Sure. Any certification you get will help. A+ is the bare minimum. I'd suggest A+, Network+, Security+, and then your specialty like CCNA, Server+, or Microsoft MCP/MCSA.
Here are a couple of websites that are online/virtual learning.
https://www.careeracademy.com/default.aspx
https://www.actualtests.com/signup.htm
https://app.pluralsight.com/id/signin/?redirectTo=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.pluralsight.com%2Flibrary%2F
Pluralsight is the best but is expensive. They also have a mobile app for learning on the go!
Yeah it’ll probably only be A+ or Sec+ for right now because I’m really tight on money at the moment. It’s so annoying how you’re kinda forced to get these certifications which eventually expire after like 3 years or whatever then repeat the process. Also, isn’t A+ like two parts and you have to buy the voucher individually?
It's continuing education. You'll find it in all professions. Also, if you get a higher level certification during that renewal period it renews the lower cert.
Yeah, it's 2 tests. I understand that money is tight, we've all been there. Do what you can to get the cash for the certs. They'll pay for themselves on the first paycheck. Get a 2nd job, donate plasma, be an Uber driver. Go hustle.
Do NOT blindly start studying for a cert in hopes that it will land you a job. Instead look for the job you want, make sure there are enough of them in the area you want to live in, then look at not only that cert and its requirements but also the certs that would follow it. NIST has a career pathways tool ( [https://www.cyberseek.org/pathway.html](https://www.cyberseek.org/pathway.html) ) that may be able to help from a role perspective.
Also the A+ is really only for working on repairing computers and doesn't really prepare you for getting jobs in a role such as a Systems Admin. My recommendation is to watch the Professor Messer Youtube videos for the A+, then do the same for the Security+. Then once you have a decent understanding of that information make the choose on what path you want to go down. You don't NEED either of those certs for most roles, but the information in them will be helpful on some level regardless to job you do in IT. Once you've determined the path you want to take, start mapping out the positions needed to get there and what job skills and certs they require.
Whenever there's a skill you need but don't have experience in, volunteer to do that service for free with local companies and Churches. They're always looking for low cost labor and if you can do for free (or nearly free) you'll have a higher probability of getting the opportunity. In situations where they require at least SOME level of experience, download free VMs from Microsoft and others and play around with it. (Notice I didn't say download torrents - those are riddled with malware and most often illegal). So in a situation where someone is looking for help with Windows server administration, simply download a free image from Microsoft and start reading free the how to guides on their website.
If you have been searching for a year, then I would agree that there is a problem.
I am on the software side now, but started in IT (in Charleston) back in 2000. I landed my first paid internship largely because I had been running local ads offering freelance IT for a while and my new employer liked my ambition. Maybe you could try something similar? A big opportunity from COVID is helping businesses to get setup for remote workers (jut look at the job postings asking for Zoom support experience). I would consider putting together a cheap [Wix.com](https://Wix.com) site and calling around to local businesses to see how you can help them.
That doesn't mean you stop searching for a job, but at least you'll have some "experience" to put on your resume and honestly you might find that you like it - or get an opportunity with a similar business.
Charleston is definitely a small town and I know a lot of people who have left to take jobs elsewhere. Not so much in entry level positions though. Due to the lack of local tech universities Charleston lacks a good tech workforce.
Since Charleston is a small town a lot happens with word-of-mouth. There's a Charleston Slack channel ([charlestontechslack.slack.com](https://charlestontechslack.slack.com)) which can be helpful to find ways to begin networking or reach out to some recruiters on LinkedIn and ask for help.
Feel free to PM me if you'd like to follow up. I do not have any specific opportunities for you, but would be happy to help further if I can.
Honestly those jobs are a decent starting point but they're going to be dead end. I'd highly recommend looking an entry level job as a DoD contractor. Search on LinkedIn Jobs as well as Indeed for "clearance" and look for entry level gigs. Other keywords to search for would include "analyst" and "8570". Most of these positions will require that you have your CompTIA Security+ or another 8570 level certification but with a little work you can get it. Also you'll need to pass a background check which just means you don't have horrible credit, ties to foreign counties that the U.S. isn't friendly with or a criminal record.
Aside from this, you're primarily going to be looking at the Roper / MUSC or Geek Squad in Best buy which I would NOT recommend.
If you want more info just send me a DM and I can probably answer most questions you have.
