The I.T. Career Podcast

Need help finding a mentor or guidance on breaking through with hiring managers? Check out The I.T. Career Accelerator. https://itcareeraccelerator.com/Stop wasting money on certifications that hiring managers ignore. Learn how to actually break into a cybersecurity career.Most people collect certifications like Pokemon badges, but that strategy often leaves resumes at the bottom of the pile. Andrew Karate, a senior threat intelligence analyst and founder of the Ginger Hacker Initiative, joins me to explain why collecting badges fails to impress hiring managers. We discuss the reality of the current job market and why relying solely on credentials is a mistake.If you are trying to land an entry level cybersecurity role, you need to understand what recruiters are actually looking for. We break down the specific gaps in most study plans and how to shift your focus toward skills that prove your value. This conversation provides a clear path for anyone feeling stuck in the trap of over-certifying without practical experience.Subscribe for weekly cybersecurity breakdowns, and let me know in the comments if you want to see more career strategy interviews.🔗Resources mentioned in the video:Andrew Crotty LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-crotty-gingerhacker/Ginger Hacker Initiative: https://gingerhacker.org/Ginger Hacker Initiative Discord: https://discord.gg/YWc3y7G3Sp🔗 Don’t wait—click here to start your tech career journey: https://thebeardeditdad.com/itcareeraccelerator/Exclusive Career Resources✅ Weekly Insider Tips: https://thebeardeditdad.ck.page/55f710292b🎧Listen to The I.T. Career Podcast HERE: ➡︎YT: https://itdad.info/ytpodcast➡︎Apple: https://itdad.info/apple➡︎Spotify: https://itdad.info/spotify⏰Time Stamps:--------------------------------------------------- 0:00 The Costly Mistake Beginners Make1:35 Meet The Ginger Hacker2:24 Identifying The Industry Skills Gap7:52 Beyond The Resume: Standing Out10:57 Targeting Your Career Path26:21 The Reality Of The Cyber Job Market31:24 Your Roadmap To A Cyber CareerDisclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.#cybersecurity #careergrowth #jobs

Unlock your dream job in IT with our proven community:
https://itcareerjob.com/

Learn how a solo penetration tester builds a successful security firm without a massive corporate team behind him. See the reality of independent cybersecurity consulting.

Tyler Ramsbey left the safety of a major penetration testing company to launch his own firm, Kairosec. This conversation breaks down the logistics of operating as a one-person business in an industry dominated by giant agencies. You will see how he manages to compete with multi-million dollar infrastructure companies while working entirely on his own.

Whether you are an aspiring ethical hacking career seeker or an established security professional, this breakdown offers a clear look at the path to independence. We cover the specific challenges of solo security auditing and what it actually takes to run a solo operation in the high-stakes world of corporate cybersecurity.

Subscribe for weekly cybersecurity breakdowns, and let me know in the comments if you want to see more interviews with independent security experts.

🖥️ Sites Mentioned in this episode:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-ramsbey-86221643/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UC_82czjFMgsYMjodhG_4mIw
Hack Smarter: https://www.hacksmarter.org/catalog
Kairo Sec: https://kairos-sec.com/

🔗 Don’t wait—click here to start your tech career journey: https://thebeardeditdad.com/itcareeraccelerator/

Exclusive Career Resources
✅ Weekly Insider Tips: https://thebeardeditdad.ck.page/55f710292b
🎧 Listen to The I.T. Career Podcast HERE:
➡︎ YT: https://itdad.info/ytpodcast
➡︎ Apple: https://itdad.info/apple
➡︎ Spotify: https://itdad.info/spotify

Timestamps:
00:00 - Solo Ethical Hacker vs Giant Cybersecurity Agency
01:05 - How Tyler Ramsbey Built Cyrosc & Hacksmarter
03:13 - Boutique Pentesting Firm vs Cheap Penetration Testing
06:32 - Why I Left My W2 Pentesting Job to Go Solo
11:22 - Balancing Full-Time Job, Family, and YouTube Content Creation
15:01 - How Much Money You Need Saved Before Quitting Your Job
19:24 - How to Build Personal Brand Authority in Cybersecurity
25:11 - First 24 Hours of a Web App Pentest (Step-by-Step)
30:20 - Finding Broken Access Control & Username Enumeration Vulnerabilities
33:55 - Network Fundamentals First: CCNA vs Network+ for Hackers
39:31 - How I Landed My First $10,000 Pentesting Client
43:08 - How to Transition From Help Desk to Penetration Tester
46:10 - Hacksmarter Training Platform & Hands-On Cyber Labs
51:02 - Solo Business Model: Work Less & Make More in Cyber

Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
#pentesting #hacking #cybersecurity

Meter: Visit https://meter.com/itcareer to book a demo
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AI is changing everything… but not every tech job is replaceable.

