Linux, automation, and AI. These are 3 skills I think will set you apart if you're breaking into IT (or leveling up) in 2026. Three years ago I put out a list of the top certs to get into IT. The landscape has changed since then, and so has what…
Here are the 5 certifications and skills I’d focus on in 2026 if you’re getting into IT, plus what’s changing with each one. In this episode: CCNA: v2.0 goes live February 3, 2027, and it’s built around troubleshooting. Should you take the current version or wait? Firewall / Network Security:…
Is the A+ still worth it? Should you go into biomed or IT? In this episode, I answer a listener question from someone with an AWS cert, working on the Google IT Support cert, and feeling lost on what to do next. I break it down into two parts: ✅…
I've failed more IT certifications than I've passed, including the CCNA on my first try, the CCNP, and DevNet. And I'm still in this industry, teaching the CCNA today. If you've been studying for a certification but keep putting off scheduling the exam because you're scared you'll fail, this episode…
Hospitals are full of people who aren't in the IT department but are one move away from it. In this episode, I break down three IT roles in healthcare that people move into from non-IT jobs. They go from working in a department to supporting that same department from the…
Being seen at the office can move your career faster than being the smartest person on the team. 👀 When people know you, see you show up, and watch you work, you're the name that comes to mind when a promotion or a new opportunity opens up. Remote can make…
Everyone breaking into IT wants the remote job but is that actually the right move when you're just starting out? In this episode I break down the real case for on-site vs remote support roles when you're brand new to the field: what you gain, what you give up, and…
Is working in a call center the same as working on an IT Help Desk? In this video, we break down the day-to-day realities of both roles, the tools and permissions you actually use, and why one builds a long-term IT career while the other often holds you back. 📌…
Everyone says a call center job is how you break into IT. I spent a couple of months in one and I still don't count it as my first IT job here's why, plus how to tell whether a "help desk" posting is really a help desk or a call…
Think you need to know every command, tool, and troubleshooting fix before landing your first tech job? That’s the single biggest lie holding beginners back. In this video, we break down what entry-level IT (help desk, desktop support) actually looks like day-to-day, how knowledge bases and team support back you…
Before I got into IT, I worked in a call center doing tech support. Every call was timed. The time between calls was timed. Bathroom breaks were timed. That was my only reference point for what a job looked like so that's what I assumed IT would be. I was…
Is networking still worth learning in 2026? Short answer: yes but it's not the same job it was five years ago. AI isn't replacing network engineers. What it did was split the career into two paths: traditional shops where you're on the CLI every day, and modern shops where automation…
You passed the certification. So why isn't anybody calling you back? If you've got the cert, updated the resume, and you've been applying for weeks with nothing but silence — you're not doing anything wrong as a person. But something in your process is probably broken. A certification was never…
Same title. Totally different job. A network tech at a 50-person company and a network tech at a Fortune 500 can do completely different work for completely different money. The variable most people ignore: company size. Why it matters: Where you start shapes how fast you learn, what you get…
The CompTIA A+ has been the default first certification in IT for decades. But in 2026 it'll run you over $600 to get certified and I've got some thoughts on whether that still makes sense. In this episode I break down what the A+ actually is, who it's built for,…
You passed the certification, you're applying, and you're still not getting hired. Here's what's actually happening: the cert gets you the interview it doesn't get you the job. In this video I break down why an IT certification opens the door but doesn't walk you through it, what happens once…
You said you'd start applying once you finished the class. Then it was the cert. Then the second cert. That list never gets shorter and somebody with less on paper than you is getting hired right now. I got my first IT job by applying to anything with the word…
The daily tasks from three IT roles I actually worked — help desk, desktop support, and networking — and where AI would've made me faster in each one. Not a video about AI taking your job. A video about AI taking the worst parts of it. The 7 use cases:…
Two money habits I wish I locked in earlier in my career — one protects the money you're already making, the other builds your leverage for what's next. A personal story on how fast lifestyle creep can sneak up on you, plus why documenting your wins on the job matters…
The financial and career moves that build a real foundation early in an IT career — hard-earned hindsight on what to prioritize once you land that first job. The 7 moves: 1️⃣ Negotiate — even early on, always ask 2️⃣ Get your retirement match — free money from day one…
Understanding the hierarchy of tech roles is crucial for career navigation. Typically, foundational roles like Tech Admin or Analyst set the stage. From there, the path often progresses to Network Engineer, followed by Senior Network Engineer or Engineer levels (e.g., Engineer 2, Engineer 3). Advanced career stages can lead to…
The AI revolution is creating new avenues for professional development, evidenced by the proliferation of certifications from major tech players like CompTIA, Cisco, and Nvidia. Even companies like Anthropic are offering free resources to help individuals upskill in this critical area. For those with backgrounds in fields like networking, the…
If you're trying to break into IT with zero experience, the resume is where most people get stuck and it's usually not because they're unqualified, it's because they don't know how to frame what they've got. In this clip, I break down exactly how to build a resume that gets…
The journey to acquiring new skills or certifications often hits a wall during the study phase. It's easy to lose momentum unless you possess a genuine hunger and a deep appetite for the outcome. This drive is what keeps you committed when comfortable circumstances might otherwise lead you astray. Sustaining…