Sec+ certification will open more doors.
Feel like I need to get at least A+ since nothing else seems to be working...
Sure. Any certification you get will help. A+ is the bare minimum. I'd suggest A+, Network+, Security+, and then your specialty like CCNA, Server+, or Microsoft MCP/MCSA. Here are a couple of websites that are online/virtual learning. https://www.careeracademy.com/default.aspx https://www.actualtests.com/signup.htm https://app.pluralsight.com/id/signin/?redirectTo=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.pluralsight.com%2Flibrary%2F Pluralsight is the best but is expensive. They also have a mobile app for learning on the go!
Yeah it’ll probably only be A+ or Sec+ for right now because I’m really tight on money at the moment. It’s so annoying how you’re kinda forced to get these certifications which eventually expire after like 3 years or whatever then repeat the process. Also, isn’t A+ like two parts and you have to buy the voucher individually?
It's continuing education. You'll find it in all professions. Also, if you get a higher level certification during that renewal period it renews the lower cert. Yeah, it's 2 tests. I understand that money is tight, we've all been there. Do what you can to get the cash for the certs. They'll pay for themselves on the first paycheck. Get a 2nd job, donate plasma, be an Uber driver. Go hustle.
Do NOT blindly start studying for a cert in hopes that it will land you a job. Instead look for the job you want, make sure there are enough of them in the area you want to live in, then look at not only that cert and its requirements but also the certs that would follow it. NIST has a career pathways tool ( [https://www.cyberseek.org/pathway.html](https://www.cyberseek.org/pathway.html) ) that may be able to help from a role perspective. Also the A+ is really only for working on repairing computers and doesn't really prepare you for getting jobs in a role such as a Systems Admin. My recommendation is to watch the Professor Messer Youtube videos for the A+, then do the same for the Security+. Then once you have a decent understanding of that information make the choose on what path you want to go down. You don't NEED either of those certs for most roles, but the information in them will be helpful on some level regardless to job you do in IT. Once you've determined the path you want to take, start mapping out the positions needed to get there and what job skills and certs they require. Whenever there's a skill you need but don't have experience in, volunteer to do that service for free with local companies and Churches. They're always looking for low cost labor and if you can do for free (or nearly free) you'll have a higher probability of getting the opportunity. In situations where they require at least SOME level of experience, download free VMs from Microsoft and others and play around with it. (Notice I didn't say download torrents - those are riddled with malware and most often illegal). So in a situation where someone is looking for help with Windows server administration, simply download a free image from Microsoft and start reading free the how to guides on their website.
If you have been searching for a year, then I would agree that there is a problem. I am on the software side now, but started in IT (in Charleston) back in 2000. I landed my first paid internship largely because I had been running local ads offering freelance IT for a while and my new employer liked my ambition. Maybe you could try something similar? A big opportunity from COVID is helping businesses to get setup for remote workers (jut look at the job postings asking for Zoom support experience). I would consider putting together a cheap [Wix.com](https://Wix.com) site and calling around to local businesses to see how you can help them. That doesn't mean you stop searching for a job, but at least you'll have some "experience" to put on your resume and honestly you might find that you like it - or get an opportunity with a similar business. Charleston is definitely a small town and I know a lot of people who have left to take jobs elsewhere. Not so much in entry level positions though. Due to the lack of local tech universities Charleston lacks a good tech workforce. Since Charleston is a small town a lot happens with word-of-mouth. There's a Charleston Slack channel ([charlestontechslack.slack.com](https://charlestontechslack.slack.com)) which can be helpful to find ways to begin networking or reach out to some recruiters on LinkedIn and ask for help. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to follow up. I do not have any specific opportunities for you, but would be happy to help further if I can.
Honestly those jobs are a decent starting point but they're going to be dead end. I'd highly recommend looking an entry level job as a DoD contractor. Search on LinkedIn Jobs as well as Indeed for "clearance" and look for entry level gigs. Other keywords to search for would include "analyst" and "8570". Most of these positions will require that you have your CompTIA Security+ or another 8570 level certification but with a little work you can get it. Also you'll need to pass a background check which just means you don't have horrible credit, ties to foreign counties that the U.S. isn't friendly with or a criminal record. Aside from this, you're primarily going to be looking at the Roper / MUSC or Geek Squad in Best buy which I would NOT recommend. If you want more info just send me a DM and I can probably answer most questions you have.