If I Were Starting IT Again Today, I’d Do This

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If I were starting my IT career again in 2026—knowing everything I know today—I would do things very differently.

Not because IT has changed.
But because how people approach IT has changed.

If you’re just starting out, or if you feel stuck right now, this is actually a great time to enter IT—but only if you avoid the mistakes most people make.

Here’s exactly what I would do.

This is the biggest mistake beginners make.

Trying to learn:

…all at the same time leads to burnout and confusion.

If I were starting again, I’d stop chasing everything at once.

Instead, I’d focus on foundations.

Before touching advanced tools, I’d make sure I truly understood:

Without fundamentals, everything else feels confusing—and overwhelming.

Strong fundamentals make every IT path easier.

After fundamentals, Linux would be one of my first major skills.

Not because it’s trendy—but because Linux teaches you how systems actually behave.

Once you understand Linux:

Linux builds real intuition.

I’d choose one path—networking, cloud, programming, QA, security—whatever genuinely interests me.

And I’d stick to it.

Depth beats randomness.
Focus accelerates learning.

That alone puts you ahead of most beginners.

I wouldn’t ask:

I would ask:

I’d practice scenario thinking:

That mindset changes everything.

This is something almost no one talks about.

Your ability to explain a problem clearly will take you further than knowing ten extra commands.

I’ve seen people with average technical skills grow faster than brilliant engineers—simply because they could communicate.

If I were starting again, I’d practice explaining things out loud—even to myself.

Because interviews, meetings, and real jobs all reward clarity.

Most people wait until they feel “ready.”

“One more course.”
“One more certification.”

That day never comes.

Interviews teach you what the market actually wants.
Waiting doesn’t.

Many people learn skills but don’t know which roles they actually qualify for.

If I were starting again, I’d take my skills and certifications and ask ChatGPT:

That removes confusion and turns random learning into intentional progress.

AI is no longer optional.

It’s becoming part of:

Instead of guessing which AI tools to learn, I’d ask directly:

That habit alone keeps skills relevant.

If I were starting IT again, I wouldn’t try to be the smartest person in the room.

I’d try to be:

Because in the end, that’s who gets hired, grows, and gets paid.