In this video, I break down the real tech careers that are in high demand, pay extremely well, and — most importantly — AI can’t easily replace.

Whether you’re just starting in IT or looking to future-proof your career, this is your 2026 roadmap. We’ll cover everything from AI and cybersecurity to networking, data engineering, cloud, and DevOps, explaining what each role does, how much it pays, and the exact skills you’ll need to stay ahead.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Which tech jobs will be safe from AI in 2026
• The skills employers are begging for right now
• Real salary ranges (no hype — just facts)
• What challenges to expect and how to overcome them
• How to start preparing today, even with zero experience

These are the roles that are not just surviving the AI revolution — they’re thriving because of it.

🔗 Don’t wait—click here to start your tech career journey: https://thebeardeditdad.com/itcareeraccelerator/

Exclusive Career Resources
✅ Weekly Insider Tips: https://thebeardeditdad.ck.page/55f710292b
🎧 Listen to The I.T. Career Podcast HERE:
➡︎ YT: https://itdad.info/ytpodcast
➡︎ Apple: https://itdad.info/apple
➡︎ Spotify: https://itdad.info/spotify

Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
#ai #informationtechnology #ad

Meter: Visit https://meter.com/itcareer to book a demo

If you're worried about the state of "cyber security" job boards, this video addresses the half-truth about disappearing "cybersecurity entry level jobs". I sat down with Kenneth Ellington, a senior security engineer, to discuss why entry-level opportunities are changing, not vanishing. Learn how to navigate the evolving landscape of "cybersecurity jobs" and build a successful "cyber security career", even as an "entry level cybersecurity" professional.

🔗 Don’t wait—click here to start your tech career journey: https://thebeardeditdad.com/itcareeraccelerator/

Exclusive Career Resources
✅ Weekly Insider Tips: https://thebeardeditdad.ck.page/55f710292b
🎧 Listen to The I.T. Career Podcast HERE:
➡︎ YT: https://itdad.info/ytpodcast
➡︎ Apple: https://itdad.info/apple
➡︎ Spotify: https://itdad.info/spotify

📌 Watch Next:
No Experience? Follow This 9-Month Plan for Career Success: https://youtu.be/Kbjj9alXUa4
Get Started in Cybersecurity and Excel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLLne0mZGoj7Pzy7ZVFzDGjBEw1cz4Ubh

Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
#cybersecurity #jobs #ai

Unlock your dream job in IT with our proven community:
https://itcareeraccelerator.com/

The data shows this isn't just a future prediction—it is actively happening. The latest research from Enterprise Management Associates reveals that 52% of companies are struggling to hire and retain network engineers right now, a massive jump from just 26% a few years ago.

Two massive shifts are colliding to cause this crisis:

• The retirement cliff: The industry is currently smack in the middle of a massive demographic wave where an estimated 25% of senior network engineers are retiring within a five-year window.
• The pipeline drought: For the past decade, new tech workers have completely avoided networking. Everyone rushed into software engineering, web development, or AI because they thought networking was a dying, on-premises field.

Now, hyperscalers and enterprises are building massive data center infrastructure and realizing they have plenty of software people but a severe shortage of engineers who actually know how to plumb the pipes. The supply of up-and-coming talent is completely dry.

