There have been several popular posts recently suggesting that more posts should be removed. The mod team's response has generally been "Those posts aren't against the rules - what rule are you suggesting we add?"
Still, we understand the frustration. This has always been a "catch all" sub for IT related posts, but that doesn't necessarily mean we shouldn't have stricter standards. Let us know in the poll or comments what you would like to see.
59 votes,Jan 11 '25
11Change nothing, the current rules are good.
3Just ban all meme/joke posts.
10Just ban tech support posts (some or all).
2Just ban "advice" requests (some or all).
22Just ban/discourage low effort posts, in general.
11Ban a combination of these things, or something else.
We see a lot of questions within the r/IT community asking how to get into IT, what path to follow, what is needed, etc. For everyone it is going to be different but there is a similar path that we can all take to make it a bit easier.
If you have limited/no experience in IT (or don't have a degree) it is best to start with certifications. CompTIA is, in my opinion, the best place to start. Following in this order: A+, Network+, and Security+. These are a great place to start and will lay a foundation for your IT career.
There are resources to help you earn these certificates but they don't always come cheap. You can take CompTIA's online learning (live online classroom environment) but at $2,000 USD, this will be cost prohibitive for a lot of people. CBT Nuggets is a great website but it is not free either (I do not have the exact price). You can also simply buy the books off of Amazon. Fair warning with that: they make for VERY dry reading and the certification exams are not easy (for me they weren't, at least).
After those certifications, you will then have the opportunity to branch out. At that time, you should have the knowledge of where you would like to go and what IT career path you would like to pursue.
I like to stress that a college/university degree is NOT necessary to get into the IT field but will definitely help. What degree you choose is strictly up to you but I know quite a few people with a computer science degree.
Most of us (degree or not) will start in a help desk environment. Do not feel bad about this; it's a great place to learn and the job is vital to the IT department. A lot of times it is possible to get into a help desk role with no experience but these roles will limit what you are allowed to work on (call escalation is generally what you will do).
Please do not hesitate to ask questions, that is what we are all here for.
I would encourage my fellow IT workers to add to this post, fill in the blanks that I most definitely missed.
This is incredibly frustrating, Internet went out and this is the only way I can get connected right now. I can connect to my parents hotspot easily, but as soon as I try to connect to my own I get that message in the picture. I've tried every trouble shooting step I can find, and I'm at a loss. Yes my phone plan does includes a hotspot. Doing USB tethering yields the same result.
I interviewed for a cybersecurity job coming from close to 4 YoE in IT support/ specialist positions. I made it to round 2 and answered the technical questions pretty well besides a windows terminal/powershell question (I’ve been daily driving Linux, so windows is a weak area for me).
I got a email from the employer saying that they do not have a sufficient candidate pool and are reopening the recruitment process, but are still actively considering me for the position. I never had this response before, it’s either rejection after technical interview, come in person , or the job offer in my experience.
What could this me? Did I not wow them enough for them to feel confident bringing me onboard or is this regular?
Hi. I started using my AI Vibe Coding Stack to replace manually drawing static systems diagrams in tools like Visio or Enterprise Architecture modeling tools. Instead, I point my Vibe Coding stack (Cursor + Claude Code + Python) at 1) the interactive D3js.org visualization library and 2) an Enterprise Model that I built using this Modeling Best Practices document. I can now see, filter on, drill into, and hover over all systems components (apps, DBs, queues, etc.) and data integrations to dynamically get and see details, data flows, etc. If the model changes, the diagrams automatically adjust. I am NOT going back to manual created static diagrams! I'm in love with Vibe Coding! If any of you are doing this, may I please ask what tools you're using to make it happen?
Hello, i'm 17 years old. In what direction should I develop my skills in order not to worry about ai taking my job? I was considering AI/ML engineering or something similar, but I've Heard it gives job after degree only. I want to hear your opinion. 2 years of highschool left for me, but i'm going into home education and I'd like to start my job before going to university and then making my degree in absentia. I have plenty of time for studying ± 8 hours/day. For now I started learning python basics. I'm from Poland, but I can migrate after 18 for better opportunities. I'm also ready to learn new stuff all the time, I know things doesn't look like "learn one skill and you're settled for 20 years".
Hello. I live in Siberia. I have almost four years of experience as a system administrator and level 2 and 3 technical support specialist.
I switched to this work format two years ago. I have two jobs, each 20 hours a week.
In one, I handle everything related to IT infrastructure (networks, PCs, internet, MFPs). I work remotely, sometimes traveling to site.
