Debt Free In IT w/ Mike

Hosted by Michael Bowden

Technology Education

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Episodes

198

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

“This Podcast is for anyone looking to get in the IT industry, whether it’s a career change or your just interested. You come to the right place”

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60 recent

October 23, 2026Episode 19917 min

5 IT Certifications & Skills Worth Getting in 2026

Send us Fan Mail Here are the 5 certifications and skills I’d focus on in 2026 if you’re getting into IT, plus what’s changing with each one. In this episode: CCNA: v2.0 goes live February 3, 2027, and it’s built around troubleshooting. Should you take the current version or wait? Firewall / Network Security: Palo Alto, Fortinet, and Cisco, and which one to pick Linux: RHCSA vs. CompTIA Linux+, and why it should have been on my original list Automation & Infrastructure as Code: Terraform and Ansible Learn AI: not a cert, a skill, and where to learn it for free Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This video is not sponsored. 🎯 1-ON-1 COACHING — ONLY 10 AT THIS RATE 60 minutes to figure out your next move, plus your roadmap in writing. If you're stuck in a call center trying to get into IT, this is the conversation. → https://cal.com/debtfreeinitwmike/it-career-strategy-session 📱 STUDYING FOR A CERT RIGHT NOW? Stop waiting till you get home. Pocket Prep is practice questions on your phone A+, Network+, Security+, CCNA, and more. Ten questions on your break beats the hour you keep telling yourself you'll find tonight. 👉 https://pocketprep.sjv.io/3kaEbK 🛠️ BUILD YOUR TECHNICAL FOUNDATION Know the workflow but need the tech side? KodeKloud gives you hands-on labs right in your browser, so you can practice real skills instead of just watching videos. It's a solid way to fill the gaps before you go after that IT role. 👉 https://tidd.ly/46XZJpj 📬 THE LOG FILES NEWSLETTER Weekly, practical advice for starting your IT career. → https://thelogfiles.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⸻ 🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: Debt Free In IT w/ Mike Website: https://www.debtfreeinitwithmike.com 🌐 CONNECT IG: @debtfreeinit | TikTok: @debtfreeinit | Facebook: @DebtFreeInIT LinkedIn: Michael Bowden Website: http://debtfreeinitwithmike.com Questions or topic suggestions? Comment below or email Debtfreeinit@gmail.com 💵 SUPPORT THE CHANNEL cash.app/$DebtFreeinIT 🛒 My full Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/debtfreeinitwmike 🌏 NordVPN (3 months extra, 30-day money-back): https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=612&aff_id=153284&url_id=14830 🎵 Music from Epidemic Sound (free trial): https://share.epidemicsound.com/vi35vl 📌 If this helped, drop a comment and share it with someone trying to break into tech 💻 #helpdesk #callcenter #ITcareer #breakintotech #ITsupport #careerchange #CompTIA #ITjobs #debtfreeinit ⸻ Support the show

October 16, 2026Episode 19824 min

Biomed vs. IT: Which Path Should You Choose?

Send us Fan Mail Is the A+ still worth it? Should you go into biomed or IT? In this episode, I answer a listener question from someone with an AWS cert, working on the Google IT Support cert, and feeling lost on what to do next. I break it down into two parts: ✅ What certification to go for next (biomed path vs. IT path) ✅ The study tools I actually use and recommend Whether you're a career changer or just getting started, this one's for you. Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This video is not sponsored. 🎯 1-ON-1 COACHING — ONLY 10 AT THIS RATE 60 minutes to figure out your next move, plus your roadmap in writing. If you're stuck in a call center trying to get into IT, this is the conversation. → https://cal.com/debtfreeinitwmike/it-career-strategy-session 📱 STUDYING FOR A CERT RIGHT NOW? Stop waiting till you get home. Pocket Prep is practice questions on your phone A+, Network+, Security+, CCNA, and more. Ten questions on your break beats the hour you keep telling yourself you'll find tonight. 👉 https://pocketprep.sjv.io/3kaEbK 🛠️ BUILD YOUR TECHNICAL FOUNDATION Know the workflow but need the tech side? KodeKloud gives you hands-on labs right in your browser, so you can practice real skills instead of just watching videos. It's a solid way to fill the gaps before you go after that IT role. 👉 https://tidd.ly/46XZJpj 📬 THE LOG FILES NEWSLETTER Weekly, practical advice for starting your IT career. → https://thelogfiles.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⸻ 🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: Debt Free In IT w/ Mike Website: https://www.debtfreeinitwithmike.com 🌐 CONNECT IG: @debtfreeinit | TikTok: @debtfreeinit | Facebook: @DebtFreeInIT LinkedIn: Michael Bowden Website: http://debtfreeinitwithmike.com Questions or topic suggestions? Comment below or email Debtfreeinit@gmail.com 💵 SUPPORT THE CHANNEL cash.app/$DebtFreeinIT 🛒 My full Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/debtfreeinitwmike 🌏 NordVPN (3 months extra, 30-day money-back): https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=612&aff_id=153284&url_id=14830 🎵 Music from Epidemic Sound (free trial): https://share.epidemicsound.com/vi35vl 📌 If this helped, drop a comment and share it with someone trying to break into tech 💻 #helpdesk #callcenter #ITcareer #breakintotech #ITsupport #careerchange #CompTIA #ITjobs #debtfreeinit ⸻ Support the show

