Hey folks! I'm 23 and graduating with an Information Technology degree from WGU soon. My goal was to work in sysadmin or network engineering, but I dislike coding (I know, not the most popular opinion these days). I have CompTIA A+ and Network+ certifications, and I'm working on getting my Security+ and Cloud Practitioner certs. I've started a home lab since I've only had a laptop until now, and I'm teaching myself Linux, Windows Server, PowerShell, and will eventually dive into Ansible. I'm looking for an internship, but I want to make sure I'm using my time wisely.
If you were in my shoes right now, what would you focus on? Should I aim for my CCNA this summer while interning and then go for AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate since cloud is super hot? Should I spend more time perfecting my home lab and gaining experience with Linux/Windows, particularly with group policy and Active Directory? Should I consider targeting government jobs? Also, are there any AI tools I should be learning about, like basic prompt engineering? I know a bit of Python and C++, but I'm really not into coding. Any advice or constructive criticism would be awesome!
3 Answers
Getting a CCNA is a solid move for networking jobs, but don’t box yourself in. Practical experience is key no matter where you are headed. I’m a sysadmin at a local government, and it took me a few years in helpdesk roles to reach this point. If you keep a positive attitude and put in the effort, you’ll find that many people don’t work hard enough. Government jobs can provide stability, but they may not pay as well as private firms.
I started where you are 20+ years ago! My advice: prioritize your home lab over just collecting certs. Certs will get you interviews, but real, hands-on work will help you land a job. Create actual projects like setting up Active Directory or Linux servers, and try automating processes with tools like Ansible. You can also break things and learn how to fix them—that's a skill I look for when hiring. While CCNA is a great focus, don’t chase AWS certifications just because they’re trendy unless you're specifically targeting cloud roles. Look into platforms like CloudGuru for practical labs; they can be pretty useful for hands-on learning!
Thanks for the great advice!
You're definitely on the right track! While your home lab is a great start, real experience matters most. If you’re aiming for a sysadmin role, getting helpdesk experience is crucial. It’s tough to be a good sysadmin without knowing some basic troubleshooting first. Networking skills are also valuable, and obtaining your CCNA can really help. No matter how many certifications you have, without hands-on experience, it might be challenging to land a role. Look for entry-level helpdesk positions with your current certs; that’s a solid starting point!
Said better than I could! Thanks for the insight!
Thank you! I’m currently trying to get an internship in Colorado.
It sounds like I might need to go through the same steps. But finding internships seems to be tough in Colorado.