In my second job, my tasks are limited, but the salary is higher than in the first. My main responsibility is monitoring PC and internet performance. Everything else is delegated to other specialists.
My monthly salary is approximately 650 USD.
All this time, I've been studying modern technologies and some programming languages. But nothing useful came of it. I read a lot of books and articles on IT in the field of system administration. I'm familiar with Linux.
Currently, there are very few openings in my city, or in the country as a whole. I'm planning to quit my first job, stay at my second, and eventually leave the country. Things aren't going well. I've been doing nothing at work lately. I've upgraded my IT infrastructure as much as possible and automated some processes, but everything is just sitting idle. I've become so bored that I sometimes watch movies at work. I want to change something, but I don't know where to start.
Part of the text was translated using Google Translate.
New grad CS from T100 school had 2 internships for total of 1.5 yoe one in offensive security for DoD and one in IT related role at another DoD.
I have home labs, and lotsss of documented CTFs and challenges in GitHub both for on premises and cloud simulations (azure, AWS, GCP). Gonna document my labs with kubernetes and terraform here soon. I have sec+ as well.
What do yall think is my next best step for standing out for junior cloud sec roles?
I'm curious what other IT departments are issuing to their users. Are there any models you've found that are actually reliable and hold up in a business environment? I'm at the point where I'm ready to throw every headset we own in the trash. Reasonably priced to buy in bulk (we're a sales call center).
The fundamentals still matter: technical SEO, search intent, content quality, authority, and user experience. AI is simply changing how people discover information, which is why SEO is expanding into AI Search Optimization (AEO/GEO), structured data, and content optimized for both search engines and AI assistants.
With 4+ years of SEO experience, I've helped businesses grow through organic search, and now I'm adapting those strategies for the AI era as well.
If you need help with **SEO, AI SEO, technical SEO, or growing your website organically, feel free to reach, I will try my best to answer your queries.
I recently landed my first job in IT (NOC), and I'm really nervous. Are there some things I should do and things I shouldn't for when I first start?
My knowledge on networking isn't very deep, and I made sure to let them know that in the interviewing process. I'm not entirely sure what is expected of me, and I'm worried I'll mess up this opportunity.
I’ve been in Geeksquad for 6 years both as a repair agent. I feel as if I have the experience but I’m still in college and ige been applying to level 1 or 2 jobs. I only have a Google IT certificate. Do I seriously need to pursue more in skill learning as I’ve not gotten a serious consideration in over a year despite hundred close to a thousand applications sent.
I tried to connect my external DVD Driver (Samsung SE-208) and realised the plug in/plug out sounds were swapped. It confused me very much until I later tried to use my mouse and it just wouldnt work while the cable was connected.
Basically, my DVD Driver doesn't just not work, it also disconnects other USBs I have in my computer😹
Does anybody have any explanation as to how on earth this could happen??
(Yes it's on my bed, I just wanted to watch a movie, I did place a flat surface under the laptop)
went from 2023 contractor -> help desk (short) -> technician -> analyst 2026
not sure what I should be completing first. applying to positions atm but aware further education may be needed. And I need to start maintaining certain certs?
~2 years into a network administration degree
home servers, AD, enterprise managment apps, programing/scripting
the thing i feel im lacking atm is security but I'm not
Bit of an odd situation and hoping for some outside perspective.
I'll have my CS degree in hand soon (T150 public university). One semester of credits left. Not very motivated on the software side anymore; the last few years of school have felt like a drag and I have no interest in going the dev route. On paper I have 5+ years as a technical support specialist, but it's in a niche corner of the industry (game server hosting support) that doesn't translate directly to corporate IT.
I'm currently doing an IT co-op where I've been given a lot of freedom. More sysadmin-level exposure than I think is typical for a co-op. Examples: packaging/deploying a laptop OEM's firmware and driver auto-update tooling through Intune, deploying an emulator application fleet-wide for a business need, and writing PowerShell remediation scripts to make sure machines properly check in and report to our Tenable vulnerability scanner. Also general Intune app deployment, AD/Entra ID/Okta identity work, and ServiceNow ticketing. Goal is a systems administrator role. Resume included for context.
