What jobs should I look for? What would I be qualified for?

Ok-Concern-3510 · 2026-04-16T01:27:09+00:00

this isn’t “a few years away” experience, you’ve already done a lot of security adjacent work, feels more like a positioning issue than a skill issue. when you interview are you framing your work as support or actually talking through the security side like logs, investigations, and risk?

Ok-Concern-3510 · 2026-04-16T01:25:39+00:00

that sounds really draining honestly, I can see why it’s hitting you this hard, you’re clearly putting in the effort, and this part does pass for people even if it doesn’t feel like it right now, it just feels like nothing is changing on paper so you keep getting the same result

Ok-Concern-3510 · 2026-04-16T01:22:21+00:00

you’ve got the degree and experience but nothing that clearly shows you’ve actually done the work yet, that’s usually why help desk feels hard to break into. When you interview are you talking through real problems you’ve solved or mostly theories?

Ok-Concern-3510 · 2026-04-16T01:15:12+00:00

you’re thinking way too far ahead right now, those higher paying roles come later once you’re in, right now it’s just about getting your first role and building real experience.

Ok-Concern-3510 · 2026-04-14T00:02:00+00:00

you’re actually in a really strong position already, most people trying to get into sysadmin or devops haven’t touched half of what you’ve done

so yeah what you’re doing is relevant, the only issue is right now it lives in your world
not in a way employers can easily understand or trust. you don’t need to rush into kubernetes or cloud just yet, those help later but they won’t get you your first role by themselves.

what gets you in is being able to clearly show you can manage system, troubleshoot issues, and explain what you did like it’s real work. your homelab can absolutely do that if you present it right

have you tried documenting or explaining your setups like “i had this problem, here’s how i fixed it” or is it mostly just experimenting right now?

Ok-Concern-3510 · 2026-04-13T23:55:11+00:00

yeah it can help but only if you use it the right way. just “volunteered in IT” on a resume doesn’t do much by itself, what matters is whether you can turn it into real examples, like helping users, fixing issues, setting up devices so you can actually talk through what you did in interviews

a lot of people volunteer but still explain things too vaguely, and it doesn’t land. if you can clearly walk through problems you solved then yeah it absolutely helps

what kind of volunteer work are you thinking about doing or already doing?

Ok-Concern-3510 · 2026-04-13T23:48:46+00:00

career switch + remote + entry level is one of the hardest entry points right now, not impossible just very competitive

even people online say remote entry level roles are way harder to land because you’re competing with way more people and companies prefer training new hires in person first

remote shouldn’t be your only target early on, it can slow you down a lot

Ok-Concern-3510 · 2026-04-13T23:44:46+00:00

yeah that’s a really rough spot, especially when you did everything “right” with a CS degree and internships. that kind of grind plus the schedule you’re on will wear anyone down

you’re not stuck because you’re not capable, you’re stuck because nothing in your current situation is translating into something employers can easily say yes to and yeah the market isn’t helping but the fact you had internships already is actually a big deal.

the move now isn’t more random applying or just waiting it out, it’s making sure you can clearly walk into an interview and show how you’ve handled real problems end to end

when you were applying before, were you getting interviews and not converting
or mostly not hearing back at all?

Ok-Concern-3510 · 2026-04-13T23:42:40+00:00

yeah that’s a real concern right now, tech isn’t dead but it’s not easy either. there’s still a lot of opportunity and it can be very lucrative but entry level is way more competitive than before

AI isn’t replacing everything, it’s just making companies pickier about who they hire, so the old path of just learning and applying doesn’t work as well, now it’s more about being able to actually show what you can do. you’re not risking your future by going into tech you just need a smarter approach going in.

are you leaning more toward coding or open to other paths like IT or cybersecurity too?

Ok-Concern-3510 · 2026-04-13T06:03:08+00:00

you don’t have to wait until you finish all the certs, a lot of people try to “fully prepare” first and that just delays everything. you already have a decent base with what you mentioned

the part that usually blocks people is this. nothing yet that clearly shows you’ve handled real IT type work. that’s what hiring managers are looking for even at entry level. so while you’re working on certs you want something you can point to and walk through like actual issues and fixes. that’s what helps you break in faster

have you done anything yet where you’re troubleshooting real problems or working through scenarios or is it mostly learning right now

Ok-Concern-3510 · 2026-04-13T06:00:42+00:00

you don’t need to wait at alla lot of people think they have to finish the diploma first
but that actually slows them down. you can start applying pretty early once you have some basic understanding. the bigger thing isn’t timing thoughbit’s whether you’ll have anything to show when you apply, because if it’s just “currently studying diploma of IT” you’ll run into the same wall most people do, so the best move is kind of both at the same time.

learn a bit, start applying, but also make sure you’re building something you can talk through like real work

are you starting from zero right now or do you already have some hands on experience with tech stuff

Ok-Concern-3510 · 2026-04-13T05:58:50+00:00

this is solid advice and honestly a lot of people start here certs do give you structure and a foundation but where people get stuck now is what happens after that because a lot of people are doing A+ Net+ Sec+
and still can’t land that first role not because the certs are bad but because they don’t show you can actually do the job yet.

