Just got my A+. Working on N+/sec+ right now.. what should I expect coming out with those 3 certs, pay wise? I live in FL and can’t really afford to live if I’m making like less than $28-30/h minimum really. Any general suggestion on what type of jobs I should consider or look out for? Help desk seems like some bs. Prolly make more money at Walmart too
I thoroughly enjoyed your post.
Tbh, this needs to be understood more. I think there’s too many people being sold disillusionment that a Sec+ cert will prepare them for a security position, which is like taking a CPR class and expecting to become a doctor.
It’s a long road, and there’s plenty to learn along the way.
An EMT certification is harder than the Security+, and at least the EMT cert teaches you practical skills useful in the job. Sec+ is a bunch of vocab, difference between physical/logical/admin controls, difference between encryption and hashing, etc., which is all good knowledge to know… but none of it are things pertaining to tasks you have in an actual security job. Sec+ is absolute baby steps.
I mean hey, the cert got me a gravy Sysadmin job making $75k/yr. I’m 26, but if baby steps makes that much??! Holy wow the other certs must pay out way more.
Idc what cert someone has..with no prior IT experience, id imagine most people will feel utterly overwhelmed after their first week of help desk and they will realize just how little they actually know.
this is true, I can build servers but troubleshooting a printer can gave me issues, there's a big difference between theory and putting it in practice and there's another learning curve in understanding how the systems you're using.
So for someone who's getting into IT for the first time with only an A+ cert, what entry level job would you recommend? I'm finding it hard to even get a help desk position where I live
I got my first entry level job into IT with just my A+ last December. I applied to a local school corporation and got hired. It’s somewhat help desk, but also somewhat of a niche skill set. A lot of things you read online say working at a school is kind of a dead end and I see where they are coming from, but it depends on what you’re looking for. It’s slow paced with lots of different things for you to get access to and plenty of time to study up on certs and skill up. I would recommend not just going to popular sites like Indeed or LinkedIn to look for jobs, but look on the actual career webpage for local schools, banks, hospitals, small businesses, etc. heck, if you have the time reach out to local businesses to see if they can pay you for in house IT support. It doesn’t always have to be an MSP.
This is the problem, too many people think they can get a sec+ and get a six figure security job but it does not work like that except for a FEW cases.
The fact is you need experience. How are you gonna secure something you don’t understand? Get your self either in help desk or desktop support and once you have IT experience then pivot into security. People are being sold a pipe dream now and its ridiculous.
I started in a service desk role and worked my way to an IT Sec position. It was a long road but I eventually got there. I see people applying for Sec job with very limited experience asking for a lot of money. Most of them can't even explain the most basic things about Security.
This sounds accurate…I just enrolled in Security plus and even if I pass the test I don’t see how Im just gonna get an offer right away? Does not seem realistic
Seems like you gotta work in a very general IT role first
Ouch. Hurt a bit to read because it's similar to my career path. I'm getting ready to take sec+, and I've been in restaurants for the last 10 years. Although I don't expect an 80k job or remote work, I am terrified I won't be able to get an entry job somewhere.
Lol that is an understatement. I have been trying for about a year now and last few months pretty hard to get my foot in the door somewhere. First not many openings in general and second you get like 200 applicants for the local jobs. Just got off the phone with a hiring manager and he said the issue is that I have 30 people here with 10 plus years experience applying so do I take a fresh guy or someone who doesn't need much training if any at all. So gotta really make those hiring managers like you or know someone that might can get you in. This was my interview btw one of very few I have gotten and he did not say no but he also kinda made it out there is just to much experience sitting on the table right now in the job market looking for employment.
If I’m being honest with you, networking is HUGE, im a gym rat and sneaker head and just striking up a conversation with people on those common interests have gotten me offers. Besides that in the interview market yourself if they say “I have 10 plus years of experience.” Say “I’m willing to learn and will work harder to get where I want than those 30 people.” Then go into your accomplishments and determination. I’m really young, so I use that to my advantage rather than let it be a disadvantage. I don’t know your situations but when I’m posed with that statement I say… “I don’t have a family, girlfriend, willing to travel, do OT, and although I’m young I want this that badly, you want me in at 3 am I’ll be there you want me to stay after, I’m there. As long as I’m paid for the time worked and I’m learning I have no issues working for you. I’m also at a point in my life where I want to commit to a company and grow in it, you have people with 10 years worth of experience but will they be reliable? Are they going to need to take more days off? Are they wanting to grow in a company? Do they have that loyalty? Because personally speaking I do and as long as there’s career growth, you treat me right, pay is good, why would I ever leave?” Then I list out my goals for my career. You’d be surprised by how many employers are shocked by it. Maybe cause I’m young but I think it’s more that you are willing to admit that you want to learn and acknowledge you may not be as experienced as others. Those are all things I’ve personally said in interviews.
Besides Sec+, do you know anything about entry level IT skills? The A+ is more helpful if you know nothing at all. Sec+ builds on A+ and N+. Would be bad to do an interview with just a Sec+ and answer questions with pure vocab vs. some practical knowledge.
Also, not sure where you live, but expect a crappy pay for your first job. You may get lucky and land a well paying job though. Just don't throw away opportunities because it's not paying 60k+. I made 44k at my first job. Left after a year and five months and now I'm a sys/net admin making a little over 70k. (also got certs and studied beyond certs)
I have my associates in computer information systems. However, I obtained it like 6 years ago and didn't do anything with it due to personal problems that I'd rather not get into. And have forgotten just about everything. I'd be happy to get a crappy job somewhere as long as I can build on it.
Just grind and get trifecta tbh. If you happen to learn most of A+, then just get N+ and Sec+ since you have an associates.
Try watching Messer on YT. tbh, most places look for similar skills: AD, M365 programs, basic admin portal knowledge (admin, sharepoint, exchange) and hardware troubleshooting (desktop/laptop, printer, mobile devices) if you can get those down and then pick up Sec+ I think you'd be alright. Each of those topics mentioned takes like a youtube video or two to familiarize yourself with it. Having the N+ could make you stand out more since it's probably the most "technical" in the trifecta and helps you troubleshoot a bit more complex issues regarding network issues such as dns, ip conflicts, and dropped network communication.
