By Dr. James Stanger | 58 Min Video

Your career deserves the best beginning possible. But what essential skills do you need to obtain before you get further on your journey? CompTIA’s Chief Technology Evangelist, Dr. James Stanger, explains how A+ gives you an invaluable technical foundation for your career.

After watching, you will:

• Get the ideal tech foundation for your entire career.
• Become resume-worthy
• Identify key tech skills that hiring managers want at the help desk/service desk
• Understand key tech support and troubleshooting concepts and best practices

Start preparing for the latest CompTIA A+ exams (A+ 220-1101 core and A+ 220-1102 operating systems, secure, and operational procedures)!

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Why Start with CompTIA A+

• Entry-point into IT: A+ serves as the foundational certification for roles like help desk, desktop support, and IT generalist.
• Global recognition and practical focus: It’s vendor-neutral, tests performance-based skills, and proves your ability to perform critical hands-on IT tasks.

Mapping Your Career Journey

• Self‑assessment: Before diving in, reflect on your strengths and interests—are you more hardware, networking, or support oriented?
• Create a learning roadmap: Start with CompTIA A+, then move to Network+, Security+, and beyond (Cloud+, Linux+, etc.) as your career evolves.

Building Real‑World Skills

• Hands-on labs and tinkering: Disassemble PCs, troubleshoot networks, practice operating systems—learning by doing is key.
• Supplemental resources: Use practice exams, online platforms (e.g. Professor Messer), and CompTIA CertMaster to reinforce concepts.

Getting Certified and Gaining Experience

• Take the exams: Earn both parts of the A+ certification through vendor-neutral testing (e.g. Pearson VUE).
• Practical experience: Seek volunteer roles, internships, field technician gigs, or part-time help desk jobs to build your resume.

Transitioning into the Workplace

• Leverage your credential: Promote your A+ certification on LinkedIn and your resume to attract attention from hiring managers.
• Networking and job search: Connect with IT pros online and offline, use career portals, and don’t underestimate local gigs—even cost-of-living areas can be saturated comptia.

Career Path Progression

Typical trajectory:

1. A+ → Job in help desk/Desktop Support
2. Add Network+ → Move into network administration
3. Add Security+ or Cloud+ → Step into cybersecurity and cloud roles.

Long-term advancement: Stackable certifications lead to roles like Systems Admin, Cybersecurity Analyst, or Solutions Architect over time.

Success Stories and ROI

• Career transformations: Users report dramatic changes—one went from warehouse work to IT with multiple certs in under 2 years; another rose from $40K to over $65K annually after obtaining A+ and CASP+.
• Momentum effect: Certification leads to entry-level roles, which enable further upskilling, better jobs, network connections, and degree credits.

Expert Tips from the Instructor

• Skill‐ability over memorization: Dr. James Stanger emphasizes practical competence (“skillability”)—your ability to apply knowledge is as important as knowing it.
• Lifelong learning mindset: Use A+ as a launchpad—continue through CompTIA pathways and stay adaptable as the IT landscape evolves.

Quick Recap

This video offers a friendly, comprehensive guide: start with A+, validate your skills through hands-on practice, strategically leverage certifications to enter the workforce, and steadily move up through additional training and connections.

Instructor Bio:

Dr. James Stanger is a recognized authority in security analytics, penetration testing, information technology, open source, and workforce development. He is currently CompTIA’s Chief Technology Evangelist. James has consulted with organizations worldwide, including the U.S. Department of State, the Japan Ministry of Defense, Microsoft, the University of Cambridge, the Australia Ambassador for Cyber Affairs, Zscaler, Oxford University, West Point, AstraZeneca, the UK Office for Nuclear Regulation, DBS Bank, NCSA Thailand, the U.S. National Institute of Technology (NIST), Northrop Grumman, and Dell.

An award-winning author, blogger, and educator, he has written for O’Reilly Media, RSA Journal, Linux Magazine, SC Magazine, Signal Magazine (AFCEA), Admin Magazine, and McGraw-Hill. Many of his works have been translated into over a dozen languages. In addition to his work as an active IT professional, he has helped design global education, certification, and badging programs in topics as diverse as security analytics, Linux administration, web development, kayaking, and British Romantic literature.