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

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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