Looking to get into the IT Field...

[nirrtix]

I would like to work my way into the IT Field. I have just finished a 2 year degree in Social Sciences (I intend to use that to pad my resume more than anything.)

My ultimate goal is cyber security, but want to work my way into the field first. I am not sure what jobs I can get with my current skills, but I built my current machine, and maintain it myself with little help from others (if I need help it is dealing with stuff like registry issues and more complicated stuff.)

I probably would like to start by getting A+ certified in hardware and then networking then advancing from there.

I guess my question is what would I need to do and what are the best ways to get certifications and the knowledge to obtain them. I guess the other question is, are there job opportunities with my current level of knowledge?

 

[boosted1g]

For cyber security you are going to need an actual security degree (or 8-10 years experience).

Find a good computer security program in schools nearby to you (or online). When you are nearing the end of your program then get yourself network + and security + (would just be stupid to get certs first as they would expire or be almost expired by the time you finished your degree program).

 

[nirrtix]

well right now I work at a minimum wage job... I want to get my foot in anything pays better than $6 to $7 k a year.... my experience is hardware.... If cyber security requires so much then maybe that is not for me. I figured it required like certain experience and skills.

For some jobs I have heard they just want you to show you know a certain degree of knowledge, not even having a certification. I would like to take the certification route, as at 36 with only a 2 year degree I think school is not the best way to approach. I was going to go for a 4 year degree, but they only offer generalized degrees like everyone wants or needs to program with high levels of math.

Even if I end up with a network technician with a Cisco and Microsoft Certification being my highest certs I would think I would make it out ok. I am more wanting to know how to get there, and if I started out as a hardware technician what is usually required to get your foot in the door. Do they even care about A+ to get say an internship or a starting lower end job.

 

[boosted1g]

Here is the just of things.

Cyber Security, as well as all jobs, require skills and experience. Experience is not a cert or a degree, experience is years doing that job. With just certs it is very difficult to get that in without taking a lower job first and working your way up.

If you like hardware, depending on what your job market is like, I would get a+, network + and security +. Then try to find an entry level IT job that will give you the money and hopefully the foot in the door to get certs/education for a higher position.

Also, certificates like cisco and Microsoft certs are not just study and take the test certs, they are certs that require you to work with the equipment and be familiar with them. I am working on CCNA and I ended up spending $700 on a home lab for it because you are not going to learn without having the equipment.

Also if they don't offer anything worthwhile locally then look to online colleges.

 

[nirrtix]

Well I expected to need something like an internship. I am happy if I am just in networking. I was told by someone who is a lead network administrator for a company that specializing is important not generalizing. Say I did the internship route (which is fine it it pays enough to pay my current bills) I would need insurance. I would also need it to be a full time position. I guess what I am asking what pay and benefits would I be looking at (no I do not care about vacation or comfort benefits?)

 

[boosted1g]

That is very very difficult to put a number on.

First of all I do not even know if you are in the USA like me so your market could be WAY different then mine, even different regions of USA can be different. In Tech cities (Austin TX, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, etc) entry level guys are a dime a dozen. The scope of the position is going to vary things by quite a large margin. Without any specifics and just general pricing, after you have those 3 Comp TIA certs you might be able to find an entry level job at the $15-20 an hour range, maybe all the way up to $25. Now in 5-10 years if you get well qualified in networking (like CCNP or better) or some higher level cyber security education then you can be looking at the 70k to 80k a year range ($34-40 an hour). If you can work your way into a decent company then they should even help you pay for higher education.

 

[nirrtix]

I live in Houston Texas.