Which IT Career Path Is Right for Me? (Beginner-Friendly Breakdown)

Breaking into IT can feel overwhelming, especially when everyone online is telling you different things:

• “Start with cybersecurity!”

• “No, start with Helpdesk!”

• “Get certified first!”

• “Build a lab!”

• “Apply to 300 jobs!”

So what’s the right path?

At Quest Logic Solutions, we’ve helped beginners (and career-changers) build real skills, earn real confidence, and transition into IT careers step-by-step.

This guide will help you identify which IT career track fits your background, time, goals, and learning style, and includes a quick self-assessment quiz to make the decision easier.

The Truth: There’s No “One Best Path” - But There IS a Best Path for YOU

The best IT career plan depends on:

• your current experience

• how quickly you want results

• whether you learn best through hands-on or theory

• your weekly schedule

• your career goal (Helpdesk, SysAdmin, Cybersecurity, Cloud, etc.)

That’s why our training is structured into three tracks:

• Starter Track → For beginners building foundations

• Core Track → For system admin + security hardening skills

• Pro Track → For advanced security + real-world engineering depth

Let’s break it down.

Starter vs Core vs Pro (Beginner-Friendly Breakdown)

Starter Track - “Helpdesk + IT Foundations”

Best for: Absolute beginners, career changers, people who need structure

If you’re new to IT, this is the track that helps you build a foundation the right way, without skipping steps.

What you’ll learn:

• Linux fundamentals and command line confidence

• Users/groups, file permissions, and access control

• Networking basics (DNS, routing, interface validation)

• Troubleshooting mindset and incident thinking

• Monitoring/log awareness (Zabbix, log review)

• Vulnerability scan review (Nessus Essentials)

• Systemd services, cron jobs, operational awareness

• Jump server / secure remote access

• Backup and recovery basics

What jobs it prepares you for:

• IT Support Specialist

• Helpdesk Technician

• Junior Linux Support

• Technical Support Engineer (entry level)

Who should choose Starter?

• If you’ve never worked in IT before

• If you don’t feel confident troubleshooting yet

• If you want to start working in tech ASAP

• If you want a structured roadmap (not YouTube chaos)

Core Track - “System Administration + Security Hardening”

Best for: people who already know basics OR finished Starter and want real engineering ability

The Core Track is where students start thinking like real system administrators and security-minded engineers.

This is the level where you move from:

“I can follow commands…”

to:

“I understand what I’m doing and can secure a system like an enterprise admin.”

What you’ll learn:

• System hardening & baseline configuration

• SSH banner + secure access controls

• SELinux baseline configuration

• Firewall hardening (approved ports only)

• Identify listening ports and running services

• Reduce attack surface (remove unnecessary software/services)

• Console-only startup configuration

• SSH key authentication + fail2ban intrusion prevention

• Host and account security validation

• Deploy web profile page (HTTP → HTTPS with self-signed TLS)

What jobs it prepares you for:

• Junior System Administrator

• Linux Admin (Entry / Junior)

• SOC Analyst (with the right add-ons)

• Cybersecurity Apprentice / Internship readiness

Who should choose Core?

• If you already have basic IT experience

• If you’ve done some labs but need real structure

• If you want to go beyond “Helpdesk”

• If cybersecurity is your goal (this track is a strong foundation)

Pro Track - “Real Cybersecurity Engineering + Production-Level Skills”

Best for: serious career builders aiming for higher-paying roles

The Pro Track is designed for students who want to go beyond basics and build advanced capability, similar to what happens inside real enterprise environments.

This is not entry-level. It’s built for students who want to become highly competitive in:

• security engineering

• advanced system administration

• cloud security

• penetration testing foundations

• incident response maturity

What you’ll gain (high-level outcomes):

• deeper enterprise infrastructure experience

• more advanced troubleshooting & security operations

• stronger job readiness and higher salary potential

• project-style training that mirrors real teams

What roles Pro is designed for:

• Security Analyst (mid-level)

• SOC Analyst Tier 2

• Systems Engineer

• Cloud Security Associate

• Junior Penetration Tester (with correct focus)

Who should choose Pro?

• If you already have technical foundation

• If you want “career transformation” not just entry-level helpdesk

• If your goal is higher-paying cybersecurity roles

• If you want advanced mentorship + real-world scenarios

Self-Assessment Quiz: Which Track Fits You?

Answer honestly and count your results.

1) How comfortable are you using Linux Terminal?

• A) Not comfortable at all

• B) Somewhat comfortable

• C) Confident and consistent

2) If DNS breaks, what happens?

• A) I’m not sure

• B) I’ve heard of it but not confident

• C) I can troubleshoot it

3) What describes your current IT experience?

• A) No experience

• B) Some hands-on learning/labs

• C) I’ve supported systems or worked in tech

4) How quickly do you want job-readiness?

• A) ASAP - I want to enter IT soon

• B) I can build over time

• C) I want the highest-level career path even if it takes longer

5) Do you know what ports/services are running on your system?

• A) No

• B) Sometimes / I’ve seen it

• C) Yes - and I can secure them

Results

Mostly A’s → Starter Track

You need a foundation first, and that’s a good thing. Starter will build confidence and real-world fundamentals without skipping steps.

Mostly B’s → Core Track

You’re ready to build system admin + security hardening skills. You’ve started the journey and now need structure and deeper expertise.

Mostly C’s → Pro Track

You’re ready for advanced work. Pro is where you build the strongest skills and become competitive for higher-paying roles.

Still Unsure? Here’s the Fastest Way to Know

If you’re undecided, book a free consultation and we’ll help you choose a track based on:

• your background

• career goals

• your available schedule

• funding options & payment plan flexibility

Ready to Start?

Start with a free consultation call and we’ll map out your best path.