🔗 Don’t wait—click here to start your tech career journey: https://thebeardeditdad.com/itcareeraccelerator/

Exclusive Career Resources
✅ Weekly Insider Tips: https://thebeardeditdad.ck.page/55f710292b
🎧 Listen to The I.T. Career Podcast HERE:
➡︎ YT: https://itdad.info/ytpodcast
➡︎ Apple: https://itdad.info/apple
➡︎ Spotify: https://itdad.info/spotify

Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
#networking #careeradvice #ai

Meter: Visit https://meter.com/itcareer to book a demo

Are you tired of being ghosted by an algorithm? In 2026, the job market has turned into an "automation arms race." With over 900+ bot-generated applications hitting every job posting, hiring managers simply don’t have time to find the humans behind the screens.

Today, I’m sitting down with Morgan Willis, a Principal Cloud Technologist and Developer Advocate at AWS, to discuss why your "auto-apply" strategy is actually getting you rejected and how to fix it. Morgan has spent 15 years in software and IT, and she’s currently building the very AI agents that are reshaping our industry.

We’re skipping the sugar-coating and diving into what actually lands cloud jobs right now—from leveraging your "human" superpower to why the "Next Wave" of hiring is actually happening in-person.

------------------------------------

⚡️ THE RECOVERY KIT (FREE RESOURCES)

Don't let the bots win. If you're stuck in the AI rejection loop, start here: 👉 https://thebeardeditdad.kit.com/resume-template

Free ATS-Compliant Resume Template: Clear the first hurdle and get your resume seen by a human.

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Morgan Willis:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morganwilliscloud/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morganwilliscloud/

🔗 Don’t wait—click here to start your tech career journey: https://thebeardeditdad.com/itcareeraccelerator/

Exclusive Career Resources

✅ Weekly Insider Tips: https://thebeardeditdad.ck.page/55f710292b

🎧 Listen to The I.T. Career Podcast HERE:

➡︎ YT: https://itdad.info/ytpodcast

➡︎ Apple: https://itdad.info/apple

➡︎ Spotify: https://itdad.info/spotify

Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

#AICareer #careeradvice #AI

Join Boson's Live 8-Week CCNA Workshop starting Aug 17:
https://itdad.info/8Weeks2CCNA

If you are studying for the CCNA by just watching video courses on a second monitor while you scroll through social media, you are setting yourself up to fail on your first attempt. I learned this the hard way, burning hundreds of dollars on exam fees early in my career because my study strategy had a massive flaw. Passive information consumption does not build long-term retention or real skill. In this video, I am breaking down the exact study stack I wish someone handed me when I started—videos for introduction, labs for muscle memory, active recall for retention, and practice exams for verification—so you can build real skills, stop wasting money, and pass on your first attempt.

🔗 CCNA study stack resources mentioned:
Download Anki (Free flashcards): https://apps.ankiweb.net/
Pre-made CCNA Anki Decks (AnkiWeb): https://ankiweb.net/shared/decks/ccna
Cisco Packet Tracer (Free simulator): https://www.netacad.com/courses/packet-tracer

🏫 Continue learning:
Did you miss my deep-dive with Ryan Rose on the updated CCNA blueprint? Watch that next to understand exactly what Cisco expects you to know now.
📺 Watch the Ryan Rose interview: https://youtu.be/FMaluOJk9GM

🔗 Don’t wait—click here to start your tech career journey: https://thebeardeditdad.com/itcareeraccelerator/

Exclusive Career Resources
✅ Weekly Insider Tips: https://thebeardeditdad.ck.page/55f710292b
🎧 Listen to The I.T. Career Podcast HERE:
➡︎ YT: https://itdad.info/ytpodcast
➡︎ Apple: https://itdad.info/apple
➡︎ Spotify: https://itdad.info/spotify

⏰ Time Stamps:
0:00 - What's wrong with your CCNA study plan
2:14 - The issue with video courses
3:08 - Transforming Video Courses Into Active Learning
3:58 - Tools to Force Brain Recall and Retention
7:44 - Stop Building Massive Labs and Start Labbing Smarter
10:07 - The Final Countdown: Preparing for Exam Day

Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
#cisco #ccna #ad

Dive deeper with Snow Goat — the free hands-on lab that inspired this video: https://hubs.ly/Q03CSkb80
Plus, check out the Varonis blog for real-world cybersecurity insights: https://hubs.ly/Q03CShBG0/

Learn about the skills needed to start your cybersecurity career. David shares some career advice on how to get into cyber security jobs and the skills that helped him land a role as a cyber security analyst. This video also covers entry level cybersecurity positions.

