Tell us a little bit about your journey from before you got into IT and joining Linux for Jobs.
I first started in the automobile industry. I worked in the dealership for a good portion of my life, at least 14 to 16 years.
I stumbled upon Lnx for Jobs through a post that was on Giant. A mutual friend, we went, and I interviewed with Jubee. He walked me through the steps, and I’ve always had an interest in IT. I always wanted to change my career path.
It’s just something I want to pursue. I went to Linux for Jobs, and I gotta say, when I spoke with Jubee that first time, I felt like I’d known him forever. Straight shooter. He answered all the questions that I had, and I knew I wanted to pursue it. He didn’t even have to tell me much; it was just something I wanted to do.
The teachers are awesome, and I learned so much in a very short time. It was like all this knowledge at once. Honestly, the best decision I’ve made in my life. It was a complete career change, and I’m so happy that I’ve done it.
The only thing I’m upset with myself about is that I didn’t do it earlier.
Tell us some ups and downs from the interview.
You have to clear your schedule and do the work. I mean, I think that’s not a downside, but it’s something that, if you want to achieve it and get your certs and get everything done, you’re gonna have to do the work. No one’s gonna do it for you.
But you do have the support from the teachers, and you have it from Jubee—they push you to do it. It isn’t easy. It’s something you have to pursue.
It took me three times in order to get my first cert. And that was on me. At first, I was like, “his is a little bit too difficult.” But I understood it after a while. I kept going at it, and then I finally achieved it.
If you continue to push yourself and motivate yourself to do it if you want to change, you’ll do it. But it comes with studying. You gotta put in the work.
I think that’s the primary thing. If you don’t do it, you’re not gonna get the rewards.
What would you tell people in general who are considering doing the pivot into IT?
I say if you can browse the internet, you can do it.
Sometimes it is discouraging because you’re like, “Oh, I’m not a tech person,” or “I can’t do this, I can’t do that.” Why not try it? That’s the biggest thing, fear of failure.
But when you fail at something, you pick yourself up and continue to do it. Then you can do it.
I think a lot of people have that misconception because it’s IT; they think, “Oh, I have to be a tech guy to do it.” I came from selling parts at a dealership.
And now I work at NIH. I’m doing something that I love: helping people in IT. It’s a wonderful feeling.
If a person is scared to change to IT, I say there’s nothing to fear but fear itself. Don’t be scared to fail. Don’t worry about it, just push yourself and do it.
Jumping into a new industry without a background can make you feel like an Imposter. But it’s OK to feel that and do it anyway.
Yes. That’s what I try to tell people every day. A change, any change is scary.
Even if you’re getting a new job in the same field, it’s still scary. But if you want to do something else, that’s also scary.
If you don’t push yourself, you’re not gonna find out. It’s always good to push yourself, test yourself.
And you can do it. You can do it.
I went from working at a dealership to doing IT. I know it’s possible.
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