Jordan Smith

to recruiters, this is said with all do respect: please STOP calling and when someone answers immediately just asking for a name, or speaking someone's name. especially for those in technical roles. we are all to familiar with scams that are A(G)I in nature and there are real world instances of people going through legal battles. it is just common courtesy and etiquette to introduce yourself first anyway when making a call to someone you don't know #againrespectfully

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First time trying something like this❗But come with me on this journey to become exceptionally proficient in the Cloud. We start today ❗ Decided I wanted to venture into the cloud a little more for my next sprint at this ever-continuous IT learning journey. I figured I would start with what I know. Which is Networking. So here we are with Microsoft Azure Network Solutions. I found a solid resource to fully refresh a lot of Azure Networking topics that I may have forgotten or picked up along my process. This course has brought a lot of topics together so far. Follow along with me on this Azure Guided Lab (Part 1): How to create a Resource Group, Virtual Networks, and Subnets within that Virtual Network. https://lnkd.in/ghZRaKmw <---- Find something that interests you!

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This weeks goal: Confidence 🙌🏼 Being in tech is having the ability to be able to learn, grow, but also be willing to fail time and time again. We can do this. We are capable. 🔥🔥🔥 #cloudjourney #cloudcommunity #aws #awsengineer #cloudcomputing #itengineer #tech #workingintech

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OHHH TODAY IS NOT MY DAY I took the KCSA exam today and failed on my first attempt, exactly one week after passing the KCNA exam with the highest mark of 92. I took KCSA and fall For the KCNA, I didn't do any specific reading but went through all the questions on KodeKloud, which has more than 500 questions, and completed 180 questions on Udemy. I also watched a lot of videos within a week and took the exam. The questions seemed simple, plus I have hands-on experience, which helped me pass with the highest mark. For the KCSA, there was no KodeKloud content or YouTube videos available. I relied only on @Udemy questions, which were very easy, scoring 98 and 95 on my first attempts. I suspected the real exam wouldn't be as easy, so I reached out to a friend. He advised me that to pass the KCSA, I needed to study CKS from the beginning, look at documentation with cheat sheets, and familiarize myself with cybersecurity terms like STRIDE, MITRE ATT&CK®, NIST, HIPPA, ISO, etc which i refused to do. During the exam, I realized by the fourth question that I would fail because I flagged the first three questions. Flagging didn't help I flagged almost half of the questions. I couldn't remember even the daily tasks like security context numbers, AppArmor, and admission controllers. The questions weren't tough, but you need to know the terms and definitions, and understand Kubernetes security and cloud-native security thoroughly. To pass the KCSA, I must know the terms and their definitions, understand the specifics of HIPPA, PCI DSS, STRIDE, ISO, and so on. I should also go through the CKS theory, study everything comprehensively, and not rush to take the exam within two or three weeks just to become a kubestronaut. I don't care about the title for now, but I will discuss it with some colleagues again. Lastly, do not use any dumps. They won't help you succeed.

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Building a Strong IT Portfolio: My Strategy for Success As I advance my career in IT, I’m focused on creating a robust portfolio that highlights my skills and expertise in cloud technologies. Here’s how I’m approaching it: 1️⃣ Laying a Solid Foundation: I’m building up my base knowledge with the CompTIA trifecta (A+, Network+, and Security+), which provides essential skills in IT operations, networking, and security. 2️⃣ Specializing in Cloud Technologies: My next step is pursuing AWS certifications, including the Solutions Architect Associate, SysOps Administrator Associate, and Certified Developer Associate. These certifications will deepen my understanding of cloud infrastructure and design. 3️⃣ Showcasing Real-World Skills: I’ll be putting my knowledge into practice by completing the Cloud Resume Challenge. This project-based initiative allows me to build a professional portfolio using real cloud technologies, demonstrating hands-on skills that employers value. This strategy is designed to combine foundational knowledge, specialization, and practical experience, creating a portfolio that stands out in today’s competitive IT job market. If you’re also building your IT career or have tips to share, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Let’s grow together! #ITCareer #CloudComputing #CompTIA #AWS #CloudResumeChallenge

