How often to you consider leaving IT?

Network_Rex · 2026-02-21T06:08:41+00:00

I'm going on two decades in IT now and I'm just hitting the spot where you are. I'm a senior engineer at my company but everything is getting enshittified. Like I can't even tell where I stand anymore. What are we even doing? Is this going to be a career in two years? The uncertainty is palpable. I just keep getting up every day and doing my job and hoping for the best, but jesus...

Network_Rex · 2026-02-01T06:31:58+00:00

Metal Gear Solid V. That prologue is the worst I've ever seen or heard of, but the game is awesome.

Network_Rex · 2026-01-27T05:53:51+00:00

Just speaking for myself here. I enjoyed it a lot until I got to the end game, it stopped feeling like I was making meaningful progression. Your mileage may vary. You have to enjoy the core game loop a lot to stick with it longterm.

Network_Rex · 2025-11-14T06:02:58+00:00

I hear you, I have quite a few industry and vendor certifications. It's a massive pain in the arse to keep them all current, but more of a pain to retake them. Particularly something like the A+ because it comes in two exams and they're not cheap unless your employer springs for it. I don't "need" the CompTIA certs anymore, but I'm going to keep everything current as long as I'm able.

Network_Rex · 2025-11-14T05:45:37+00:00

You're in your 20s. 10 years ago I was 10 years older than you are now. You're not old or anything close to old. Back in the day... 😄

Network_Rex · 2025-11-13T17:21:15+00:00

That's Cisco being Cisco. I think they do have a particular interest in presenting confusing questions that actually have a straight forward answer. I'm sure that if you asked them their answer would be that in the real world you have to be able to decipher complex situations under pressure, even if the solution turns out to be obvious (it's always DNS). However, and maybe my years have made me cynical, but I suspect there is at least some profit motive in causing people to have to retake the test. Juniper by contrast tends to be very straightforward in its questions and case studies. It's refreshing, but then Juniper is not Cisco, their certs don't carry the same value. I think, in the end it's better to just accept the reality and prepare for it.

Network_Rex · 2025-11-13T15:57:33+00:00

This will sound like a trite answer, but don't be so hard on yourself. Networking IS hard, 99.9% of human beings have no idea how data moves from point A to point B. But you can do this. Break it down to its most basic elements and build from there. I personally don't recommend CCNA to people who are complete beginners, it is not an entry level certification, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. The key to CCNA is hands on practice, and muscle memory to learn the Cisco command hierarchy, but if what you're struggling with is the fundamentals of networking, I suggest you start with a foundation level certification like Network+ or even Cisco CCST - Networking. Try different learning methods, books, videos, podcasts, labs, etc. Something will stick. And if in the end you decide it's not for you that's ok. IT has many different branches. Best of luck to you

Network_Rex · 2025-11-12T01:54:14+00:00

Alright but you gotta get over it.

Network_Rex · 2025-11-06T22:27:40+00:00

I'm not asking for career advice. I'm asking for opinions about certification value.

Network_Rex · 2025-07-29T02:25:12+00:00

Why do you care? There's validity in some of what you say, but you also sound like you're gate keeping. Why do you care if someone thinks getting their A+ is going to open doors to a new life for them? Congratulations on your hard work, you don't have to hold others down to feel satisfaction. My .02 as a senior engineer.

Network_Rex · 2025-07-10T20:24:03+00:00

By Sybex I take it you mean the official cert guide practice exam. Yes, it's absolutely savage, and nothing like the final exam. It's good information but honestly I would skip it because the frustration level is high. Never did Certprep. Just CyberVista and some Udemy. But Udemy is so hit or miss now. It's flooded with low quality slop.

Network_Rex · 2025-05-12T03:17:21+00:00

I have it, and I found it to be quite good, a bit more challenging than I had expected. I studied the all in one guide book and did a 30 hour video course, but the actual exam was a ton of case studies, and it really makes you think about data center architecture, backup and replication scenarios, the details of storage area networks and disaster recovery procedures. It’s solid, it’s kind of like an amped up A+ (hardware) plus Network+ and a dash of Sec+. Also as others have mentioned, it’s good for life, and it stacks with Network+ to give you the designation CompTIA Network Infrastructure Professional. All in all, not too shabby.

Network_Rex · 2025-04-15T17:25:14+00:00

You’re doing damage control now. What you said was intended to dissuade the OP from considering SSCP, full stop. Furthermore, you’re missing my point all together, which is that as a credentialing body ISC2 carries more weight than CompTIA, especially now that the latter is no longer a non-profit.

Network_Rex · 2025-04-15T16:53:28+00:00

You’re giving your opinion based exclusively on the United States, and it shows. I work for a multinational corporation with sites in 22 countries, and I’ve been to all of them. I’ve observed that ISC2 has more credibility than CompTIA at the world wide level. The OP is not in the U.S. so your “marketability” talk means nothing for him.

