I'm looking for some advice on how to make the jump from engineering to systems administration. In a previous post, I mentioned my fear of running out of time and shared my roadmap and background. I have about 6 years of experience in engineering, which some folks say might let me skip over basic IT and jump straight into sysadmin roles.
I'm currently working on my A+ certification, which feels pretty easy—just a lot of memorization. I've also done some labs, like setting up a SIEM and a NAS, and started working on an Active Directory project.
Now, I'm wondering if it would be better for me to go for the CCNA instead of Network+, considering my background. Should I also aim for Security+? I want to make sure I'm focusing on the right areas, especially since I find the sysadmin path a bit overwhelming compared to starting in IT. Any advice on what certifications and projects would be best for breaking into the sysadmin field would be super helpful!
4 Answers
A+ is often seen as a bit unnecessary for those transitioning from another field, so you might want to focus more on the CCNA over Network+. Definitely go for the Security+ as well; it's a valuable cert to have and expands your knowledge base. You'll need solid projects to back up those certs, though!
With your background, you should leverage your attention to detail. I transitioned into IT from engineering, and my advice would be to volunteer at local community tech events or even charities. Get some front-line experience first; that might be more beneficial than just pursuing certs. You need to know if you'll even enjoy the IT side of things!
Definitely go for the CCNA! It’ll give you a great networking background that’s useful for sysadmin roles. But remember, with your engineering background, you’ve got valuable skills already. Look for local volunteer opportunities or entry-level jobs to gain some practical experience before diving into more certs.
While the CCNA is a networking certification, it's not specifically a sysadmin cert. Your real-world experience, especially with setting up a SIEM, can be more valuable than just focusing on certs. They can help you stand out but aren't strictly needed to land a job. Explore community opportunities to gain hands-on experience instead of just collecting certs.
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