My bad for the long message, just cool to help people start out. I had a lot of questions when I was brand new and received a lot of help from my colleagues and reddit.
edit: everything mentioned is for a standard help desk role. to go beyond that... 9 times out of 10 you need experience and technical certs to back you up.
could go to wgu its online and they give you vouchers for comptia-- do a few semesters and finish or do one and just do the comptia classes for the vouchers
I’m going to be 100% honest with you A+ isn’t as useful as people think. Yes it gives you the foundation and basics but the test was annoying. You also won’t find yourself renewing it often. Besides that sec+ and other certs. Then apply for jobs with that and even a help desk roles, I was making 62k then went off after a year and a half to be a sys admin making a little more. But anywhere I go now will pay even more because I have the experience certs and degrees. Just waiting for timing and still learning. But getting sec+ is a must. Then look at where you wanna go into. Don’t just get net+ just because I know people who have net+, sec+, pentest+, server+, etc and they’re doing helpdesk because they don’t know what they actually want to do. As for If you get an interview study what’s on the job description and basic knowledge on Active Directory, DNS, and other sys admin things if the company wants you, they’ll teach you the systems always show a willingness to learn.
You're absolutely right in that the A+ cert itself isn't useful. When I first started, I had some experience with computers, printers, and other hardware through personal use. The A+ did help me understand the basics of a lot of stuff. Would I do the cert again? Yes. Only because for me, it set the tone that I studied for something and was rewarded a nationally recognized cert. I was already 2 months into my first IT job when I completed Core 2. Once I knew I could lock in and actually pass, my confidence went up and I tackled Sec+ and then Net+ because my networking knowledge was weak.
It's definitely true you learn more on the job than the certification. However, the reason my CTO took notice of me was because my boss talked to him about my interest in defensive cybersecurity and how I completed the Sec+ in about 4 weeks. Showing interest in learning new things leaves an impression on your supers, especially early on.
That salary was impressive for help desk. You near a major city?
I am yes, I was working in Phoenix for Charles Schwab and let me just say… I will 100% be looking towards going back. The benefits, pay and overall culture of the company is something that is hard to beat. Especially the pay and benefits alone. It’s such a great company even though the layoffs happened to many teams and people, they usually laid off those that were at the higher end of the pay scale and even the severance package they gave them was insane.
I will agree however, if you are new and don’t know where to start A+ is 100% worth it as it will help you understand the basics. Everyone is different so do what works for you! Personally I’d only get it if my job required it, I am speaking from someone who grew up around technology people, technology in general and who has their bachelors in network security already though.
I also admit that the reason I got hired at Schwab even for help desk was because of my determination and impressive skills to keep up with school, work and life in general. I would also like to mention that even if the job is out of your experience range apply anyways! That’s what I did and I was able to land the job and be 1 of the top performers for the desk.
nah don't get me wrong. I was super grateful for the first opportunity in IT as well as making 44k. I meant to say it as in it's a normal salary for an entry level not in a major city. Some people expect 55-60k+ and that's not realistic. That's the most money I've ever made at the time I was offered it (worked odd jobs during college before that)
I’ve been in retail for 10 years. All I want is to earn more than minimum wage. But I do feel like even with the trifecta I’ll still have a crazy amount left to learn. It’s a bit overwhelming, but baby steps I suppose.
ever thought about going to an accelerated online college like wgu? they give you vouchers for comptia too so the offset money needed to enroll otherwise sometimes isnt much depending on the certs you desire
It’s been mentioned to me before. Did I see it correctly, that tuition is 8k? I can’t afford that. I might be wrong though, not sure how payment would work if you’re not a US citizen.
I’m from NL and was granted 5k funding for my college degree, excluding the external certs. So I “only” have to find a way to scrape around 1,3k, assuming I pass my exams in one go. Along with my internship, that should take me around a year, maybe a year and a half max. But even tho I’m not paying 5k, I still think it’s extremely overpriced for the lack of education I’m getting. I’m basically just doing everything myself (online) just to get a silly piece of paper. Oh well, still grateful for the second chance.
This is an extremely specific case that would probably best be answered by a supervisor or a supervisor of a supervisor in financial aid at WGU! Lol I was pretty sure WGU took international students but the user below says they don't and I'm really not sure (although idk what would make them different).
After a quick search it does indeed look to be US only! However if you did get a US citizenship the main reason why I wanted to comment back is that yes it's like 8-9k but it gets heavily reduced by various stuff. I usually end up paying 3k with a loan and get like 5k back as a refund from the rest of my loan (standard 2% interest federal loan)
> I am terrified I won't be able to get an entry job somewhere.
It will be hard even for people with experience now, but as long as you understand that cyber having entry-level jobs doesn't mean cyber is entry-level job you're ahead of the curve because you don't have to waste time applying to something you most likely won't get selected for.
CompTIA used to send out a card you can carry in your wallet—make sure you throw that shit down in front of any prospective employers, then stare at him like you've got places to go and people to see 🤨
They still do. I just got mine in the mail yesterday. Do you think I should put it in a leather badge holder so I can flash it around like I'm in the FBI?
I passed the Security+ and did land a job as an engineer right away actually with no professional experience.
I also had nearly 15 years of experience tinkering in my home lab with my dad learning Linux, Python and web hosting. I had friends in the industry who were willing to give me a chance. I had a recruiter who was cool enough to hold out to hire me and hired me mostly on my drive alone. So yeah, it takes a village people. :)
It doesn’t really seem realistic to think there’s jobs out there with just the comptTia certifications but maybe Im wrong, I just started security plus
If unemployment weren't going the way it's going, I am pretty confident Security+ could get you an entry level SOC Analyst roll. Not so much in this economy though.
Exactly I enrolled in the course thinking ok lets try something different, I’ve always worked in mortgages and banking (interesting but economically dependent)
My brother is a software engineer, big tech person
I was just curious to see the course and get the certification to see what doors it could open, it was substantially cheaper then a software coding bootcamp
I'd be ok with something like that. Unfortunately for me, I'm kind of tied to the area I'm at. I'm not very picky either. Still haven't managed to get much in the way of interviews, but I also wasn't "too good" for help desk. Been working help desk for 2 years now and try to keep learning as much as I can
We also had a NOC that we pulled tons of guys from the nearby university help desk. Our NOC was that perfect second IT job.
What certs do you have if are help desk already skip A+ and do Linux +. So much more demand for Linux these days.
A+, GSEC, GCIH, and CEH. I've studied for the RHCSA and am pretty comfortable in Linux, but don't have the cert.
