Gilbert Beneako's first few years out of university weren't easy. He had studied computers at the University of Greenwich, where he learned plenty about the ins and outs of programming and databases. But those types of positions, he found, were in short supply when he got out of school. And they all took experience to get a foot in the door – a degree alone wouldn't do the trick. In seeking out that experience, he ended up in a volunteer role, but as the years went by, the tech world was changing.

When Beneako was in school, Windows XP and Windows 7 were the primary operating systems in use on PCs. But toward the end of his time as a volunteer, enterprise systems were migrating to Windows 10. He looked for ways to further his IT education and refresh his skills for the contemporary workplace.

“The industry moves quite fast,” Beneako said. “I’m always trying to keep up, but I never give up when things get difficult because that wouldn’t be me at all. I’ll always keep on fighting, fighting till the very end.”

And on top of that, Beneako needed money.

Due to an adverse medical situation, Beneako’s father was no longer able to work – and so Beneako needed to take on more financial responsibility. But because of that, he had even fewer financial resources at his disposal, right when he needed money to invest in training the most. That’s where CompTIA’s Just IT scholarship came in. The CompTIA and Just IT scholarship was developed to support an individual who without its support would not be able to pursue a career in IT.

Discovering CompTIA Through Just IT

As he continued his search for career readiness resources, Beneako came upon Just IT. He started discussing his options with one of Just IT's consultants and began learning the real inside line on what it takes to get a job in IT in 2017.

Beneako had been unfamiliar with CompTIA – but as he read more about Just IT’s offerings, which include many CompTIA certifications, he came to understand the tremendous industry recognition the certifications have and the incredible boon they could be to his job prospects. One thing in particular stuck out to him as the kind of exciting work he'd eventually like to end up doing.

“When I saw the cybersecurity course, I was like, ‘hey-hey!’” Beneako said.

Before he could even get started, there was the money issue. The consultant with whom he was working appreciated his personal story, drive and rough financial position. He gave Beneako the heads up on applying for the CompTIA-supported scholarship.

Beneako submitted his application and did a phone interview. Shortly thereafter, he was on the road to getting his CompTIA A+ certification – and the IT job ladder.

Training in a New Technological World

While Beneako’s university experience had taught him about working on IT and databases, beginning the Just IT course made him realize how much he was behind on IT, and that made the coding possible.

From the fundamentals of hardware troubleshooting to the mechanics of network architecture and system administration, Beneako began learning all sorts of new IT skills outside of his area of expertise – and the study materials made all the difference.

With the help of interactive study aids, Beneako passed both exams on the first run through. And the in-depth education he got from studying for the CompTIA A+ exam imbued him with a confidence that he’ll carry in his day-to-day work when he gets started in the field. When it comes to the basics of IT, he knows exactly what the terms means and exactly how things work.

And as he begins his job search, Just IT will give him ongoing career-building support to help him approach his interviews with the same level of confidence. 

The First Rung of the Job Ladder – and Beyond

With his CompTIA A+ certification in hand, and Just IT's interview preparation resources backing him, that sticking point of workplace experience will no longer bar Beneako's way to entering the world of professional computing.

And so Beneako plans to take his first step onto the ladder with a tech support position, and begin his ascent up the job ladder.

And while right out of school Beneako saw himself working closer to the front end, the world of infrastructure that he now understands has given him a new perspective on what jobs are available – and where his skills can take him. An eventual career in cybersecurity may very well be in the cards as Beneako continues to pursue more advanced IT skills and further CompTIA certifications to validate them.

“I wanted to do database because that’s what I did in university, but I want to see how this goes,” Beneako said.

Ready to start your IT career? See which CompTIA certification is right for you.

Matthew Stern is a freelance writer based in Chicago who covers information technology, retail and various other topics and industries.