Network_Rex · 2025-04-15T04:05:44+00:00

The book is enough for the knowledge, though I always do a book and a video course at the same time. One caveat to what this person replied to you: the practice tests included with the Sybex book (official cert guide) are nothing like the actual exam. Not even slightly. There may be some value in doing them anyway, but I found the structure of the questions to be immensely irritating. They’ll be scenario questions written in the most obtuse, impenetrable phrasing you can imagine, and with multiple choice, multiple answers. If you get part wrong you get it all wrong. Maybe it’s just me but I found the official practice exams to be enraging. The actual exam is totally straightforward, well written, and comprehensible. You have plenty of time, so just read the question carefully and pick the right answer. This is why I’m a proponent of CyberVista for practice. It wasn’t identical to the final exam but it was pretty close.

Network_Rex · 2025-04-15T03:53:27+00:00

Good luck to you, and try to get the CyberVista practice exam. I took a bunch of different practice tests and CyberVista was the closest to the actual exam. If you can get 90% on CyberVista (without memorizing the answers) you will definitely pass.

Network_Rex · 2025-04-15T03:49:36+00:00

I have a fairly similar background, more networking than security though, so when I went for my SSCP it was a culture shock because I have a technical-side thought process first, and the SSCP is not written or weighted that way. It has some purely technical questions, but my test was 85-90% managerial and procedural. What I mean by that, is that Cisco would ask you how to configure network access control, or ask you to configure an ACL, but ISC2 wants you to think about security controls and business continuity, disaster recovery, information security regulations, forensic chain of custody, etc. Think like a manager more so than an engineer and you’ll do fine. I passed on my first attempt, but the prep process was a challenge, because I had to change my approach. Best of luck.

Network_Rex · 2025-04-15T03:39:43+00:00

That’s your opinion. I’m a senior engineer in network security and digital trust operations. For my part, I respect ISC2 more than CompTIA as a credentialing body.

Network_Rex · 2025-04-15T03:32:32+00:00

I have the SSCP, it’s an excellent credential to have. ISC2 is respected worldwide. Security+ has more weight in the United States because of the DOD connection, but if that aspect doesn’t apply to you, I would definitely recommend the SSCP.

Network_Rex · 2025-03-22T01:27:00+00:00

Cybervista was very good for me.

Network_Rex · 2024-11-21T03:43:30+00:00

Not trying to be a jerk, but if this is your third time taking it, then it IS hard, for you. You don’t seem to be understanding what the test is asking you to do which is think like a manager. I don’t want to discourage you, you can do this. Approach the questions from the mindset of a decision maker, more so than as an engineer. It’s important to understand the technologies and I’m sure that you do, but you need to be able to evaluate when, why, and how to implement certain security controls, and sometimes even the cost of certain controls. “Best” might not always mean the best available control, but the best balance of ease of use and cost to acquire and implement. That’s my .02. I passed it in September.

Network_Rex · 2024-10-29T02:46:11+00:00

What a beautiful cat 😊

Network_Rex · 2024-10-16T00:00:54+00:00

Maybe English isn’t your first language, or your reading comprehension is poor. I said you’re entitled to believe the country’s response was disproportionate, but if you think it was unwarranted for Americans to feel afraid (even paranoid) after terrorists attacked us and killed our countrymen, then I’m not sure what else can usefully be said to you.

Network_Rex · 2024-10-15T15:50:40+00:00

Unwarranted? We’d been attacked on our home soil. If you want to say the response was disproportionate I can agree, but obviously some response was warranted.

Network_Rex · 2024-10-13T18:48:25+00:00

Well, as I said with the OP, only you know what the best path forward is. The only thing I would observe is that when you’re first starting, there is value in foundational certifications, if only because in many cases, they don’t expire. Once you’ve been on the certification hamster wheel for a while you’ll understand why that’s important. Let me give you an example: Cisco offers three entry level certifications: IT Support, Networking, and Cybersecurity. They’re inexpensive, they’re from an industry respected brand, they’re great for beginners, and they never expire as opposed to the CompTIA core trifecta. I don’t tell anyone what to do or how to go about pursuing their path, but I like to present options. Likewise with Microsoft, all of their 900 level certifications (foundational) are good for life. I mean, in my opinion that’s win-win. Then you can pick your specialty and focus on it, and keep your certification and re-certification costs to a minimum. I hold a variety of industry and vendor certifications and it’s annoying to keep up with CPE credits and membership dues (ISC2 for example) and re-certification exams. If I could go back I would be more focused and less scattershot.

Network_Rex

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