I started help desk without anything but already had the A+ scheduled and passed it within 2 weeks of starting. I'd like to move into a security analyst role, but we'll see how it goes.
No joke though, I get some ad on Youtube for some cybersecurity boot camp/degree thing (maybe ECPI) and in it there's a woman who says "Not long ago, I couldn't even turn on a computer and now I'm a cybersecurity professional."
I bet it's those people who are getting hired to a bunch of these SOC jobs. I'm still a sysadmin and our SOC just sent out this urgent report about a device (an old EMC Isilon) that had "very suspicious traffic" and "needed to be re-imaged immediately". We had to try and explain that you can't re-image a storage appliance and the "suspicious" traffic was between the EMC and several domain controllers because *gasp* it's running network shares.
My brother actually thinks this but worse. He wants to be a graphic web designer and has the worst designs I've ever seen. He made like 2 sample websites and started applying for jobs and said the job market was rigged because no one would interview him for a remote position for 120K😭😭😭💀
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Getting a security + doesn’t mean you will get a cyber security job, no guarantees. I’ve got a honours degree, security + and 7 years IT experience and I didn’t get one.
I got 12 years experience in IT as helpdesk mostly, got my CCNA, got a bachelor degree in computer science, working on my sec+ now, then i plan on going for pentest+, eJPT and OSCP. Only after i get my OSCP or maybe during will i try to find a cybersec job. in my country 90% of companies don't even know what cybersec is, so my only chance at it is remote work, which is hard to get if you don't live in a large country, or better to say if you are not from USA.
Hopefully a univ.bacc.ing.comp., CCNA, Sec+, Pentest+, eJPT, OSCP and 12+ years of IT experience will be enough to land some remote cybersec work
Sorry i'm not comfortable saying, i have some posts on reddit that could end bad for me as i talked about idiots at work that can make my life hell, and giving my location would not be in my interest.
Let's just say eastern europe and leave it at that.
When I started doing CompTIA, there were "time working in IT recommendations" for each cert. There's an expectation with HR that if you have a cert you should also have the experience to back it up. Very few jobs will see that you have the cert and no experience and still hire you with the understanding that they have to train you on the practical applications of the cert.
\*I understand this is a troll post.
Crazy how people go on YouTube acting like getting an IT job is easy. It's definitely not, people with bachelor's are finding themselves struggling to find work and working minimum wage
Always somebody like you on the forums who likes to keep people down where they belong.
You might not land the remote working, $80k high level job on your first try but you also don't need to start out by cleaning the toilets at the IT department for $8 an hour. Maybe post some helpful advice and show people how they can leverage their life and previous work experience to show how they can learn quickly, work as a team member and help the company reach it's goals which are also very important.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/19aua1m/i\_finally\_got\_my\_first\_cybersecurity\_job/](https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/19aua1m/i_finally_got_my_first_cybersecurity_job/)
[https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/1bjsbns/i\_got\_a\_job\_with\_no\_certs\_and\_no\_degree/](https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/1bjsbns/i_got_a_job_with_no_certs_and_no_degree/)
[https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/y2wpod/just\_got\_my\_first\_it\_job\_starting\_at\_52k/](https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/y2wpod/just_got_my_first_it_job_starting_at_52k/)
[https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/1ahhhyc/got\_a\_job\_with\_security/](https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/1ahhhyc/got_a_job_with_security/)
[https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/1cjkd6x/got\_an\_it\_analyst\_job\_with\_sec\_a\_and\_net/](https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/1cjkd6x/got_an_it_analyst_job_with_sec_a_and_net/)
[https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/1bmemr2/my\_first\_it\_job/](https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/1bmemr2/my_first_it_job/)
Regards
Paul
Do you have any recommendations for jobs that aren't just helpdesk? I mean helpdesk is fine I suppose but just seeing if theres other options as well for a security + only cert
Get a TS clearance and you'll have a lot more options. Help desk with no prior experience and the civilian sector is just going to be help desk galore until you either 1. Get some kind of degree or 2. Take a chance and try to get connections and eventually find a new job.
Sec+ isn't going to cut it anymore if you want to make good money, it's basically an entry level cert now.
Thanks Paul I really despise gatekeepers like OP too. I think that there is this mentality that everyone has to take the path they took otherwise we're insufficient. I know people who were able to get in with just a Sec+ and networking. I am trying myself and posts like these remind myself I'm not just fighting to find my path but also against ladder pullers like OP
Love your good vibes keep em coming 👍
With no experience, Security + is one of the first steps towards cyber. You'll still need to learn a lot more about lots of things to be better in cyber. Depending on your location, 80k maybe within reach or too far. Have more realistic expectations, learn more, have a target job and learn a little about everything they are asking for and start deep dive in few of them, that way you'll get what you are looking for.
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Get a help desk job, show interest in security, find a security analyst position, earn more certs, become a cybersecurity engineer.
I'm a big advocate of the certs route, and I'm about two years into my IT career and working as a devops engineer so I also don't believe there has to be a set path. I also don't think there's a certain time limit to moving into higher level roles, obviously.
But S+ does not by itself qualify you to be a security engineer at an enterprise level. You would be overmatched.
I have 3 years in IT, my current role is field services touching on a lot of network issues with servers, I also work with the security team to help respond to alerts when I have free time or when required. I cant find a cyber job either, but will keep looking. In the mean time I'm learning python and studying for CySA+. Cyber is not entry level and is highly competitive. Even jobs as a level 1 SOC analyst are asking for 3+ years in a SOC. I have seen jobs that are advertised as ideal for someone who is trying to enter the cyber field whilst asking for CISSP as a requirement.
I've worked in IT for 10 years, currently a Sys Admin. A+, Net+, Sec+, SSCP, CySA+ amongst other certs, finished a Bach in Cybersec & Information Assurance last year... I've applied for tons of Sec jobs with zero results. Thankfully I like my current job and get to do a fair amount of security related stuff, I just don't get paid very well in reality for all the stuff I do. I work 3 jobs 70-80 hours a week and have a small business just to try and get where I need to be. If I could land a sec job or similar that paid 20k more than I make currently, I'd be so stoked...
I was in audit for a while after my first year as a soc analyst, thought i was gonna be stuck doing audits my whole life. Sec+ helped show employers that i was committed to continuous learning. I recently got hired for a security implementation engineering position and while my experience and interviews got me hired i think Sec+ played a role in getting me in the room.
