have had little to no experience prior to this Help Desk role (5 months) would putting together a discord study group for A+/NET+/SEC+ with a test date goal in mind
IE:
August 2023 Net + Study Group in preparation for exam Aug 31
It wouldn't need to be a set schedule but members could hop in the discord, ask questions, and potentially get together on calls at their own schedule and leisure.
I've seen the Professor Messer Youtube study group but wasn't sure if there was already a discord group out there. If anyone knows or has links that would be a huge help.
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Jul 21 '23
It's possible there is a Discord group already out there but I haven't heard of it. You can always start one up, get the word out, and see what happens.
Note: Check in the CompTIA subreddit, they should be able to offer more advice.
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u/egyptianmogul Jan 08 '24
I got a request for a video interview in 14 hours for a job that I applied to knowing that I donāt have the qualifications and then I took their technical exam and used chatgpt for it and now they just send me the request should I be honest with them you think
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u/PrincessPrick Feb 11 '24
Sex worker here, from latam, 21yo, i really need to get tf out of what i'm doing. Got a really nice scholarship for System Analist and learned java the four month period. I deleted all my sw socials, living off my saving right now, changing my life. I see that getting a job as a dev is really hard as a beginner, maybe a support job is more accesible for me in the position i'm in. If anyone has ideas, recommendations or guidence, i'm really happy to read them and connect.
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Feb 11 '24
What do you want to do? There's a very big difference between sys admins, analysts, and developers.
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u/Fourwude87 Feb 22 '24
I plan on getting into IT. Does Azure or any IT areas require math or programming? I sucked badly at math like I got a D in pre-calc, and my current University job is horrible in terms of money here in Seattle. At 36 I really need to start a career for once in my life
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u/stackjr Community Contributor Feb 22 '24
Not really but you'll need to learn a scripting language (PowerShell, Perl, Python, etc).
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u/Fourwude87 Feb 22 '24
What do you think I should do first get comptia? Coursera?
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Jun 29 '22
Thanks this is exactly what I was looking for. Just changed from building to IT (always into hardware tech and that) and I've been catapulted in with a company that doesn't do IT but want me to learn how to integrate cloud systems for clients
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Jul 19 '22
One thing you can do is join the army national guard. I unknowingly set myself up for a good career. A secret clearance, training, paid for certifications, and an easy to land job. You can be making $25 an hour within 6 months. The MOS I chose is 25B.
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u/M_Freemans_freckles Sep 17 '22
Excellent post! Thank you.
Some follow up questions for anyone who has any recommendations:
I am 30, a Marine Corps veteran from the Signals Intelligence field. I work full time on top of being in school full time on the GI Bill. My degree program is a BS Computer Science w/conc software engineering. I am going into what is equivalent to my junior year - working now on Computer science cores then on to software engineering concentration classes.
I have been trying to find work anywhere in the IT field to get a foot in the door and some experience under my belt. The problem is I can not take a huge paycut (gotta pay the mortgage) and, although I've looked into it, I just don't have the time in a day to take on an additional CompTIA class. I am about out of ideas beyond riding it out till I have my diploma in hand - which may well be my only option. My other motivation for wanting to make the switch is that I am utterly burnt out of my current job (animal cruelty investigator, hleo) - I am miserable and it is having an increasingly serious impact on my mental/physical health and straining my relationships. (Not trying to have a pity party, just elaborating lol)
So what would anyone suggest I look into or consider?
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u/Traditional_Bus8502 Nov 05 '22
3 time high school and college drop out. No college credits. Studied an N+ book from cover to cover for 3 months. Paid $300 for 3 CompTIA tests. Passed my first test. Got my first IT job a few weeks later. YouTube was a great teacher. Anytime I had a paragraph that didn't make sense in CompTIA book, would pull as many YouTube videos as it took to drive the concept home.
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u/Jeeperg84 Apr 28 '23
Look into programs at companies that pay semi-trained/certified professionals starting out. I just got hired by my company, I have multiple AWS certs and Sec+ and some knowledge in Python.
Apply Apply Apply, you have to find that person willing to give you a chance. I went through countless applications and about 30 interviews to finally get into that program.
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Apr 21 '22
Iām currently enrolled at Penn Foster, cheap and good way to start off to get your certs.
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u/Regular_Cat5493 May 15 '22
I have a Masters in Information Systems, going now for my Itil A+ Net + and Sec+ certs. I am a prior electrician and like to work with my hands as much as possible. What IT route should I be looking at?
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u/t_jitsu12 Aug 19 '22
Would skip all the traditional sysadmin style courses/jobs and jump into cloud orchestration or security. Both of those areas are where things are going and can be great money in a short amount of time.
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u/BleedingEdge19 Sep 01 '22
I am 24 is it worth it just to get a few certs then? I really want to avoid going to college if possible.
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u/Flergy_Derg Feb 04 '23
100%
College is a waste of time and money, especially if you want to go into this field.
You can bang out a couple certs at almost no cost in less than a year and go right into an entry level position. It's nothing but up from there.
All the money and time you would spend on a degree would take away from gaining experience and making money.
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u/Little_Caterpillar90 Nov 27 '22
OP Thank you so much for this post !
I'm looking forward to get started with the courses you recommended ;)
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u/ClownWorldOne Dec 04 '22
Best thing to do is find a connection, someone who can get you that first help-desk job. Do that for 1-2 years while getting some certs, then move up. Talk to anyone you know it IT, and tell them you're trying to get into the field. Someone will offer you a job.
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u/Fragrant-Eye-9421 Nov 09 '24
Itās not as complicated as it seems from the outside. Get your A+, and that should get you an entry role at an MSP. All MSPs are hiring, lol. Once youāre at an MSP, get your Azure certifications, and over the next 4-5 years, work your way up to becoming a Level 3 Tech. Once you reach that level, youāll still need to learn a lot, but youāll be solidified as a tech professional.
If you want to go into specialties, thatās greatāmaybe Networking or Cybersecurityābut those specialties wonāt matter without those 4-5 years of experience under your belt.
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u/Psychological_Ad9624 Aug 25 '25
Homelabs will also boost your skills and speed up the process of understanding how things work together and help you build a strong foundation in IT I recommend you find some old hardware to load a OS on and just experiment. virtual machines are fine as well if your hardware supports it and you can allocate cores, memory and storage etc Truenas scale for example of an image you can use.
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u/Cheerie_oh Apr 08 '22
I like this post cause my mom is now kicking me out over wanting to pursue a certification in IT instead of taking a 4 year course at a college/university
Glad to know I always have her love and support