This is a continuation of my previous How I got started in tech post. So if you want the backstory, check that one out first.

Sometime after university I decided that needed to follow the alluring call to understand, at a deeper level, these mystical devices that brought me extremes of many emotions. Based on interactions I had with business owners and a variety of ‘adults’, I was certain that if I continued on this path and stayed on the ethical side of the line, I would be able to make a career out of my hobby/passion (that’s what we all shoot for right).

I won’t be going into detail of the positions and companies I’ve worked for as that is not the intention here. However, career may be referenced as we move progress through this continuing education quest. My first official tech position was on the L2 HelpDesk team for a large insurance group. This was high volume and fast paced which exposed me to a ton of common pain points in enterprise tech (OS, networking, applications, identity management, PRINTERS!). The variety of scenarios that I found myself in each day pushed me to focus on learning.

I began reading exam prep books for CompTIA Network+ and CCNA. As I was moving through this network material, I also made a transition from HelpDesk to providing Managed Services with a partner. We handled any technical need that SMBs faced, ranging from break/fix, sys admin, & networking to web hosting & web development.

I continued working through the Network+ material but decided to shift the time I was commiting to CCNA into focus on web development (HTML, CSS, PHP, and various CMS).

(more updates coming)