Weekly thread for any and all career, learning and general guidance questions. Thinking of taking a training or going for a cert? Wondering how to level up your career? Wondering what NOT to do? Got other questions? This is the time and place to ask!
Looking for cert guidance!
I’m a late-40’s life-long IT guy, working as a cybersecurity architect / deputy CISO for a state govt agency the last few years. I have my CISSP and bachelor’s in IT mgmt from WGU.
I have access to free microsoft classes & cert tests through my employer. Thinking about going back and getting some certs. Does it make sense to do the security certs in order?
SC-900, SC-100-200-300-400, AZ 500
Or am I overthinking it and I should just jump in and try a test to see how I do?
What are your goals?
Derp, thanks for the prompt. I’d like to move to a position for more income. Government or private. Currently at $127k / yr.
I wrote a bit about the pitfall(s) of “Certification Paths” - https://shellsharks.com/notes/2023/11/14/stop-worrying-about-certification-paths.
This is coming from someone who has A LOT of certs, and I’ve learned over this time that it’s just not the right way to think about progressing career-wise. You can read more though about certs and some thoughts on what you could take here too https://shellsharks.com/training-retrospective#what-certification-or-training-should-i-take.
Has anyone here ever worked a tutoring job from Varsity Tutors? I keep seeing them on linkedin with tutor jobs focusing on security. I was thinking it might be a good side hustle tutoring for just a couple of hours a week for some extra income.
Never heard of 'em. I’d say most of those things, while not necessarily “scams”, are probably not worth the time you would put into them. That said, if you have free time and they pay, then it is what it is. If you go down that path, make sure to report back!