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There’s a saturation of those helping people transition to Tech but barely anyone giving game to help them succeed when they actually land that first role. Many are not set up for success & are DROWNING those first 4-8 weeks. Many don’t actually make it that far. Ya’ll already know..I was almost one of them… Yes, I almost quit my first Cloud Engineer role the first week… I might start gearing my efforts more to those people because there is more than enough information and resources out there to get in Tech…. But not so much empowering people to know how to stay there 😔 #cloud #cloudengineer #cloudcomputing

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Picked up the AWS "starter/foundational" certification yesterday; Cloud Practitioner. I used Pluralsight's training courses that nearly all of us at the bank get access to. This was my first time with using Pluralsight for any training studying and I thought it was really well done. At least for the AWS material. I plan on using it for other certs after some downtime. Overall, the certification test was challenging but thankfully no where near to CISSP or SANS levels. If you reviewed, made some high-level notes on the Services and have some working knowledge of IT/Security then reasoning through the questions isn't too bad if you know how to reason through tests. From a purely educational benefit perspective, it was definitely worthwhile. I liken AWS as Home Depot or Lowes in that it's stores have damn near everything you could need to build and outfit a house. I assume at least. I'm not an experienced DIYer. AWS has got a service for everything I could think of and more. I will only say this about to "cloud or not to cloud", like pretty much every business / IT / cybersecurity solution. 2 KEY takeaways: One size does not fit all and it's not a binary use or don't use the cloud. Tentatively planning for either SysOps or Security for AWS. SysOps would learn me some more about the nuts and bolts and how it works at a deeper level which is always a good thing when providing security to a "thing". #aws #awscloudpractitioner

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I keep having the question pop up on jobs that say they are "Linux" administration jobs, asking about Powershell experience - often as the SOLE "Technical screening" question. Am I missing something here - I'm fairly proficient with Bash scripting, and I can hobble my way through some basic Python scripting for Cron automation. Has PowerShell crossed over from being the weird "blue tinted terminal" on windows systems to being a commonly used *Linux* automation tool? Do i have that major of a blind spot? A cursory google search seems to indicate that powershell is not yet a "Cross platform" scripting tool.

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Some ugly things about working in tech/cybersecurity: Many are afraid to get laid off if they have a job, -> jobs in tech are not secure. - If you want to enter the industry, you may not even get an interview. -> You may have to know someone with connections. - Some jobs are very exhausting, especially with night shifts. - Large income disparity in some globally operated companies. - One mistake can cost a company millions -> high level of stress - Some jobs are very boring and repetitive - Low starter income, especially compared to the required knowledge Good things about IT jobs: - Often, huge growth potential in future salaries - A very wide range of jobs, many of them are in an office and convenient - Useful knowledge - A ton of free resources - Large and helpful communities with cool conferences - Jobs do not have to be boring; technology always changes, so jobs will change, too.

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Highly recommend

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A hard place for me to be in is the stage where you realize you're "not ready yet". It's like opening the oven door and seeing the cookies aren't fully baked. I took a practice exam for the AWS Cloud Practitioner certification, hoping to get a passing score and a "green light" to take the actual exam. I scored a 49%. I am the type of person that wants to be great on the first attempt at anything I do. I want to make a good impression on others, and part of "being impressive" for me would be passing this practice exam and subsequently the real exam with flying colors on the first try. Being a beginner is not initially intimidating to me, but the journey of going from beginner to practitioner is not always as easy and painless as I wish it was. I feel so eager to get through these certifications so I that feel like my tech career can officially begin. My mentor has emphasized that what's more important is if I truly know the information rather than knowing it enough to pass the exam. Looks like I'm lacking in both at the moment. The upside is, I now have a list of terms and concepts to study further, and I'm sure I'll see an improvement on my next attempt at the practice exam. I just have to keep pushing forward and try again, but for now, I'll enjoy this beautiful matcha latte. ☕️