October 9, 2026Episode 19728 min

Why Failing an IT Certification Is Actually Progress.

Send us Fan Mail I've failed more IT certifications than I've passed, including the CCNA on my first try, the CCNP, and DevNet. And I'm still in this industry, teaching the CCNA today. If you've been studying for a certification but keep putting off scheduling the exam because you're scared you'll fail, this episode is for you. Failing isn't the end of your IT journey. It's part of the process. In this episode: ✅ Why so many people are scared to take their certification exam ✅ What taking the exam gives you, even if you fail ✅ Why nobody is counting your attempts, including employers ✅ How passing after a fail builds real confidence ✅ Practical tips to help you pass, starting with booking your exam today Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This video is not sponsored. 🎯 1-ON-1 COACHING — ONLY 10 AT THIS RATE 60 minutes to figure out your next move, plus your roadmap in writing. If you're stuck in a call center trying to get into IT, this is the conversation. → https://cal.com/debtfreeinitwmike/it-career-strategy-session 📱 STUDYING FOR A CERT RIGHT NOW? Stop waiting till you get home. Pocket Prep is practice questions on your phone A+, Network+, Security+, CCNA, and more. Ten questions on your break beats the hour you keep telling yourself you'll find tonight. 👉 https://pocketprep.sjv.io/3kaEbK 🛠️ BUILD YOUR TECHNICAL FOUNDATION Know the workflow but need the tech side? KodeKloud gives you hands-on labs right in your browser, so you can practice real skills instead of just watching videos. It's a solid way to fill the gaps before you go after that IT role. 👉 https://tidd.ly/46XZJpj 📬 THE LOG FILES NEWSLETTER Weekly, practical advice for starting your IT career. → https://thelogfiles.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⸻ 🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: Debt Free In IT w/ Mike Website: https://www.debtfreeinitwithmike.com 🌐 CONNECT IG: @debtfreeinit | TikTok: @debtfreeinit | Facebook: @DebtFreeInIT LinkedIn: Michael Bowden Website: http://debtfreeinitwithmike.com Questions or topic suggestions? Comment below or email Debtfreeinit@gmail.com 💵 SUPPORT THE CHANNEL cash.app/$DebtFreeinIT 🛒 My full Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/debtfreeinitwmike 🌏 NordVPN (3 months extra, 30-day money-back): https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=612&aff_id=153284&url_id=14830 🎵 Music from Epidemic Sound (free trial): https://share.epidemicsound.com/vi35vl 📌 If this helped, drop a comment and share it with someone trying to break into tech 💻 #helpdesk #callcenter #ITcareer #breakintotech #ITsupport #careerchange #CompTIA #ITjobs #debtfreeinit ⸻ Support the show