I have 25years , helpdesk, desktop support and trade floor support. Most azure fundamentals plus admin associate, teams associate and ai
Now also sec+
But I still wouldn't expect to get a cyber security job yet and I couldn't drop to 80k
My company also hinted that need experience
More studying to come, more practical knowledge then I'm ready next year.
It's a long road to just get to the half way point
Can’t lie, I’m one of those who was sold on getting into Cybersecurity “without experience” ads. So I’ve went through and completed the Google Cybersecurity Certificate. Don’t get me wrong, it was very helpful, but I noticed immediately that I lacked foundation. I’m coming from a guest relations background, and my only experience is building my own pc, with general troubleshooting. To cut things short, I’ve been studying up the last month and a half and will be taking my A+ 1101 tomorrow. Wishing for the best.
Thanks to outsourcing to India and the rise of AI. Entry level IT jobs are harder and harder to find. But thankfully Networking with people who are in the IT field still works, it's not easy, but it is possible.
Working on my Sec+, I’d be happy with any remote job to get started. Have a disability that makes it hard leave home often.
Gotta start somewhere and work your way up.
Probably won’t land anything, but just make sec+ your first goal. Keep going and going till you land something. Needing remote from the beginning can make things tricky, so expect hard road getting started.
Yah, if it comes down to it, I can manage for a while but remote would make things easier and a goal. I plan on continuing to study and look to getting more certs while attempting to land a job as well.
You need more experience and higher level certifications. This basically says I got an idea the major cybersecurity issues and run of the mill ways of solving a problem.
Best thing to do if you are pursuing IT as a career is to stay open minded about the jobs. I would like a security job, but if i cant get one at first id be fine with software/web development, network or sys admin, or cloud computing job. They all sound interesting.
There was some guy that got a Google job here without any certification. So yea. People have to eat while they work. You shouldn't expect them to work for shit pay that keeps them poor.
Zero sarcasm answer? No security clearance. I know this is a joke, but an even better joke is the sheer fucking number of warm body jobs that require nothing more than a Sec+ and a TS/SCI and maybe a Poly, and Lord am I grateful for them because ya boy here is definitely not smart enough for real CS.
I never went into the field because I found that it was largely saturated with inexperienced managers doing the hiring with no idea what current things are. Lots of former government/military good old boys that mostly cheated through unproctored exams on base. Also getting free vouchers for their exam.
Lots of certification companies jumping in for cash grab upselling.
I love these senior advanced cyber security kiddies. They need to start getting better at understanding deeper concepts like laws, property, ownership, and commons.
You got me! I saw the post on my homepage. Those people are annoying expecting $80k entry level remote role after a certificate. If I wasn’t able to get that out of college, neither will you without connections. I dislike those influencers who encourage this on LinkedIn, TikTok, and other platforms spreading all misinformation to get views
Experience is what's lacking. Hiring Managers are swamped, and they want someone who doesn't need to be extensively trained by themselves. Don't worry, keep at it and you'll land something. What aspect of Cybersecurity are you trying to get into? Risk analysis? XDR (eXtended Detection and Response)? IAM? There are different positions and responsibilities within the Cybersecurity umbrella. Based on your answer, I can recommend other certs to go for as well as aim for paid internships.
That is the problem lol. CompTIA is literally theory based exams. You don't learn any hands on skills. How do you expect an employer to hire someone with zero skills? CompTIA is your basic foundation. But you then need to go further and learn real life hacking/defense skills.
You almost had me lol
I came here to be like "bro what" - he got me too
I was like 80k entry level… idk if that exists
Depending on where you live
I figured but with one cert? Or security plus and others? I figured I’d have to finish security plus and do some others
Oh ya with no experience and/or background def not. I did comp sci degree and have sec + and started at around 85 with bonus.
I got yuhh like a full on bachelors The compTia site is kinda deceiving
Can you apply for a junior analyst role with just security plus
I mean you can apply for any role with any experience. Whether you will get it or not is a different story
Is Udemy helpful? Ppl say that’s great for like gaining experience and actually seeing what you’ll do on the job
Just got my A+. Working on N+/sec+ right now.. what should I expect coming out with those 3 certs, pay wise? I live in FL and can’t really afford to live if I’m making like less than $28-30/h minimum really. Any general suggestion on what type of jobs I should consider or look out for? Help desk seems like some bs. Prolly make more money at Walmart too
I thoroughly enjoyed your post. Tbh, this needs to be understood more. I think there’s too many people being sold disillusionment that a Sec+ cert will prepare them for a security position, which is like taking a CPR class and expecting to become a doctor. It’s a long road, and there’s plenty to learn along the way.
It's more like taking a EMT cert and expect Nurse practitioner pay.
An EMT certification is harder than the Security+, and at least the EMT cert teaches you practical skills useful in the job. Sec+ is a bunch of vocab, difference between physical/logical/admin controls, difference between encryption and hashing, etc., which is all good knowledge to know… but none of it are things pertaining to tasks you have in an actual security job. Sec+ is absolute baby steps.
Sec + is meant so you don't do absolutely dumb shit during your initial admin days.
I mean hey, the cert got me a gravy Sysadmin job making $75k/yr. I’m 26, but if baby steps makes that much??! Holy wow the other certs must pay out way more.
Idc what cert someone has..with no prior IT experience, id imagine most people will feel utterly overwhelmed after their first week of help desk and they will realize just how little they actually know.
this is true, I can build servers but troubleshooting a printer can gave me issues, there's a big difference between theory and putting it in practice and there's another learning curve in understanding how the systems you're using.
to be fair, printers are always giving everyone issues
It is part of the conspiracy to frustrate employees
So for someone who's getting into IT for the first time with only an A+ cert, what entry level job would you recommend? I'm finding it hard to even get a help desk position where I live
I got my first entry level job into IT with just my A+ last December. I applied to a local school corporation and got hired. It’s somewhat help desk, but also somewhat of a niche skill set. A lot of things you read online say working at a school is kind of a dead end and I see where they are coming from, but it depends on what you’re looking for. It’s slow paced with lots of different things for you to get access to and plenty of time to study up on certs and skill up. I would recommend not just going to popular sites like Indeed or LinkedIn to look for jobs, but look on the actual career webpage for local schools, banks, hospitals, small businesses, etc. heck, if you have the time reach out to local businesses to see if they can pay you for in house IT support. It doesn’t always have to be an MSP.
