the hacker’s roadmap (how to get started in IT in 2025)

Getting an IT job in 2025 starts with experience, not expertise: apply for help desk or technical support roles immediately—even before building deep skills—then stack certifications and hands-on projects on top. The roadmap is built around a simple premise: nothing beats resume-ready work history, and the fastest way to learn what employers actually want is to interview while studying.

“Phase zero” is the unconventional move. Instead of waiting to finish training, the plan pushes job applications right away and treats the process itself as education. Help desk jobs are positioned as the typical entry point, with customer service skills often mattering more than advanced technical experience. The advice is to tailor a resume toward the job being targeted (for example, translating prior work into IT-relevant tasks like fixing printers), polish LinkedIn, and keep applying consistently. Networking is folded in early too—following IT people on Twitter/X, joining Discord communities, and building relationships with mentors—because many opportunities come through connections.

“Phase one” focuses on foundational IT credentials and broad technical literacy. The core recommendation is CompTIA A+ as the help-desk certification that helps clear HR filters; the value isn’t just knowledge but proof that hiring managers can quickly interpret. The A+ is described as an “IT buffet,” covering enough breadth to help beginners decide a direction later. While studying, the roadmap adds two supporting tracks: Linux and coding (specifically Python or Go). The suggested pace is light but consistent—such as 30 minutes each on Linux and Python one day a week—using free resources like Professor Messer for A+ and YouTube courses for Linux/Python. To make learning tangible, it calls for a home lab: install VirtualBox and Ubuntu, practice networking with tools like pfSense, and deploy small services (like a DNS server) that can become “resume building moments.” Phase one is estimated at two to three months.

“Phase two” shifts into security credentials without requiring a full commitment to hacking. CompTIA Security+ is the centerpiece, framed as both a knowledge “buffet” and a checkbox credential—especially for government-adjacent roles tied to DoD 8570 requirements. Linux and Python continue, but with security flavor. The roadmap suggests learning Linux via OverTheWire’s Bandit path, then building small projects such as a Python network scanner to identify open ports. Home lab automation and continued job applications remain constant. Phase two is also estimated at two to three months.

“Phase three” becomes networking-first, anchored by a certification choice: Cisco CCNA (Cisco-focused, harder, more practical with CLI and automation) or CompTIA Network+. The roadmap recommends making Linux/Python study networking-focused because CCNA automation leans on scripting and interacting with routers/switches. It also pushes a more serious home network setup—replacing a home router with pfSense or even experimenting with alternatives like Unifi—then monitoring network performance and documenting it for the resume. Phase three typically takes two to four months depending on the certification.

A short “phase 3.5” is reserved for the job hunt: if no job exists by then, full-time effort should go into applying, interviewing, and leveraging the accumulated A+, Security+, Linux/Python, and networking credential.

After that, the roadmap branches. For cybersecurity’s offensive side (red teaming / ethical hacking), it recommends a sequence of practical entry certifications: EJPT or PenTest+ first, then Hack The Box’s CPTS, and eventually OSCP as the “crown jewel.” It also encourages CTF practice using beginner-friendly platforms like PicoCTF. Finally, it argues that college is optional if certifications and competency are proven, and it emphasizes adaptability—skipping phases when skills already exist or when job opportunities appear—while never skipping the underlying learning needed to succeed in the role.