October 2, 2026Episode 19613 min

From Nurse to IT: Healthcare Roles That Transition Into Tech

Send us Fan Mail Hospitals are full of people who aren't in the IT department but are one move away from it. In this episode, I break down three IT roles in healthcare that people move into from non-IT jobs. They go from working in a department to supporting that same department from the IT side. We cover: → Clinical Informatics: how nurses and clinicians move into supporting the EHR → Application Analyst: why every hospital department has an analyst, and why it's often someone who used to work there → PACS Administrator: the path from radiology into managing medical imaging systems If you work in healthcare, you may already know half the job. This episode shows you the other half. Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This video is not sponsored. 🎯 1-ON-1 COACHING — ONLY 10 AT THIS RATE 60 minutes to figure out your next move, plus your roadmap in writing. If you're stuck in a call center trying to get into IT, this is the conversation. → https://cal.com/debtfreeinitwmike/it-career-strategy-session 📱 STUDYING FOR A CERT RIGHT NOW? Stop waiting till you get home. Pocket Prep is practice questions on your phone A+, Network+, Security+, CCNA, and more. Ten questions on your break beats the hour you keep telling yourself you'll find tonight. 👉 https://pocketprep.sjv.io/3kaEbK 🛠️ BUILD YOUR TECHNICAL FOUNDATION Know the workflow but need the tech side? KodeKloud gives you hands-on labs right in your browser, so you can practice real skills instead of just watching videos. It's a solid way to fill the gaps before you go after that IT role. 👉 https://tidd.ly/46XZJpj 📬 THE LOG FILES NEWSLETTER Weekly, practical advice for starting your IT career. → https://thelogfiles.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⸻ 🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: Debt Free In IT w/ Mike Website: https://www.debtfreeinitwithmike.com 🌐 CONNECT IG: @debtfreeinit | TikTok: @debtfreeinit | Facebook: @DebtFreeInIT LinkedIn: Michael Bowden Website: http://debtfreeinitwithmike.com Questions or topic suggestions? Comment below or email Debtfreeinit@gmail.com 💵 SUPPORT THE CHANNEL cash.app/$DebtFreeinIT 🛒 My full Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/debtfreeinitwmike 🌏 NordVPN (3 months extra, 30-day money-back): https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=612&aff_id=153284&url_id=14830 🎵 Music from Epidemic Sound (free trial): https://share.epidemicsound.com/vi35vl 📌 If this helped, drop a comment and share it with someone trying to break into tech 💻 #helpdesk #callcenter #ITcareer #breakintotech #ITsupport #careerchange #CompTIA #ITjobs #debtfreeinit ⸻ Support the show

September 25, 2026Episode 19511 min

Remote vs On-Site IT Jobs: Which Should You Take First?

Send us Fan Mail Everyone breaking into IT wants the remote job but is that actually the right move when you're just starting out? In this episode I break down the real case for on-site vs remote support roles when you're brand new to the field: what you gain, what you give up, and why Year 1 might be the one year where being in the building actually matters more than flexibility. In this episode: 🖥️ Why hands-on, in-person learning speeds up Year 1 👀 The visibility factor most beginners overlook 🔧 Why being on-site means you handle it yourself, not pass it off 🚗 The real trade-offs of commuting, cost, and flexibility 🌍 Where remote actually wins bigger job market, lower overhead 📉 The hidden downside of remote when you don't know the job yet Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This video is not sponsored. 🎯 1-ON-1 COACHING — ONLY 10 AT THIS RATE 60 minutes to figure out your next move, plus your roadmap in writing. If you're stuck in a call center trying to get into IT, this is the conversation. → https://cal.com/debtfreeinitwmike/it-career-strategy-session 📱 STUDYING FOR A CERT RIGHT NOW? Stop waiting till you get home. Pocket Prep is practice questions on your phone A+, Network+, Security+, CCNA, and more. Ten questions on your break beats the hour you keep telling yourself you'll find tonight. 👉 https://pocketprep.sjv.io/3kaEbK 📬 THE LOG FILES NEWSLETTER Weekly, practical advice for starting your IT career. → https://thelogfiles.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⸻ 🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: Debt Free In IT w/ Mike Website: https://www.debtfreeinitwithmike.com 🌐 CONNECT IG: @debtfreeinit | TikTok: @debtfreeinit | Facebook: @DebtFreeInIT LinkedIn: Michael Bowden Website: http://debtfreeinitwithmike.com Questions or topic suggestions? Comment below or email Debtfreeinit@gmail.com 💵 SUPPORT THE CHANNEL cash.app/$DebtFreeinIT 🛒 My full Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/debtfreeinitwmike 🌏 NordVPN (3 months extra, 30-day money-back): https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=612&aff_id=153284&url_id=14830 🎵 Music from Epidemic Sound (free trial): https://share.epidemicsound.com/vi35vl 📌 If this helped, drop a comment and share it with someone trying to break into tech 💻 #helpdesk #callcenter #ITcareer #breakintotech #ITsupport #careerchange #CompTIA #ITjobs #debtfreeinit ⸻ Support the show

September 11, 2026Episode 19416 min

Help Desk vs Call Center: What's the Difference?

