I've helped people go from retail, food service, and desk jobs to landing $50K-$70K IT roles in under 6 months. Here's the playbook:

The reality: You don't need a CS degree. You don't need bootcamp. You need certifications that employers actually respect, and a system to pass them efficiently.

The cert stack that gets you hired:

Step 1: CompTIA A+ (2-3 months)

This is your foundation. It covers hardware, troubleshooting, networking basics, and OS fundamentals. Most help desk and desktop support roles require it. Two exams: Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102).

Step 2: CompTIA Network+ (1-2 months)

Once you have A+, Network+ clicks fast. It proves you understand how networks actually work — routing, switching, DNS, DHCP, subnetting. Huge for sysadmin and network tech roles.

Step 3: CompTIA Security+ (1-2 months)

This is where the money is. Security+ is DoD 8570 compliant, meaning government and defense contractors require it. It opens doors to cybersecurity analyst roles starting at $65K+.

Study method that actually works:

• Watch video courses at 1.5x speed for the overview

• Immediately do practice questions on each topic

• Use flashcards for memorization-heavy content (ports, acronyms)

• Take at least 5 full practice exams before your real exam

• Score 85%+ consistently on practice tests before you book

The mistake most people make: They study passively for months without taking practice exams. Don't do that. Active recall beats passive watching every time.

This is exactly what we cover inside CompTIA Certified Hub — structured study paths, practice exams, and a community of people on the same journey.