IT CareerSwitch Chronicles: Navigating the IT Landscape - From Exams to Employment

Before I dive into whether I managed to escape the clutches of warehouse life, let me spill the beans on my rollercoaster ride through the courses and experiences with IT CareerSwitch. Maybe, just maybe, my story can shed some light for someone out there.

After shelling out over 1000 pounds and setting up a direct debit, I eagerly received a treasure trove of seven courses. Cisco, Microsoft, CompTIA—name it, they had it. It was a lot to digest, but the responsive staff on the phone and via email kept me hopeful, brushing aside some skepticism fueled by online reviews.

Each course came with its own exam, and for every internal exam passed, I received a certification from them. Cisco 200-301, Microsoft MD-100, MD-101, CompTIA Network+ N10-008, CompTIA Security+ SY0-601, CompTIA A+ 220-1101, and A+ 220-1102—it was a formidable lineup. Every course had its own exam, and at the end of it all, a final internal exam loomed. You could fail four times, but if the fifth attempt went south, no job guarantee for you.

I won't sugarcoat it; it was challenging. A mere 40 seconds to read and answer—an uphill battle, but not an impossible one. I passed on my first try, securing the knowledge to tackle my A+. Little did I know, that was just the tip of the iceberg. Post-exam, they threw me into the deep end with labs—practical, real-life experience, the kind that matters in interviews.

The revelation struck: the courses they provided weren't as accurate and fully developed as I needed. Professor Messer became my beacon, and his YouTube channel and Discord community became my lifeline for A+ exam preparation. IT CareerSwitch sent me the voucher for Core 1 (first attempt covered by them). I passed Core 1 with flying colors and realized my knowledge surpassed their exam requirements.

Then came Core 2. The first attempt, despite meticulous preparation, ended in failure by a whisker. Stubbornness kicked in—I booked the exam for the next day, skipped the performance-based questions, finished early, and passed. I informed IT CareerSwitch of my A+ certification, thinking I was ready to dive into the IT job market.

Little did I know, there were more hoops to jump through—CVs, documents, interview preparations. These are the steps easily overlooked in the grand plan. Was it worth going with IT CareerSwitch? Absolutely. If you're clueless about where to start, what to learn, having guidance is invaluable. They didn't pay me to learn or pass exams; they guided me. Now, it's their turn to find me a job.

In my next message, I'll spill the beans on what happened next.