Send us Fan Mail Everyone says a call center job is how you break into IT. I spent a couple of months in one and I still don't count it as my first IT job here's why, plus how to tell whether a "help desk" posting is really a help desk or a call center wearing a badge. Help desk vs call center is one of the most confusing comparisons for anyone trying to break into IT, because sometimes they're the same job and sometimes they're nowhere close. Same headset, same queue, sometimes the same building. The difference isn't the title it's whether there's a technical rung above you that you can actually move up to. In this episode I walk through what a day actually looks like in each seat, where the real differences are (admin access, ticket ownership, and who you escalate to), the gray area where ISP and MSP call centers can be a legitimate way in, and how to read a job posting and tell which one you're walking into before you apply. If you're sitting in a call center right now wondering if it counts, this one's for you. You're not behind. Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This video is not sponsored. 🎯 1-ON-1 COACHING — ONLY 10 AT THIS RATE 60 minutes to figure out your next move, plus your roadmap in writing. If you're stuck in a call center trying to get into IT, this is the conversation. → https://cal.com/debtfreeinitwmike/it-career-strategy-session 📱 STUDYING FOR A CERT RIGHT NOW? Stop waiting till you get home. Pocket Prep is practice questions on your phone A+, Network+, Security+, CCNA, and more. Ten questions on your break beats the hour you keep telling yourself you'll find tonight. 👉 https://pocketprep.sjv.io/3kaEbK 📬 THE LOG FILES NEWSLETTER Weekly, practical advice for starting your IT career. → https://thelogfiles.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⸻ 🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: Debt Free In IT w/ Mike Website: https://www.debtfreeinitwithmike.com 🌐 CONNECT IG: @debtfreeinit | TikTok: @debtfreeinit | Facebook: @DebtFreeInIT LinkedIn: Michael Bowden Website: http://debtfreeinitwithmike.com Questions or topic suggestions? Comment below or email Debtfreeinit@gmail.com 💵 SUPPORT THE CHANNEL cash.app/$DebtFreeinIT 🛒 My full Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/debtfreeinitwmike 🌏 NordVPN (3 months extra, 30-day money-back): https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=612&aff_id=153284&url_id=14830 🎵 Music from Epidemic Sound (free trial): https://share.epidemicsound.com/vi35vl 📌 If this helped, drop a comment and share it with someone trying to break into tech 💻 #helpdesk #callcenter #ITcareer #breakintotech #ITsupport #careerchange #CompTIA #ITjobs #debtfreeinit ⸻ Support the show

September 4, 2026Episode 19314 min

If You Haven't Started in IT Yet, You Believe at Least One of These

Send us Fan Mail Before I got into IT, I worked in a call center doing tech support. Every call was timed. The time between calls was timed. Bathroom breaks were timed. That was my only reference point for what a job looked like so that's what I assumed IT would be. I was wrong. About that, and about three other things. In this episode I go through four beliefs I carried into this industry and where each one broke: what I thought a manager would do, how much I thought I needed to know before taking a role, what I thought would get me promoted, and what I thought the next raise would fix. If you're trying to break into IT right now, you're probably holding at least one of these. I held all four. ⸻ 🎯 1-on-1 Coaching — 60 minutes to figure out your next move, plus your roadmap in writing. First 10 get the founding rate. → https://cal.com/debtfreeinitwmike/it-career-strategy-session 🛒 My Amazon Store: Books + gear to level up in tech: 👉 https://www.amazon.com/shop/debtfreeinitwmike 📬 The Log Files Newsletter: Real tips to break into IT. 👉 https://thelogfiles.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⸻ #CCNA #NetworkingLabs #CiscoLabs #ITCareer #debtfreeinit 💡 Have a question or a topic suggestion? Drop it in the comments or email me at Debtfreeinit@gmail.com! 🌐 Connect with me: 📸 Instagram | 🎥 TikTok | 👍 Facebook: @DebtFreeInIT 🔗 Website: http://debtfreeinitwithmike.com 📌 If this helped you, drop a comment and let me know — and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this with someone trying to break into tech 💻 Support the Channel: cash.app/$DebtFreeinIT *This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission ***************************************** Listen to Debt Free in IT w/ Mike ****************************************** Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: Debt Free In IT w/ Mike Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0... Website: www.debtfreeinitwithmike.com 🌏 Upgrade your online protection with an all-in-one security app! Get an exclusive NordVPN deal + 3 months extra here ➼. NordVPN: https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=612&aff_id=153284&url_id=14830 It’s risk free with NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee! For support inquires, or business inquiries, please email Debtfreeinit@gmail.com Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Start your free trial here https://share.epidemicsound.com/vi35vl Follow me on Social Media (When you add me, inbox me and say What's Up!) IG: @debtfreeinit TikTok: @debtfreeinit Linkedin: Michael Bowden Support the show