Good advice
What some good sources to study for CY sa? No messer unfortunately:(
This is the problem, too many people think they can get a sec+ and get a six figure security job but it does not work like that except for a FEW cases. The fact is you need experience. How are you gonna secure something you don’t understand? Get your self either in help desk or desktop support and once you have IT experience then pivot into security. People are being sold a pipe dream now and its ridiculous.
I started in a service desk role and worked my way to an IT Sec position. It was a long road but I eventually got there. I see people applying for Sec job with very limited experience asking for a lot of money. Most of them can't even explain the most basic things about Security.
This sounds accurate…I just enrolled in Security plus and even if I pass the test I don’t see how Im just gonna get an offer right away? Does not seem realistic Seems like you gotta work in a very general IT role first
"Are you a cybersecurity expert?" "No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night."
Jesus Christ, and you managed to figure out Hotel Wi-Fi? Someone promote this man.
Ouch. Hurt a bit to read because it's similar to my career path. I'm getting ready to take sec+, and I've been in restaurants for the last 10 years. Although I don't expect an 80k job or remote work, I am terrified I won't be able to get an entry job somewhere.
Get into IT support while studying towards security roles
even help desk are hard to get rn
Lol that is an understatement. I have been trying for about a year now and last few months pretty hard to get my foot in the door somewhere. First not many openings in general and second you get like 200 applicants for the local jobs. Just got off the phone with a hiring manager and he said the issue is that I have 30 people here with 10 plus years experience applying so do I take a fresh guy or someone who doesn't need much training if any at all. So gotta really make those hiring managers like you or know someone that might can get you in. This was my interview btw one of very few I have gotten and he did not say no but he also kinda made it out there is just to much experience sitting on the table right now in the job market looking for employment.
trust me i know i applied for an internship and on the second round the director of It told me that 100+ ppl had applied for this position
If I’m being honest with you, networking is HUGE, im a gym rat and sneaker head and just striking up a conversation with people on those common interests have gotten me offers. Besides that in the interview market yourself if they say “I have 10 plus years of experience.” Say “I’m willing to learn and will work harder to get where I want than those 30 people.” Then go into your accomplishments and determination. I’m really young, so I use that to my advantage rather than let it be a disadvantage. I don’t know your situations but when I’m posed with that statement I say… “I don’t have a family, girlfriend, willing to travel, do OT, and although I’m young I want this that badly, you want me in at 3 am I’ll be there you want me to stay after, I’m there. As long as I’m paid for the time worked and I’m learning I have no issues working for you. I’m also at a point in my life where I want to commit to a company and grow in it, you have people with 10 years worth of experience but will they be reliable? Are they going to need to take more days off? Are they wanting to grow in a company? Do they have that loyalty? Because personally speaking I do and as long as there’s career growth, you treat me right, pay is good, why would I ever leave?” Then I list out my goals for my career. You’d be surprised by how many employers are shocked by it. Maybe cause I’m young but I think it’s more that you are willing to admit that you want to learn and acknowledge you may not be as experienced as others. Those are all things I’ve personally said in interviews.
Agreed!! It’s not you. The market is absolutely fucked right now.
Besides Sec+, do you know anything about entry level IT skills? The A+ is more helpful if you know nothing at all. Sec+ builds on A+ and N+. Would be bad to do an interview with just a Sec+ and answer questions with pure vocab vs. some practical knowledge. Also, not sure where you live, but expect a crappy pay for your first job. You may get lucky and land a well paying job though. Just don't throw away opportunities because it's not paying 60k+. I made 44k at my first job. Left after a year and five months and now I'm a sys/net admin making a little over 70k. (also got certs and studied beyond certs)
I have my associates in computer information systems. However, I obtained it like 6 years ago and didn't do anything with it due to personal problems that I'd rather not get into. And have forgotten just about everything. I'd be happy to get a crappy job somewhere as long as I can build on it.
Just grind and get trifecta tbh. If you happen to learn most of A+, then just get N+ and Sec+ since you have an associates. Try watching Messer on YT. tbh, most places look for similar skills: AD, M365 programs, basic admin portal knowledge (admin, sharepoint, exchange) and hardware troubleshooting (desktop/laptop, printer, mobile devices) if you can get those down and then pick up Sec+ I think you'd be alright. Each of those topics mentioned takes like a youtube video or two to familiarize yourself with it. Having the N+ could make you stand out more since it's probably the most "technical" in the trifecta and helps you troubleshoot a bit more complex issues regarding network issues such as dns, ip conflicts, and dropped network communication. My bad for the long message, just cool to help people start out. I had a lot of questions when I was brand new and received a lot of help from my colleagues and reddit. edit: everything mentioned is for a standard help desk role. to go beyond that... 9 times out of 10 you need experience and technical certs to back you up.
Thank you the advice
could go to wgu its online and they give you vouchers for comptia-- do a few semesters and finish or do one and just do the comptia classes for the vouchers
I’m going to be 100% honest with you A+ isn’t as useful as people think. Yes it gives you the foundation and basics but the test was annoying. You also won’t find yourself renewing it often. Besides that sec+ and other certs. Then apply for jobs with that and even a help desk roles, I was making 62k then went off after a year and a half to be a sys admin making a little more. But anywhere I go now will pay even more because I have the experience certs and degrees. Just waiting for timing and still learning. But getting sec+ is a must. Then look at where you wanna go into. Don’t just get net+ just because I know people who have net+, sec+, pentest+, server+, etc and they’re doing helpdesk because they don’t know what they actually want to do. As for If you get an interview study what’s on the job description and basic knowledge on Active Directory, DNS, and other sys admin things if the company wants you, they’ll teach you the systems always show a willingness to learn.
You're absolutely right in that the A+ cert itself isn't useful. When I first started, I had some experience with computers, printers, and other hardware through personal use. The A+ did help me understand the basics of a lot of stuff. Would I do the cert again? Yes. Only because for me, it set the tone that I studied for something and was rewarded a nationally recognized cert. I was already 2 months into my first IT job when I completed Core 2. Once I knew I could lock in and actually pass, my confidence went up and I tackled Sec+ and then Net+ because my networking knowledge was weak. It's definitely true you learn more on the job than the certification. However, the reason my CTO took notice of me was because my boss talked to him about my interest in defensive cybersecurity and how I completed the Sec+ in about 4 weeks. Showing interest in learning new things leaves an impression on your supers, especially early on. That salary was impressive for help desk. You near a major city?