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5 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐌𝐞 𝐚 𝐊𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐮𝐭...📌 (CKA, CKS, CKAD, KCNA, KCSA) Lately, I’ve been getting loads of messages from people asking, “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒉 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘶𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘴?” So whether your taking the CKA, CKS, CKAD, KCNA, or KCSA exam, here is everything that helped me go from zero to certified 𝐊𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐮𝐭! 1️⃣ 𝐌𝐮𝐦𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐡’𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 (𝐊𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐊𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝) Absolute game-changers. The labs are so hands-on, it’s like you’re in the middle of a real cluster, solving real problems. The structured approach helped me tackle each concept without feeling overwhelmed. Thanks Mumshad Mannambeth 2️⃣ 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫.𝐬𝐡 𝐌𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐬 The Killershell exams are 𝘯𝘰 𝘫𝘰𝘬𝘦. They’re harder than the real thing, but that’s exactly why they’re brilliant. If you can survive Killer.sh, you’ll breeze through the actual exam. 3️⃣ 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐝𝐚 𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬 When I found weak spots in my skills (yes, troubleshooting, I’m looking at you), Killercoda came in clutch. It’s perfect for drilling those tricky scenarios until they stick. 4️⃣ 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 Shoutout to saed ‎and his CKS mock exams playlist – an underrated gem. Also, Killer.sh solution playlists on YouTube. These playlists helped me see where I’d gone 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 and refine my approach. 5️⃣ 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐊𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐬 Not glamorous, but let’s face it – you need to be comfortable with the docs for the exams. Learn to navigate them quickly, and they’ll save you in the trickiest of moments. 📌 To anyone on the Kubernetes journey, these resources helped me get my CKA, CKAD, CKS, KCNA, and KCSA. But more importantly, they taught me how to problem-solve, troubleshoot under pressure, and truly 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 Kubernetes. If you’re thinking of starting your own journey, go for it! It’s tough, but it’s worth it. And remember, it’s not just about passing exams – it’s about building confidence in your skills and growing as an 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫.

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I think it was around the middle of 2020 when I first learned about machine learning. I wondered what it was. At that time, I had been working in the IT industry for about four years—two years in 1st Level IT Support and then two years as a System Administrator. I don't have an academic background in Computer Science. Everything I know has been self-taught. Now, after eight years, I am working as an Infrastructure Engineer at a Data Center. I need to maintain my job and continue progressing in it since it is the main source of income for my family. However, somewhere in my mind, I can’t let go of the feeling—the itch—of becoming an ML Ops Engineer. That’s why I strive to make progress in my current field while also working towards my future goal of becoming an ML Ops Engineer. Balancing a full-time job and advancing in it, while simultaneously trying to learn a completely different area of expertise, is undoubtedly challenging. I believe I can rise to this challenge and push myself even further. Next Time I will Tell you what happen in the last four years. #personalstory

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I’ll prolly never shut my mouth about the help desk .. it made me !!! Me personally I decided to go the basic route 2years ago and it was the best decision I ever made . My mentor told me who works in network security for the federal government said get on the help desk: 1) To see if I even like Information Technology . 2) To explore the different things you can do in information technology . 3) To learn how to problem solve because that too is a skill . 4) most importantly understand buisness needs ! * important to note that you don’t have to do it this way , you can skip it and get a job specialized in a specific skill and yes it can take longer but it’s far from impossible * Ultimately I think it boils down to , the kind of job within IT you are seeking and how much knowledge you have . lol I was a newbie I didn’t even know the difference between a cpu and a monitor I thought the monitor was the cpu hahahahaha !! #technicalsuppport #happywednesday #informationtechnology #helpdesk #wordfromthewise #ccna #jobs #desktopsupport

