NGT: Beyond the Cert

In this episode of Beyond the Cert, hosts Nick Rothacher and Zach Elliott are joined by NGT Academy Student Success Manager and former technical recruiter Alex Hanks. Together, they explore how to successfully navigate a career transition into the tech industry, translate non-traditional and military experience into corporate value, and stand out in today's job market.

Alex shares her journey from serving 10 years as an Army paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne to pivoting into project management, recruiting, and student advocacy. She provides insider perspective on what recruiters actually look for, how candidates can differentiate themselves, and why continuous learning and networking are critical from day one.

Whether you are navigating a military-to-civilian transition, trying to fix resume red flags, or looking to build career confidence, this episode offers practical strategies to own your value and take up space in your professional journey.

In This Episode:

• 00:21 | Alex’s Story & Transitioning from the Military: Paratrooper to technical recruiter, and how veterans can translate their service into corporate value.
• 05:04 | A Recruiter’s Perspective on Candidates: Standing out in busy job markets, overcoming application parsing, and the power of direct outreach.
• 18:50 | Resume & Interview Red Flags: Common pitfalls to avoid, the necessity of data-backed achievements, and why professionalism matters.
• 31:18 | Taking Up Space & Continuous Growth: Building confidence, trusting your perspective, and adopting a mindset to "consume what you want to become".
• 37:13 | Networking & Career Strategy: Starting your job search on day one of training, finding mentors, and creating your own board of advisers.

Connect with NGT Academy:

• 🌐⁠⁠ ⁠Website⁠⁠⁠
• 💼⁠⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠
• ▶️⁠⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠
• 📸⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠
• 📘⁠⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠

Follow Beyond the Cert for real stories, practical insights, and conversations about what it takes to build a successful career in technology.

You already have a brand, whether you actively manage it or not. In this episode of Beyond the Cert, hosts Nick Rothacher and Zach Elliott explore how to identify, refine, and project your personal brand to pivot successfully into a new career field.

Zach shares his own powerful journey transitioning from an Air Force cop to culinary school, and ultimately to a 13-year technical career at Cisco. Together, Nick and Zach break down how non-traditional talent, including veterans, nurses, and warehouse workers, can reframe their lived experiences, connect with professional values, and market themselves authentically to land their dream roles.

Whether you are navigating a crowded job market, battling imposter syndrome, or trying to stand out on LinkedIn, this conversation provides actionable insights on how to stop faking it and start owning your professional narrative.

In This Episode:

• 01:39 | Defining Personal Brand: Understanding that your professional brand is an extension of your daily actions and core values.

• 10:59 | Overcoming Transition Hurdles: Zach shares his personal career journey while addressing how to defeat imposter syndrome and "fail forward" through career challenges.

• 23:39 | Rewiring Your Narrative: Practical advice on how to translate non-traditional backgrounds and labor-intensive roles into valuable leadership metrics.

• 37:19 | Interview Signals: How to exhibit interview green flags like humility and curiosity, while avoiding red flags like entitlement and robotic AI scripts.

• 45:49 | Standing Out in 2026: Navigating an oversaturated job market by maximizing LinkedIn to broadcast an ongoing professional signal to recruiters.

Resources Mentioned:

• 📖 Zero to Engineer

• 📖 The Road Not Taken (Poem) by Robert Frost
• 🪖 Jocko Willink (The Power of "Good")

• 💻 LinkedIn Research

Connect with NGT Academy:

• 🌐 ⁠Website⁠

• 💼 ⁠LinkedIn⁠

• ▶️ ⁠YouTube⁠

• 📸 ⁠Instagram⁠

• 📘 ⁠Facebook⁠

Follow Beyond the Cert for real stories, practical insights, and conversations about what it takes to build a successful career in technology.

What Story Are You Telling?

Everyone has a story, but not everyone knows how to tell it.

In this episode of Beyond the Cert, hosts Nick Rothacher and Zach Elliott explore why storytelling is one of the most valuable skills you can develop, not just for interviews, but for networking, leadership, and personal growth.

Nick opens the conversation with a powerful story from a chance encounter on a flight that shaped his passion for mentorship and education. From there, they explore how to uncover the stories within your own career, turn experiences into compelling narratives, and communicate your value with confidence.

Whether you're transitioning careers, preparing for an interview, or looking to communicate more effectively, learning to tell your story can become one of your greatest professional advantages.

In This Episode:

• 01:45 – The Power of Connection: Nick's story and how one unexpected encounter shaped his career.
• 12:28 – Navigating Your Narrative: Turning your career experiences into meaningful "narrative stepping stones."
• 36:55 – A Practical Framework: A 5-step approach to structuring your stories: Situation, Task, Action, Results, and Takeaway.
• 40:02 – Embracing Failure: How setbacks can become powerful learning experiences and stories.
• 50:00 – The Three Ps: How patience, practice, and people can help you become a more confident storyteller.

Resources Mentioned

📖 How to Tell a Story

📖 Zero to Engineer

🎤 Toastmasters International

🎭 The Moth

Connect with NGT Academy

🌐 Website
💼 LinkedIn
▶️ YouTube
📸 Instagram
📘 Facebook

Follow Beyond the Cert for real stories, practical insights, and conversations about what it takes to build a successful career in technology.

Welcome to the very first episode of Beyond the Cert, hosted by Nick Rothacher and Zach Elliott of NGT Academy.

Beyond the Cert is a podcast about the people, skills, and stories behind successful careers in technology. Through conversations with students, educators, alumni, hiring leaders, and industry professionals, we explore career growth, emerging technologies, professional development, and the experiences that shape successful careers in tech.

In this premiere episode, Nick and Zach reflect on their experience at Cisco Live, one of the world's largest technology conferences, and share the biggest lessons they brought home. They discuss the growing impact of AI, the value of networking, the importance of mentorship, and how building meaningful relationships can create new career opportunities. Zach also shares insights from his transition from military service into technology and the lessons he's learned helping others navigate their own career journeys.

In This Episode:

• What made Cisco Live such an impactful experience
• How AI is shaping the future of technology

• Why networking creates career opportunities
• Lessons learned from mentoring students and professionals
• Zach's journey from military service to a career in technology

• How NGT Academy is helping learners build careers through competency, confidence, and community

Whether you're exploring a career in IT, earning your first certification, or looking to grow professionally, this episode is filled with practical insights to help you build the skills, confidence, and connections needed for a successful career in technology.

Resources Mentioned

📖 How to Tell a Story

📖 Zero to Engineer

🌐 Cisco Live

🌐 The Moth

🎥 Student Success Stories

• Michael Lee

• Ivan Wabo 

• Jeree Sampilo

Connect with NGT Academy

🌐 Website

💼 LinkedIn

▶️ YouTube

📸 Instagram

📘FaceBook

Interested in launching your own career in tech? Explore NGT Academy, hear more student success stories, and learn how to get started: https://nexgent.co/beyondthecert

Follow Beyond the Cert for conversations with educators, industry leaders, alumni, and technology professionals sharing the stories, skills, and strategies behind successful careers in tech.