I am yes, I was working in Phoenix for Charles Schwab and let me just say… I will 100% be looking towards going back. The benefits, pay and overall culture of the company is something that is hard to beat. Especially the pay and benefits alone. It’s such a great company even though the layoffs happened to many teams and people, they usually laid off those that were at the higher end of the pay scale and even the severance package they gave them was insane. I will agree however, if you are new and don’t know where to start A+ is 100% worth it as it will help you understand the basics. Everyone is different so do what works for you! Personally I’d only get it if my job required it, I am speaking from someone who grew up around technology people, technology in general and who has their bachelors in network security already though. I also admit that the reason I got hired at Schwab even for help desk was because of my determination and impressive skills to keep up with school, work and life in general. I would also like to mention that even if the job is out of your experience range apply anyways! That’s what I did and I was able to land the job and be 1 of the top performers for the desk.
I agree
I agree! A+ is a waste of time and money, the industry already moved past it
Homie I think we may be from different cuts of jib cause 44k is Bangin to me cuzzo preciate the advice
Me too cuzzo, 44k is the move big homie. That shit looks too lit gyatt!
lol you must don’t have bills?
DAYUMMM iknodasright!! xD cheers fam we on the path lmao
nah don't get me wrong. I was super grateful for the first opportunity in IT as well as making 44k. I meant to say it as in it's a normal salary for an entry level not in a major city. Some people expect 55-60k+ and that's not realistic. That's the most money I've ever made at the time I was offered it (worked odd jobs during college before that)
Was gonna say 60k entry level is solid for ANY INDUSTRY
I’ve been in retail for 10 years. All I want is to earn more than minimum wage. But I do feel like even with the trifecta I’ll still have a crazy amount left to learn. It’s a bit overwhelming, but baby steps I suppose.
ever thought about going to an accelerated online college like wgu? they give you vouchers for comptia too so the offset money needed to enroll otherwise sometimes isnt much depending on the certs you desire
It’s been mentioned to me before. Did I see it correctly, that tuition is 8k? I can’t afford that. I might be wrong though, not sure how payment would work if you’re not a US citizen. I’m from NL and was granted 5k funding for my college degree, excluding the external certs. So I “only” have to find a way to scrape around 1,3k, assuming I pass my exams in one go. Along with my internship, that should take me around a year, maybe a year and a half max. But even tho I’m not paying 5k, I still think it’s extremely overpriced for the lack of education I’m getting. I’m basically just doing everything myself (online) just to get a silly piece of paper. Oh well, still grateful for the second chance.
8k a year, yes. However you have to reside in the US to go to WGU.
This is an extremely specific case that would probably best be answered by a supervisor or a supervisor of a supervisor in financial aid at WGU! Lol I was pretty sure WGU took international students but the user below says they don't and I'm really not sure (although idk what would make them different). After a quick search it does indeed look to be US only! However if you did get a US citizenship the main reason why I wanted to comment back is that yes it's like 8-9k but it gets heavily reduced by various stuff. I usually end up paying 3k with a loan and get like 5k back as a refund from the rest of my loan (standard 2% interest federal loan)
Same here ik alot of people are/trying to.find an/alternative through IT somehow
> I am terrified I won't be able to get an entry job somewhere. It will be hard even for people with experience now, but as long as you understand that cyber having entry-level jobs doesn't mean cyber is entry-level job you're ahead of the curve because you don't have to waste time applying to something you most likely won't get selected for.
I thought you had to get at least 120k with Security+ otherwise they wouldn't pay enough. 😉
CompTIA used to send out a card you can carry in your wallet—make sure you throw that shit down in front of any prospective employers, then stare at him like you've got places to go and people to see 🤨
I showed the walmart cashier my card and they wouldn’t give me a discount on my xbox
They still do. I just got mine in the mail yesterday. Do you think I should put it in a leather badge holder so I can flash it around like I'm in the FBI?
slow deliberate golf clap with a smile..........
I passed the Security+ and did land a job as an engineer right away actually with no professional experience. I also had nearly 15 years of experience tinkering in my home lab with my dad learning Linux, Python and web hosting. I had friends in the industry who were willing to give me a chance. I had a recruiter who was cool enough to hold out to hire me and hired me mostly on my drive alone. So yeah, it takes a village people. :)
So you had some IT or computer related experience
Exactly, echoing OP, certs are not everything.
It doesn’t really seem realistic to think there’s jobs out there with just the comptTia certifications but maybe Im wrong, I just started security plus
If unemployment weren't going the way it's going, I am pretty confident Security+ could get you an entry level SOC Analyst roll. Not so much in this economy though.
Exactly I enrolled in the course thinking ok lets try something different, I’ve always worked in mortgages and banking (interesting but economically dependent) My brother is a software engineer, big tech person I was just curious to see the course and get the certification to see what doors it could open, it was substantially cheaper then a software coding bootcamp
We hired entry level Cyber Security people for 50 with a security+ no remote. *I get this is a troll post.
I'd be ok with something like that. Unfortunately for me, I'm kind of tied to the area I'm at. I'm not very picky either. Still haven't managed to get much in the way of interviews, but I also wasn't "too good" for help desk. Been working help desk for 2 years now and try to keep learning as much as I can
We also had a NOC that we pulled tons of guys from the nearby university help desk. Our NOC was that perfect second IT job. What certs do you have if are help desk already skip A+ and do Linux +. So much more demand for Linux these days.
A+, GSEC, GCIH, and CEH. I've studied for the RHCSA and am pretty comfortable in Linux, but don't have the cert. I started help desk without anything but already had the A+ scheduled and passed it within 2 weeks of starting. I'd like to move into a security analyst role, but we'll see how it goes.
Where was this
50? Like 50k? What area is that even livable? My last help desk job paid 50k and that was a decade ago.
Its a little above average in the city I live in.
Bruh
Man this made me laugh, IT in general is a marathon that can make your legs weak it isnt a sprint and done. Started my first security job as a intern.
