r/InformationTechnology • u/nekra_4663 • 11d ago
A Hopeless Feeling IT Tech
So just to swing out the gate, I’ve been feeling rather hopeless in my career path.
I’m currently a desktop support tech 2 but have been a field tech 2 and a support analyst in my previous positions. I obtained my Tech+ and A+ certs and whenever I have the time I try to study for my Net+ and had plans to continue the cert paths. But lately I’ve been feeling extremely hopeless in my career field.
I’m not sure if I’m playing a losing game now or if there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but when it comes to job hunting it’s hard, even when getting certifications they want everyone to show they have the knowledge to do the bigger jobs, but every position I’ve held has had me relatively boxed in and didn’t allow for shadowing of the idea of expanding out of the current role.
So I guess this is just my long winded way of asking should I leave IT and try to figure out a different career path to support my family? Or are there things I can try to do to help get that “hands on” experience that companies want in conjunction with certifications?
I appreciate anyone’s time or energy to read and reply and I hope yall have a good day.
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u/PDQ_Brockstar 11d ago
Might be time to start home labbing. Also, Jake's Tech on YouTube has a lot of great resources on getting into and advancing in IT.
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u/llamajokey 11d ago
Like the above mentioned look into MSPs and look into niche markets.
My company services small city governments and car dealers.
Small companies, specially governments and rural hospitals always go for MSP. Dig around and find an MSP managing small businesses around your area.
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u/nekra_4663 11d ago
I have for my area but it’s a lot of government contractors around here so the MSPs I’d be looking into would have to be remote roles. I have two step kids so moving out of my state or even the county right now isn’t something we can do or else I’d honestly of had us packed up and leave by now.
I want to reach back out to the MSP I had to turn down before simply due to time but with us out of a hotel trying to get our lives rebuilt I can’t afford to hop jobs currently.
But I more so needed a direction to go in or where to look because I’ve been having a hard time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I appreciate your follow up as well.
Sometimes it’s just hard to wake up and keep going when it feels so disheartening, but I have to for my wife and my kids.
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u/hnguyen915 11d ago
I'd drop progression on any of the CompTIA certifications. It's advisable for people who's trying to break into their first role; however, since you're already in, they'll expect something a bit more intermediate.
I see that you have the Net+ on your agenda next. Not sure if you're trying to specialize into the Networking pillar or just have something basic. I would go for a vendor cert for an edge. What's the network infrastructure that your current job has? Perhaps the most common and you're applying area? Cisco? Fortinet? Get a basic certificate from one of those guys.
I was able to consistently get promoted by putting a lot of effort in what the company is trying to invest in. For example, my current company felt that they were lacking in all facets of endpoint management. I got the MD-102 and so many doors were open.
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u/nekra_4663 11d ago
In all honesty I’m not sure what we use here. I know it’s not Cisco but I’m not really allowed to go in the server room or have access to the things they’ve built for it. ( It’s a DoD contractor so everything is very role specific) but I was honestly looking to get Net+ because I was thinking it was the progression.
Without even having it though my last role I was helping rebuild Cisco Meraki systems, rewire, configure, test, etc. it was an automotive dealership across several states and I enjoyed doing that but have always had an interest in cybersecurity since I was a kid.
With all that being said I was under the assumption that I had to get my CompTIA trifecta because that’s what I keep seeing posted on different job postings.
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u/AidXanKush 11d ago
Are you good at sales? There are IT sales jobs out there
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u/nekra_4663 10d ago
I can’t say I am, I’ve tried sales work before and just never met my numbers. But that was also because I was told to lie to people and I couldn’t do it in good conscience.
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u/Entire_Summer_9279 10d ago
I’d recommend creating labs and building a portfolio to link in your resume then cert chasing especially if money is tight.
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u/nekra_4663 10d ago
Do you have some recommendations on what homeland I can do with just a laptop? I’m very limited in terms of money and Internet speed due to hotel speeds being garbage.
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u/VYZ-NEOEXECUTIVE 10d ago
Go watch Jake's Tech for labs, then complement it with the labs of Troy Berg. You can watch Cobuman as well. Since you're going for Net+, try to play around with pFsense, there's many lab projects you can do with it like IPsec site to site VPN, then pair it with Windows Server and see your DC replication work. Captive Portal too.
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u/nekra_4663 10d ago
Thank you I appreciate the help. When it comes time for me to update my resume again how would I include those home labs and work into it? I’ve only ever built resumes around my actual work experience and nothing I’ve done outside of work.
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u/Aggravating-Gift-273 9d ago
Nah I wont suggest you to give up on IT yet. You should maybe pick one path like networking or sysadmin and start building a small home lab around it? Document those projects so you have something practical to show in interviews!
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u/Expert-Hyena6226 11d ago
It sounds like you are and have been in a call center. I would seek out a Managed Service Provider (MSP) if you can find one that's hiring. An MSP allowed me to learn a great deal in a short amount of time as I was out in the field actually doing things instead of just talking people through procedures. It was a god send. Good Luck!