You’ve likely heard of the many certifications required to get a job in IT. Let me tell you, entry-level certifications are not what you think they are. They are a filter.
Many IT companies hire a recruitment company to assist them in their search for entry-level candidates. They provide a detailed description of the role and give an overview of the ideal candidate. These requirements, which include certifications and other qualifications, are used by recruiters to reduce the number of applicants. This increases their chances of finding someone who matches the description quickly so they can present their client a small number of “ideal” candidates before moving on to their next client.
This is because IT companies and recruitment businesses have different interests. One side is a business looking to fill a job quickly and with the best candidate they can find. IT companies are looking for the best people to do a job. Recruiting businesses use paper certifications such as the CCNA to find the best candidates. These are earned by passing a written exam.
Related: How to get 6 figure job offers at top tech companies in 2-4 years, even if you don’t have any experience.
This may be something you already know. I am telling you this anyway because someone you know might be thinking about spending a lot of money and time to get certifications in hopes that they can improve their skills. Some certifications are well-known so they might be able to get in the door. It’s likely they won’t have the ability to get on the ground running. Despite the fact that there are many examples of people who have reached the top of the IT industry without any fancy certifications, this is a common misconception. They have relied on foundational knowledge, handson experience, and a lot of motivation.
If this is the way things work, the question is: How can you get rid of the system’s inefficiencies, protocols, and learn the skills you actually need (no fluff), and prove that you can perform critical tasks on real-world equipment. You can also avoid being filtered by “requirements” without spending money on paper certs. It is easy to answer. You only need to get the highest entry/associate certification in the world.
This certification will add value to your resume by highlighting the skills companies are looking for in job applicants. It should be a complement to your resume and provide the knowledge that makes hiring managers eager to talk with you about a job offer. Let’s take a moment to assess the situation. It’s not enough to gain knowledge. The real problem isn’t solved by just learning. It’s about getting hands-on experience, relevant skills, and the best foundation for getting you started in IT. It’s about getting you on the right path and not being filtered by the outdated hiring process.
If this is the case then you should learn how to do everything on your own. There are many things you can do to improve your skills, such as building your PC from scratch, creating your own labs with free software online, and even helping your family members with their devices. Although you won’t be able to understand the basics of networking, you can read a book and learn how they work together. However, you could still be filtered by the system because you don’t have a title. You’ll still gain the most valuable asset in IT or any other industry: hands-on experience.
There are ways to acquire all the knowledge, skills, and experience you need while still earning one of those coveted fancy titles that will get you past the first filter. This award combines all of these elements using a hybrid model that combines online and in-person learning. This award will give you a solid foundation in IT and provide you with a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of networking, from routing and switching to cloud to voice-over IP. You can learn more about it. That’s exactly what I thought.
It’s called the Full-Stack Network Associate. It was created by two former Air Force IT instructors, who trained over 1,000 engineers in their service. Many of them went on to manage live networks around the globe. They don’t play around. They won’t give you a lot of useless information that you don’t need, like many educational institutions. They will get you ready for the field, just as if you were going to Afghanistan to manage and set up network communications.
This is done through an online course called Zero to Engineer that can be accessed at your own pace. They also offer a 5-day boot camp in which they teach you how to use real-world equipment. You can get certified in over 100 real-world skills at the end of the bootcamp. You can also earn the Full-Stack Network Associate title and a place in their employer network. They can also configure private WAN to VPN failover and disaster recovery. This is exactly what companies want!
The award is structured so that you can prove your abilities to anyone by the time that you have earned the title. You can show your full-stack network p