August 28, 2026Episode 19219 min

Is Networking Still Worth Learning in 2026?

Send us Fan Mail Is networking still worth learning in 2026? Short answer: yes but it's not the same job it was five years ago. AI isn't replacing network engineers. What it did was split the career into two paths: traditional shops where you're on the CLI every day, and modern shops where automation and AI handle a big chunk of the work. Most of the country is still traditional. Both paths need the same thing from you first. In this episode I break down what AI actually took off our plates, what it didn't, why the fundamentals matter more now than they did before, and how to reverse engineer your own path by reading job descriptions instead of guessing. ⸻ 🎯 1-on-1 Coaching — 60 minutes to figure out your next move, plus your roadmap in writing. First 10 get the founding rate. → https://cal.com/debtfreeinitwmike/it-career-strategy-session 🛒 My Amazon Store: Books + gear to level up in tech: 👉 https://www.amazon.com/shop/debtfreeinitwmike 📬 The Log Files Newsletter: Real tips to break into IT. 👉 https://thelogfiles.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⸻ #CCNA #NetworkingLabs #CiscoLabs #ITCareer #debtfreeinit 💡 Have a question or a topic suggestion? Drop it in the comments or email me at Debtfreeinit@gmail.com! 🌐 Connect with me: 📸 Instagram | 🎥 TikTok | 👍 Facebook: @DebtFreeInIT 🔗 Website: http://debtfreeinitwithmike.com 📌 If this helped you, drop a comment and let me know — and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this with someone trying to break into tech 💻 Support the Channel: cash.app/$DebtFreeinIT *This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission ***************************************** Listen to Debt Free in IT w/ Mike ****************************************** Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: Debt Free In IT w/ Mike Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0... Website: www.debtfreeinitwithmike.com 🌏 Upgrade your online protection with an all-in-one security app! Get an exclusive NordVPN deal + 3 months extra here ➼. NordVPN: https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=612&aff_id=153284&url_id=14830 It’s risk free with NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee! For support inquires, or business inquiries, please email Debtfreeinit@gmail.com Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Start your free trial here https://share.epidemicsound.com/vi35vl Follow me on Social Media (When you add me, inbox me and say What's Up!) IG: @debtfreeinit TikTok: @debtfreeinit Linkedin: Michael Bowden Support the show

