Seeking guidance on a career transition.
Seeking guidance on a career transition.
They provide a wide range of certifications. Some are valuable, others not so much. In my opinion, begin with the fundamentals—learn about the hardware and its functionality—and progress gradually. Start from the simplest end and advance step by step. Focus on basic troubleshooting and support, level one for technical phone assistance, similar. You can acquire knowledge independently at home. Purchase affordable systems from Craigslist, configure your own network at home, and attempt to break into them. Using Kali Linux is beneficial as it includes a comprehensive suite of penetration tools built-in.
CompTIA credentials are useful for starting out but aren't very prestigious. Many positions need more than just a certificate, often requiring experience or an equivalent degree. While certificates are a great way to begin at a lower cost, they don’t carry as much value as a full education. They offer focused training for your chosen area. I recommend gaining as much knowledge as possible on your own and seeking internships to build hands-on experience. How much expertise do you currently possess?
I moved from systems administration to security about six months ago and earned my certification last month. Changing fields really depends more on connections than expertise. I didn’t have any security background or experience, but I’ve been with the same company for nearly four years and the team knew me well. They asked me to cover a position and offered to help me get up to speed using my previous positive interactions.
IT in a nutshell. The current job market means many more qualified candidates than you. To stand out, you need someone who can help you land the position—even outside your team. I secured my role 12 years ago through a connection with an HR professional at my company. She received my resume and a reference from her boss’s mother, which led to me being introduced to multiple teams and choosing the best fit.
I know a lot about hardware and can likely repair a broken PC myself. I've tried different pen-testing techniques on my own using various Linux distributions. I don’t have any official training, but I’ve worked in tech support roles, mostly with telecom companies. I have some basic knowledge of Linux and have managed to brute force WPS passwords through vulnerable TP links using Linux. While I’m not a beginner, I’m far from being fully skilled. Thanks for the warning!