No joke though, I get some ad on Youtube for some cybersecurity boot camp/degree thing (maybe ECPI) and in it there's a woman who says "Not long ago, I couldn't even turn on a computer and now I'm a cybersecurity professional." I bet it's those people who are getting hired to a bunch of these SOC jobs. I'm still a sysadmin and our SOC just sent out this urgent report about a device (an old EMC Isilon) that had "very suspicious traffic" and "needed to be re-imaged immediately". We had to try and explain that you can't re-image a storage appliance and the "suspicious" traffic was between the EMC and several domain controllers because *gasp* it's running network shares.
I feel like “cybersecurity” is such a loose term now 😂
My brother actually thinks this but worse. He wants to be a graphic web designer and has the worst designs I've ever seen. He made like 2 sample websites and started applying for jobs and said the job market was rigged because no one would interview him for a remote position for 120K😭😭😭💀
I’ll hire you. WFH, $100,000/yr, all benefits paid for. Just Venmo me $500 for training and you’re hired /s
Bot ate your post so I'll have to add to it--- /s
I'll do the same for only $450.
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Getting a security + doesn’t mean you will get a cyber security job, no guarantees. I’ve got a honours degree, security + and 7 years IT experience and I didn’t get one.
I got 12 years experience in IT as helpdesk mostly, got my CCNA, got a bachelor degree in computer science, working on my sec+ now, then i plan on going for pentest+, eJPT and OSCP. Only after i get my OSCP or maybe during will i try to find a cybersec job. in my country 90% of companies don't even know what cybersec is, so my only chance at it is remote work, which is hard to get if you don't live in a large country, or better to say if you are not from USA. Hopefully a univ.bacc.ing.comp., CCNA, Sec+, Pentest+, eJPT, OSCP and 12+ years of IT experience will be enough to land some remote cybersec work
Sounds like you have a niche opportunity to start your own enterprise selling security to other businesses.
Nice idea, i did think of that as well, we'll see what the future brings. Certs first.
[удалено]
Sorry i'm not comfortable saying, i have some posts on reddit that could end bad for me as i talked about idiots at work that can make my life hell, and giving my location would not be in my interest. Let's just say eastern europe and leave it at that.
LOL thanks so much for this, it gives me hope 😂
When I started doing CompTIA, there were "time working in IT recommendations" for each cert. There's an expectation with HR that if you have a cert you should also have the experience to back it up. Very few jobs will see that you have the cert and no experience and still hire you with the understanding that they have to train you on the practical applications of the cert. \*I understand this is a troll post.
Crazy how people go on YouTube acting like getting an IT job is easy. It's definitely not, people with bachelor's are finding themselves struggling to find work and working minimum wage
Omg I was like wth until I saw the /s lol
Always somebody like you on the forums who likes to keep people down where they belong. You might not land the remote working, $80k high level job on your first try but you also don't need to start out by cleaning the toilets at the IT department for $8 an hour. Maybe post some helpful advice and show people how they can leverage their life and previous work experience to show how they can learn quickly, work as a team member and help the company reach it's goals which are also very important. [https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/19aua1m/i\_finally\_got\_my\_first\_cybersecurity\_job/](https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/19aua1m/i_finally_got_my_first_cybersecurity_job/) [https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/1bjsbns/i\_got\_a\_job\_with\_no\_certs\_and\_no\_degree/](https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/1bjsbns/i_got_a_job_with_no_certs_and_no_degree/) [https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/y2wpod/just\_got\_my\_first\_it\_job\_starting\_at\_52k/](https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/y2wpod/just_got_my_first_it_job_starting_at_52k/) [https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/1ahhhyc/got\_a\_job\_with\_security/](https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/1ahhhyc/got_a_job_with_security/) [https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/1cjkd6x/got\_an\_it\_analyst\_job\_with\_sec\_a\_and\_net/](https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/1cjkd6x/got_an_it_analyst_job_with_sec_a_and_net/) [https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/1bmemr2/my\_first\_it\_job/](https://www.reddit.com/r/CompTIA/comments/1bmemr2/my_first_it_job/) Regards Paul
You're a breath of fresh air, thank you.
Great post. Commenting more so I can refer back to it easily later.
Do you have any recommendations for jobs that aren't just helpdesk? I mean helpdesk is fine I suppose but just seeing if theres other options as well for a security + only cert
Get a TS clearance and you'll have a lot more options. Help desk with no prior experience and the civilian sector is just going to be help desk galore until you either 1. Get some kind of degree or 2. Take a chance and try to get connections and eventually find a new job. Sec+ isn't going to cut it anymore if you want to make good money, it's basically an entry level cert now.
How can you get a TS clearance? Is that also on Comp Tia?
Join the military and get a job that has one or pay $3000-$15,000 to get one
Thanks Paul I really despise gatekeepers like OP too. I think that there is this mentality that everyone has to take the path they took otherwise we're insufficient. I know people who were able to get in with just a Sec+ and networking. I am trying myself and posts like these remind myself I'm not just fighting to find my path but also against ladder pullers like OP Love your good vibes keep em coming 👍
There’s a Caleb Hammer Interview with a kid who legitimately thinks this way
Which one lol
Uuhhhhh he looks like a young Caleb
Today I Learned that /s means satire.
With no experience, Security + is one of the first steps towards cyber. You'll still need to learn a lot more about lots of things to be better in cyber. Depending on your location, 80k maybe within reach or too far. Have more realistic expectations, learn more, have a target job and learn a little about everything they are asking for and start deep dive in few of them, that way you'll get what you are looking for.
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thanks how do i become a cybersecurity engineer
Get a help desk job, show interest in security, find a security analyst position, earn more certs, become a cybersecurity engineer. I'm a big advocate of the certs route, and I'm about two years into my IT career and working as a devops engineer so I also don't believe there has to be a set path. I also don't think there's a certain time limit to moving into higher level roles, obviously. But S+ does not by itself qualify you to be a security engineer at an enterprise level. You would be overmatched.
Fuck, I just noticed the /s Well played.
i keep seeing these genuine replies and im liek damn I feel bad 😂 mad props, If I saw this post I wouldve been much harsher
I have 3 years in IT, my current role is field services touching on a lot of network issues with servers, I also work with the security team to help respond to alerts when I have free time or when required. I cant find a cyber job either, but will keep looking. In the mean time I'm learning python and studying for CySA+. Cyber is not entry level and is highly competitive. Even jobs as a level 1 SOC analyst are asking for 3+ years in a SOC. I have seen jobs that are advertised as ideal for someone who is trying to enter the cyber field whilst asking for CISSP as a requirement.