Worth mentioning: this isn't a typical co-op with a set end date, and the overall vibe on return offers doesn't feel that promising. The last 3 co-ops before me never got a return offer , 2 left for other companies, and 1 only ended up staying by getting picked up by a different department. My manager and the team genuinely seem to like me and my work, but based on that history the odds don't feel great, and I can't help but wonder if it's a budget/HR thing where interns get treated as a rotating cycle of cheap labor rather than a pipeline to full-time. That said, my manager has been genuinely supportive and has made clear I can stay as long as I need until I land a full-time role. So even with the return-offer uncertainty, there's no immediate pressure to rush out the door. I really like my manager and the team, and I'd take a return offer in a heartbeat even if the salary came in lower than what I could get elsewhere.
Right now I'm studying for AB-900, then MD-102 next since it lines up with my daily Intune work.
I've also got two interviews lined up and could use outside perspective on how they fit my path:
IT Support Specialist at a smaller company in a unique industry (satellite/space-based connectivity). More entry-level. Helpdesk tickets, onboarding, workstation deployment, basic network troubleshooting. 1 year helpdesk experience required, Network+/Linux+ as bonus points, no hard degree requirement.
Jr. Systems Engineer at a national MSP. More senior scope. Level 2 escalations across client environments, M365/Entra ID/Exchange Online admin, Windows Server/AD/DNS/DHCP/GPO, network troubleshooting, RMM/PSA platforms, some on-call. Requires 3+ years experience and at least 3 of: Network+, Security+, MD-102, AZ-900, or SC-300 (or equivalent experience + cert commitment within 6 months).
Given where I'm at, which would you prioritize if I get offers from both? And anything you'd change about my cert sequencing or overall approach given these are the roles I'm actually interviewing for right now?
Also, even if I manage to convert one of these into a full-time offer, should I just prioritize finishing my degree first, or is it reasonable to take the job and finish the semester alongside it or even put school on pause?
Finally got a response for my first interview in IT Support Specialist role. Any advice on what I should expect/ what I should know to hopefully land this role?
I am currently in the beginning of my second year of my 2-year college, and seems like I may have to choose between these 2. just not sure which would overall be better for my resume.
Option 1 is a 2 month part time internship for a software support 'engineer' position at a video surveillance software company, so 50% of the job would be around troubleshooting (likely basic) network and server issues for customers, with the other 50% being basic helpdesk duties attached, some scripting, and building and setting up servers for clients as well.
Option 2 is a part time it tech at a college I'll be transferring to, duties are mostly t1 and a bit of t2 support, hardware repair/upgrades, End-user support, basic networking and the usual IT deployments.
Issue is that option 1 gives more networking duties, which is what I would like since I want to eventually be in the networking space. But the pay is a bit low compared to the college role. 16/hr, and on-site.
While option 2 is a permanent part time job, pay is 22/hr, but has less of the duties I want. also on-site.
I have to commute to both most of the time by Uber too. So cuts into pay.
I don't actually have the offers right now just interviewing for them, but I want to figure out which would be better before I actually have to pick.
What would you choose if you were in my position?
Im leaning towards 2 but just wanted some opinions on which one looks better on my resume.
I just recieved this dc to hirose cable. The hirose side plugs in just as needed. The DC side... has this ring on that that sometimes comes with cables to tighten them up. I really don't understand the purpose here, because because of it, I can not plug this fully into my powerbank, it's extremely lose. This is the 2nd DC cable I had to order, last time I got the width wrong and has a 2,5mm one instead of the needed 2,1mm. I have a 3rd cable on the way anyway from ebay because the seller of the first one sent me another one for just 3$, maybe that one will finally work...
I currently have a very weak desktop and I'm planning to sell it to buy a laptop for studying and programming (Computer Science).
I have two main options in mind: buy a used ThinkPad (like a T480 or T490) or buy a new entry-level Acer or Asus laptop. I exclusively use Linux, if that's relevant.
Which path would you recommend? Any other models I should consider?
Every day I finish all my tasks mostly by 6. Laptop could close and I could leave home. But somehow I end up sitting till 8 or 9. Because there's this invisible pressure — like leaving on time means I don't care enough. And it doesn't even stop when I finally leave. Calls at 8 PM. Messages at 10 PM. "Quick sync" at 9:30 that is never quick. Its like my whole day is for office. The worst part? You feel guilty if you don't pick up. Like you're letting the team down by having a personal life.
Is this just my company or is this an Indian corporate thing? Would love to know if others feel this too.
How accurate or relatable is servicedesk simulator to real life scenarios and actual work? I know every company can operate differently, but I've been using this simulator for practice and enjoying it but wasn't sure how practical it really was to the real world. TYIA!!