August 21, 2026Episode 19124 min

Passed Your IT Certification But Can't Get Hired? 4 Reasons Why

Send us Fan Mail You passed the certification. So why isn't anybody calling you back? If you've got the cert, updated the resume, and you've been applying for weeks with nothing but silence — you're not doing anything wrong as a person. But something in your process is probably broken. A certification was never a guarantee. But it should be getting you interviews. In this episode I break down 4 reasons people pass their cert and still can't get hired in IT — and what to change about each one. ⸻ 🎯 1-on-1 Coaching — 60 minutes to figure out your next move, plus your roadmap in writing. First 10 get the founding rate. → https://cal.com/debtfreeinitwmike/it-career-strategy-session 🛒 My Amazon Store: Books + gear to level up in tech: 👉 https://www.amazon.com/shop/debtfreeinitwmike 📬 The Log Files Newsletter: Real tips to break into IT. 👉 https://thelogfiles.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⸻ #CCNA #NetworkingLabs #CiscoLabs #ITCareer #debtfreeinit 💡 Have a question or a topic suggestion? Drop it in the comments or email me at Debtfreeinit@gmail.com! 🌐 Connect with me: 📸 Instagram | 🎥 TikTok | 👍 Facebook: @DebtFreeInIT 🔗 Website: http://debtfreeinitwithmike.com 📌 If this helped you, drop a comment and let me know — and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this with someone trying to break into tech 💻 Support the Channel: cash.app/$DebtFreeinIT *This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission ***************************************** Listen to Debt Free in IT w/ Mike ****************************************** Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: Debt Free In IT w/ Mike Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0... Website: www.debtfreeinitwithmike.com 🌏 Upgrade your online protection with an all-in-one security app! Get an exclusive NordVPN deal + 3 months extra here ➼. NordVPN: https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=612&aff_id=153284&url_id=14830 It’s risk free with NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee! For support inquires, or business inquiries, please email Debtfreeinit@gmail.com Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Start your free trial here https://share.epidemicsound.com/vi35vl Follow me on Social Media (When you add me, inbox me and say What's Up!) IG: @debtfreeinit TikTok: @debtfreeinit Linkedin: Michael Bowden Support the show

August 14, 2026Episode 19022 min

Where Should You Start Your IT Career? Small, Midsize, or Enterprise

Send us Fan Mail Same title. Totally different job. A network tech at a 50-person company and a network tech at a Fortune 500 can do completely different work for completely different money. The variable most people ignore: company size. Why it matters: Where you start shapes how fast you learn, what you get exposed to, and how high your ceiling goes. Pick wrong for your stage and you either stall out or get thrown in over your head. In this episode: 🔹 Small — You touch everything: networking, servers, printers, phones, someone's Outlook. You learn fast and broad. But there's no one senior to correct you, no escalation path, and bad habits go unchecked for years. You learn how to make things work, not how things are supposed to be built. 🔹 Midsize — Real teams, real structure, a real ladder. Someone above you who's already done what you're trying to do. The trade: on-call rotations that come back around fast, and duties that keep piling on as the company grows. 🔹 Large — The biggest pay jump you'll see. Stock, bonuses, cert budgets, six-figure conversations. Also: layoffs, silos, and a pace that doesn't let up. This is the jump from college to the NBA — everybody in the building is good. My take: Midsize is the sweet spot. Enough structure and pay without the silos and the grind. 👇 Which one do you work for — or which would you prefer to work for? Drop it in the comments. ⸻ 🎯 1-on-1 Coaching — 60 minutes to figure out your next move, plus your roadmap in writing. First 10 get the founding rate. → https://cal.com/debtfreeinitwmike/it-career-strategy-session 🛒 My Amazon Store: Books + gear to level up in tech: 👉 https://www.amazon.com/shop/debtfreeinitwmike 📬 The Log Files Newsletter: Real tips to break into IT. 👉 https://thelogfiles.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⸻ #CCNA #NetworkingLabs #CiscoLabs #ITCareer #debtfreeinit 💡 Have a question or a topic suggestion? Drop it in the comments or email me at Debtfreeinit@gmail.com! 🌐 Connect with me: 📸 Instagram | 🎥 TikTok | 👍 Facebook: @DebtFreeInIT 🔗 Website: http://debtfreeinitwithmike.com 📌 If this helped you, drop a comment and let me know — and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this with someone trying to break into tech 💻 Support the Channel: cash.app/$DebtFreeinIT *This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission ***************************************** Listen to Debt Free in IT w/ Mike ****************************************** Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: Debt Free In IT w/ Mike Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0... Website: www.debtfreeinitwithmike.com 🌏 Upgrade your online protection with an all-in-one security app! Get an exclusive NordVPN deal + 3 months extra here ➼. NordVPN: https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=612&aff_id=153284&url_id=14830 It’s risk free with NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee! For support inquires, or business inquiries, please email Debtfreeinit@gmail.com Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Start your free trial here https://share.epidemicsound.com/vi35vl Follow me on Social Media (When you add me, inbox me and say What's Up!) IG: @debtfreeinit TikTok: @debtfreeinit Linkedin: Michael Bowden Support the show