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Dear Tech Support, After having gone through around 20 full cycle iterations after installing Wife 3.0 with the reciprocal program Husband 2.0, I have some good news. The program now seems to be very stable. I cannot tell whether that is due to the child programs being subject to mere background processes, the commands C:\YES DEAR and C:\APOLOGIZE and programs such as Flowers 2.1 and Diamonds 5.0 being more effective than usual, or merely good luck. I have noticed the following patterns and have written a batch script to handle them automatically: When the system encounters a General Partnership Fault (GPF), the command C:\CALM DOWN and the execution of the program Troubleshoot 83.9 is an immediate mistake, even though they seem to be the most logical in my mind. Rather, the programs Listen 10.0 and Empathize 8.6 followed by an immediate C:\APOLOGIZE has better results, especially when Therapist 3.0 is installed. The following programs should definitely be set on a schedule, although the frequency may need to be altered to adjust for many subroutines: Cleaning 1.0 Pay Bills 2.5 Cooking 6.0 DateNight 4.0 I’d add Sex 8.4 to that list, however, I cannot seem to find the right frequency, nor does it always get accepted. Intimacy 2.1, though, is nearly always is a suitable backup and has been on the rise lately in place of Sex 8.4. I am also happy to report that due to Child 1.0 through Child 4.0 having been augmented with Adulting 1.0, both Wife 1.0 and Wife 2.0 as well as Husband 1.0 are no longer causing program failures. Child 1.0 necessitated the install of SonInLaw 2.0 and spawned three running versions of the subroutine Grandchild 1.0. Child 5.0 will need Driving 1.0 soon, meaning Adulting 1.0 is not too far off either. SisterInLaw 4.0 gave us a hiccup and I was forced to install Guardian 2.0 twice and even though one of them entered Adulting 1.0 on another system, the other program is still resident. Too many other programs were necessary to get this many cycles in to really mention, but some major ones were the loss of Mom 1.0, Dad 1.0, and both MotherInLaw 2.0 and FatherInLaw 2.0. Pets 8.9 and Livestock 5.7 became a major program around 5 cycles ago when HouseUpgrade 2.0 was made due to Dad 1.0 losing the ability to process video. Job 8.5 and Savings 8.9 are on track to allow for the installation of Retirement 1.0 in another 9 cycles or so, but they were very difficult programs to keep running all the time and had to have numerous upgrades, sometimes necessitating running College 2.0 again in order to make a significant difference. [See comments for continuation]

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📢 I've been working on this Azure project and I got to say it's been interesting! This past week I deployed a Static Website hosted within Azure utilizing Azure Blob storage, Azure CDN and even more to keep it secure. 📚 ( I also been studying some security tools/services as well that is in Azure so stay tune, I might implement one of them. ) 😎 I think for a first project within Azure or any other cloud platform you prefer the best way to kickoff your journey is to get your hand's dirty within the management console and deploy your very own static website. 💡 If you want to found out how to do it, check out my article down below, and make sure you follow on my GitHub account imma have some more fun projects that imma work on in the future! 😉 👇🏽 https://lnkd.in/ejvkWdJs 🗣 I want to give a shout out to my coaches: Broadus Palmer , Carl Hayes , Troy Ingram , Ifeanyi Otuonye, MBA , Zaire Ali, Bryant Witcher, Charles Woodruff, Janita Green Williamson, Tait Hoglund, and Lars Klint!!

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🚀 Alx just earned my Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Cloud Practitioner certification! It was a pretty easy exam, and I’m already gearing up for the AWS Solutions Architect – Professional next month. Also diving into Terraform, CCSP, and CISSP certifications as my next goals! Excited to keep expanding my cloud and infrastructure expertise. #AWS #CloudCertifications #Cybersecurity #Terraform #ContinuousLearning

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