David Huynh:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/knowfatiguetech/

🔗 Don’t wait—click here to start your tech career journey: https://thebeardeditdad.com/itcareeraccelerator/

Exclusive Career Resources
✅ Weekly Insider Tips: https://thebeardeditdad.ck.page/55f710292b
🎧 Listen to The I.T. Career Podcast HERE:
➡︎ YT: https://itdad.info/ytpodcast
➡︎ Apple: https://itdad.info/apple
➡︎ Spotify: https://itdad.info/spotify

Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
#cybersecurity #2026 #ad

Unlock your dream job in IT with our proven community: https://itcareerjob.com/

Cisco just dropped the brand new CCNA v2.0 blueprint, bringing the most disruptive change to the certification track in six years. In this exclusive interview, I sit down with Ryan Rose, Cisco’s Director of Product Management for Skills and Certifications, to pull back the curtain on why the exam is changing on February 3, 2027, and what it means for your IT career.

We break down the massive shift from basic terminology memorization to deep, scenario-based network troubleshooting. Ryan explains the return of performance-based exam labs, the structural elimination of the standalone automation domain, and how Cisco plans to test your ability to audit AI hallucinations in production environments. If you are currently studying for CCNA v1.1 or trying to break into the networking industry, this conversation will completely redefine your study roadmap and home lab strategy.

📱 Ryan Rose’s SOCIAL
LinkedIn: /ryanrose3
Cisco Blogs: https://blogs.cisco.com/author/ryanrose
X: https://x.com/RyanRose

🖥️ Cisco Resources Mentioned:
Cisco Announcement: https://blogs.cisco.com/learning/ai-updates-ccna-ccie-automation
CCNA 2.0 Blueprint: https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/s/ccna-v2-exam-topics
Cisco U: https://u.cisco.com/
Cisco Learning Network: https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/s/
Netacad: https://www.netacad.com
Packet Tracer: https://www.netacad.com/cisco-packet-tracer

🔗 Don’t wait—click here to start your tech career journey: https://thebeardeditdad.com/itcareeraccelerator/

Exclusive Career Resources
✅ Weekly Insider Tips: https://thebeardeditdad.ck.page/55f710292b
🎧 Listen to The I.T. Career Podcast HERE:
➡︎ YT: https://itdad.info/ytpodcast
➡︎ Apple: https://itdad.info/apple
➡︎ Spotify: https://itdad.info/spotify

⏰ Time Stamps:
0:00 - Brand New CCNA
0:49 - Ryan Rose - Cisco
1:50 - First CCNA change in 6 years
6:25 - Is the exam too hard?
10:10 - Adding Practical Skills/Troubleshooting
13:00 - Should I wait for CCNA V2.0
15:50 - New Lablets now in the CCNA
17:50 - v2.0 Changes how you study
22:00 - Importance of time management
25:00 - Automation domain removed from CCNA
32:30 - AI in the new CCNA
40:10 - Ryan's advice for students

Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. #CCNA #Cisco #Networking #ITCertifications #NetworkEngineer #CCNAv2

Get SOC 2 ready fast without the manual paperwork: https://rippling.com/soc2

Thinking about breaking into network engineering, or wondering what it actually takes to succeed in IT today?

I sat down live at Cisco Live with Daniel Dib, one of the few dual CCIE/CCDE experts in the world, to get his brutally honest advice for new network engineers. We bypassed the usual corporate fluff to talk about the real skills, mindsets, and massive shifts happening in the networking world right now.

If you are currently studying for certifications, trying to land your first helpdesk or networking role, or feeling stuck in your tech career, this blueprint from a top 1% engineer will change how you look at your career path.

🔗 Don’t wait—click here to start your tech career journey:
https://thebeardeditdad.com/itcareeraccelerator/

✅ Exclusive Career Resources
Weekly Insider Tips: https://thebeardeditdad.ck.page/55f710292b

🎧 Listen to The I.T. Career Podcast HERE:
➡︎ YT: https://itdad.info/ytpodcast
➡︎ Apple: https://itdad.info/apple
➡︎ Spotify: https://itdad.info/spotify

Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

#networking #ccna #careeradvice