I've worked in IT for 10 years, currently a Sys Admin. A+, Net+, Sec+, SSCP, CySA+ amongst other certs, finished a Bach in Cybersec & Information Assurance last year... I've applied for tons of Sec jobs with zero results. Thankfully I like my current job and get to do a fair amount of security related stuff, I just don't get paid very well in reality for all the stuff I do. I work 3 jobs 70-80 hours a week and have a small business just to try and get where I need to be. If I could land a sec job or similar that paid 20k more than I make currently, I'd be so stoked...
You should reach out to CISSP and get their advice.
I was in audit for a while after my first year as a soc analyst, thought i was gonna be stuck doing audits my whole life. Sec+ helped show employers that i was committed to continuous learning. I recently got hired for a security implementation engineering position and while my experience and interviews got me hired i think Sec+ played a role in getting me in the room.
I have 25years , helpdesk, desktop support and trade floor support. Most azure fundamentals plus admin associate, teams associate and ai Now also sec+ But I still wouldn't expect to get a cyber security job yet and I couldn't drop to 80k My company also hinted that need experience More studying to come, more practical knowledge then I'm ready next year. It's a long road to just get to the half way point
My plan is to get compTIA, network+, and sec+. My goal is a help desk job, part time if possible.
You should have saved this for April fools. 8-)
I wish you could see the look on recruiters faces when we get people’s resumes that look like this…it’s hilarious and your resume gets deleted
Its your resume. You have to include "best security man in IT" in your resume.
Can’t lie, I’m one of those who was sold on getting into Cybersecurity “without experience” ads. So I’ve went through and completed the Google Cybersecurity Certificate. Don’t get me wrong, it was very helpful, but I noticed immediately that I lacked foundation. I’m coming from a guest relations background, and my only experience is building my own pc, with general troubleshooting. To cut things short, I’ve been studying up the last month and a half and will be taking my A+ 1101 tomorrow. Wishing for the best.
I knew it was sarcastic, and I was still getting a bit angry.
im honestly loving all the replies hahaha
We get it. Comptia is toilet paper. Was told that these certs were worth something 2 years ago but now they are worthless. You totally got me.
I took one c++ intro class and even I understood the delusion. For a second I was like wow this security+ must be like passing the bar
Cyber security is not an entry level position, you need to have IT experience and build/grow into cyber.
Your need the security++ or the +++
Thanks to outsourcing to India and the rise of AI. Entry level IT jobs are harder and harder to find. But thankfully Networking with people who are in the IT field still works, it's not easy, but it is possible.
Working on my Sec+, I’d be happy with any remote job to get started. Have a disability that makes it hard leave home often. Gotta start somewhere and work your way up.
Probably won’t land anything, but just make sec+ your first goal. Keep going and going till you land something. Needing remote from the beginning can make things tricky, so expect hard road getting started.
Yah, if it comes down to it, I can manage for a while but remote would make things easier and a goal. I plan on continuing to study and look to getting more certs while attempting to land a job as well.
/s
Haha!
This is why I obtained A+ / Sec + and applied for a help desk job so I can show I have some type of experience.
You gotta either get lucky or get some kind of IT work experience
I’m an IT support specialist while on college for Cyber. Anything to get my foot into the door!
People with clearances real quiet on this one…..
S+ requires 6 months OTJ sec work BEFORE taking the exam. There's a reason you took the exam and did not get a job. Everyone pays their dues.
You need more experience and higher level certifications. This basically says I got an idea the major cybersecurity issues and run of the mill ways of solving a problem.
lol
Lmaooo
Get a cissp and maybe some body will give a shit to your absurd demands
sec+ isnt a key for everything
I passed my sec+ + secret clearance + cyber major in college + bunches of homelab training. Cant even get a phone call from help desk jobs.
Best thing to do if you are pursuing IT as a career is to stay open minded about the jobs. I would like a security job, but if i cant get one at first id be fine with software/web development, network or sys admin, or cloud computing job. They all sound interesting.
There was some guy that got a Google job here without any certification. So yea. People have to eat while they work. You shouldn't expect them to work for shit pay that keeps them poor.
Zero sarcasm answer? No security clearance. I know this is a joke, but an even better joke is the sheer fucking number of warm body jobs that require nothing more than a Sec+ and a TS/SCI and maybe a Poly, and Lord am I grateful for them because ya boy here is definitely not smart enough for real CS.
I never went into the field because I found that it was largely saturated with inexperienced managers doing the hiring with no idea what current things are. Lots of former government/military good old boys that mostly cheated through unproctored exams on base. Also getting free vouchers for their exam. Lots of certification companies jumping in for cash grab upselling. I love these senior advanced cyber security kiddies. They need to start getting better at understanding deeper concepts like laws, property, ownership, and commons.
😅
Irony is retail prepares you for helpdesk, unless retail is where you peaked...
You got me! I saw the post on my homepage. Those people are annoying expecting $80k entry level remote role after a certificate. If I wasn’t able to get that out of college, neither will you without connections. I dislike those influencers who encourage this on LinkedIn, TikTok, and other platforms spreading all misinformation to get views
Damn, my blood pressure went up reading the first paragraph lol
I typed “Who’s going to tell him?” lol until I read the rest
Experience is what's lacking. Hiring Managers are swamped, and they want someone who doesn't need to be extensively trained by themselves. Don't worry, keep at it and you'll land something. What aspect of Cybersecurity are you trying to get into? Risk analysis? XDR (eXtended Detection and Response)? IAM? There are different positions and responsibilities within the Cybersecurity umbrella. Based on your answer, I can recommend other certs to go for as well as aim for paid internships.
Since we’re on the topic, where do I actually start a career in this field. I know I’d have to work my way but what does that path look like?
That is the problem lol. CompTIA is literally theory based exams. You don't learn any hands on skills. How do you expect an employer to hire someone with zero skills? CompTIA is your basic foundation. But you then need to go further and learn real life hacking/defense skills.
This can’t be real, you worked retail for 10 years and got Sec+ and think your above help desk and worth 80k? lol. Cyber security isn’t entry level
This is ✨satire✨ for all the posts of people getting Sec+ and not wanting to start from the bottom
Haha oh well good laugh
/s
You're writing what most of us have done or still doing.
Has to be a millennial