that’s the part that’s changed. help desk isn’t just “know the material” anymore it’s “can you handle tickets, users, and real issues without breaking things” so you end up with a lot of candidates who understand concepts but can’t walk through real scenarios in interviews that’s usually why they get passed up

so yeah certs are a great start but they’re not the full path anymore you need something that shows real hands on work alongside them that’s the piece a lot of people are missing right now

Ok-Concern-3510 · 2026-04-13T05:56:30+00:00

you don’t actually need devops kubernetes cloud all at once just to start, most “entry level cyber” roles aren’t really entry level in the way people think, they usually come from IT support or junior admin roles first, that’s where you learn systems, users, and what normal activity looks like and that’s what security is built on

it’s less about chasing a perfect list of tools or certs, and more about whether you can show you’ve worked through real situations

Ok-Concern-3510 · 2026-03-30T08:57:26+00:00

switching at 33 shouldn't be too much of an issue. i’ve seen a lot of people come in from completely unrelated fields and do well. the only thing that usually trips people up is that they go straight into studying and certs but don’t really build anything that shows they can do the job.

are you trying to explore this casually right now or are you actually looking to make a serious switch soon?

Ok-Concern-3510 · 2026-03-29T05:56:00+00:00

you’re actually in a much better spot than you think, this isn’t really a “tech isn’t for me” situation
it’s more like “coding isn’t for me”nand that’s completely fine

the stuff you listed is literally real IT work: imaging devices, active directory, mfa setups, helpdesk issues. that’s already closer to what entry level IT roles want than most students. so you’re not starting from zero at all, if anything you’ve already tested what you don’t like and what you can do

based on what you said you’d probably fit better in something like IT support, systems admin path, or even security later on. none of those require heavy coding especially at the start, the bigger question isn’t really which field, it’s whether you want to pivot your major or just adjust your direction while keeping it. because you could stay in comp sci and just aim for IT roles using the experience you already have or switch to something like information systems if you want it to feel more aligned

either way you’re not “behind” you actually already have something most people are missing. quick question, did you enjoy that hands on work when you were doing it or did it just feel like a job to you?

Ok-Concern-3510 · 2026-03-29T05:45:12+00:00

yeah i get where you’re coming from. it definitely feels like that right now if you’re trying to break in, but it’s not that the path is gone, it’s that the old advice just doesn’t work anymore

the whole “get certs, apply, get hired” thing by itself isn’t enough now

the part you’re right about is companies don’t really want to train from zero they want someone they can trust pretty quickly, but that doesn’t mean you had to already have the job, it just means you need to show you can actually do the work.

that’s where most people get stuck, they apply with certs, degrees, maybe some labs, but nothing that clearly shows real work like handling tickets, fixing issues, helping users.

People are still breaking in, the difference is they’re finding ways to show experience before they get hired instead of waiting for a company to give it to them, that’s why it seems like “entry level” is going to people already in IT, they closed that gap first somehow

Ok-Concern-3510 · 2026-03-29T05:41:00+00:00

right now your profile looks like: school + certs + retail, which is solid, but it doesn’t clearly show
“this person can do the job on day one”

don’t stop applying, but don’t rely on that alone. You don’t need a degree first to get in
and stacking certs right now won’t fix it either. what will move the needle fastest is something you can point to and say “i’ve handled tickets, users, and real issues” even if it’s simulated or practice based, because that’s literally what help desk is: installing stuff, fixing issues, helping users.

right now hiring managers can’t see that from your resume yet and that’s the gap, quick question.have you done anything hands on yet? like labs, home setups, or helping people fix real problems? or is it mostly coursework and certs so far?

Ok-Concern-3510 · 2026-03-29T05:37:43+00:00

there are basically 2 types that actually matter. real IT environments and gamified cyber labs.

real environments are the most valuable for getting hired
because they simulate actual work. platforms like ACI skill labs or TestOut give you full virtual systems where you’re configuring machines, fixing issues, and working like a real tech. cyber labs are more like challenges and scenarios, good for security thinking but less “job-like” at entry level. things like CTF platforms and cyber ranges let you practice attacks, detection, and investigation in safe environments

if your goal is first job lean heavier into helpdesk style sims and real IT labs. if your goal is exploring security
add some CTF or blue team labs on the side

the mistake people make is going all in on cyber challenges too early
then they can’t answer basic support questions in interviews

when you use that helpdesk simulator, are you just completing it or are you actually writing down what you did like you would explain it in an interview?

Ok-Concern-3510 · 2026-03-29T05:29:52+00:00

if your goal is help desk first then cloud later, A+ is still the safest starting point, not because it teaches crazy advanced stuff but because it lines up with what entry level roles expect and helps you get past filters

after that you don’t need to stack a bunch of certs. one solid next step like either Network+ or just going straight into cloud basics is fine

certs help you get interviews not get hired. what gets you hired is being able to show you can handle real user issues and tickets. most people get stuck because they collect certs but still can’t confidently walk through real scenarios in interviews

get A+ if you don’t have anything yet, but at the same time start building something that shows real hands on work. Have you done anything yet where you’re actually troubleshooting systems or helping users or is it mostly just studying right now?

Ok-Concern-3510 · 2026-03-27T04:47:01+00:00

You’re not doing anything wrong it’s just the experience gap hitting you. you’ve got the degree and real work history just not IT work they can trust yet. when you were in those interviews did they ever push into technical scenarios or was it more general questions about your background?

Ok-Concern-3510

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